Tokachi International Speedway – Hokkaido 24 Hours Guide
Originally published April 2017. Last updated September 2026: expanded Tier B circuit guide, facts table, table of contents, internal links, FAQ schema, and editorial refresh while preserving legacy narrative and images.
Tokachi International Speedway is a permanent race track in Sarabetsu, Hokkaido — Japan’s northernmost major circuit island. Opened in 1993 as the first FIA Grade 2 facility on Hokkaido, the 5.091 km Grand Prix layout hosted national championships, Formula Nippon, and the Tokachi 24 Hours endurance race until financial collapse ended the 24-hour tradition in 2008.
Renamed Tokachi Speedway in 2010 after MSF Corporation bought the bankrupt venue, the circuit now focuses on regional racing, D1 Grand Prix drift rounds, and the Tokachi Racing School. It is quieter than Fuji Speedway or Suzuka, but its long lap and three configurable layouts still matter in Japanese club and national motorsport.
Compare Tokachi with Okayama International Circuit, Sportsland SUGO, and Autopolis — regional Japanese venues that hosted top series for a season or two before calendars consolidated elsewhere.
Contents
Tokachi International Speedway facts
| Location | Sarabetsu, Kawai District, Hokkaido, Japan |
|---|---|
| Also known as | Tokachi Speedway (since 2010) |
| Circuit type | Permanent road course with multiple configurations |
| Opened | May 1993 (construction largely complete October 1992) |
| FIA grade (opening era) | Grade 2 — first on Hokkaido to that standard |
| Grand Prix layout | 5.091 km (3.164 miles), 18 turns |
| Other layouts | Clubman Circuit 3.4 km; Junior Circuit 1.7 km |
| Signature event (historic) | Tokachi 24 Hours (Super Taikyu / GT and touring cars, 1994–2008) |
| Owner (since 2009) | MSF Corporation (mobile games producer) |
Lap record note: official records differ by series (Super Taikyu, Formula Nippon, club saloons). Compare times only within the same championship year and tyre rules.
Map: Tokachi Speedway circuit layouts
First FIA Grade 2 circuit on Hokkaido
Construction began in 1992 and was largely finished by October that year. After the Hokkaido winter, final works wrapped in May 1993. Opening celebrations included a 400 km N1 endurance race and a 300 km Group A touring car event — national machinery proving the surface before international visitors arrived.
Three layouts on one site
The Grand Prix Circuit measures 5.091 km with 18 turns — the configuration national championships used for headline events. The Clubman Circuit (3.4 km) and Junior Circuit (1.7 km) let club racers and schools run shorter loops without closing the entire facility. The inaugural Tokachi 24 Hours in 1994 used Clubman before the race moved mainly to the full GP course.
Tokachi 24 Hours endurance racing
In 1994 the Japanese Touring Car Championship and Japanese Formula 3 visited, but the season highlight was the first Tokachi 24 Hours — a GT and touring car marathon open to Super Taikyu entries and Super GT machinery. Fifteen 24-hour races ran through 2008; Tetsuya Tanaka leads the roll of honour with five wins.
Only three non-Japanese drivers won the race: Germany’s Dominik Schwager, Portugal’s Andre Couto, and Malaysia’s Fariqe Hairuman.
Tokachi 24 Hours was held between 1994 and 2008
Japanese national championships at Tokachi
The Japanese Touring Car Championship raced at Tokachi until 1997, with winners including Tom Kristensen, Michael Krumm, Anthony Reid, and Masanori Sekiya.
Formula Nippon appeared once: Ralf Schumacher won the 1996 Tokachi round en route to the title. An F3000 race in 1995 went to Toranosuke Takagi. Super GT visited for a single 2004 race won by Krumm and Masami Kageyama in a Nissan Fairlady Z.
Tokachi hosted many Japanese national championships
2009 bankruptcy and MSF Corporation takeover
The 2009 global financial crisis hit Tokachi hard. By March the operating company entered liquidation and bankruptcy; the 24-hour race was cancelled and never revived. In August 2009 mobile-game firm MSF Corporation bought the circuit and simplified the name to Tokachi Speedway in 2010.
Tokachi Racing School at Tokachi Speedway
Tokachi Speedway today
The calendar leans on local club racing, occasional national rounds, and D1 Grand Prix drift events. The Tokachi Racing School trains newcomers on the shorter layouts. Hokkaido’s climate means a shorter outdoor season than Honshu circuits, but the long GP lap still attracts teams seeking a low-traffic test venue away from Tokyo traffic.
Frequently asked questions about Tokachi International Speedway
Where is Tokachi International Speedway?
Tokachi International Speedway (Tokachi Speedway) is in Sarabetsu, Kawai District, Hokkaido — Japan’s northern island.
When did Tokachi Speedway open?
Construction finished largely in October 1992; the circuit opened officially in May 1993 with national endurance and touring car races.
How long is the Grand Prix layout at Tokachi?
The full Grand Prix Circuit is 5.091 km (3.164 miles) with 18 turns. Shorter Clubman (3.4 km) and Junior (1.7 km) layouts share the site.
What was the Tokachi 24 Hours?
The Tokachi 24 Hours was a GT and touring car endurance race (Super Taikyu and allied entries) held from 1994 until 2008. Tetsuya Tanaka won five times.
Why did the Tokachi 24 Hours stop?
The 2009 economic crisis pushed the circuit operator into bankruptcy. The 24-hour race was cancelled that year and was never revived after MSF Corporation bought the track.
Who owns Tokachi Speedway now?
MSF Corporation, a Japanese mobile phone games producer, bought the circuit in August 2009 and renamed it Tokachi Speedway in 2010.
Did Formula Nippon race at Tokachi?
Once. Ralf Schumacher won the 1996 Tokachi round on his way to the Formula Nippon title; the series never returned.
What other championships visited Tokachi?
The Japanese Touring Car Championship (until 1997), Japanese Formula 3, a one-off Super GT race in 2004, and various national saloon and bike categories.
Is there a racing school at Tokachi?
Yes. The Tokachi Racing School operates at the circuit, using the shorter layouts for driver training.
How does Tokachi compare with Fuji or SUGO?
Fuji and Sportsland SUGO still headline Japan’s international calendar. Tokachi is a regional Hokkaido venue best known for its 24-hour history and national club racing.
Related reading
- Fuji Speedway — Japanese Grand Prix and WEC
- Sportsland SUGO — Tohoku Super GT venue
- Okayama International Circuit — Pacific Grand Prix
- Autopolis Circuit — Kyushu mountain track
- Suzuka Circuit — Japanese F1 home
Address: 477 Kowa, Sarobetsu-mura aza, Kawai-gun, Hokkaido 089-1573, Japan
Phone: +81 155-52-3910
Official website: tokachi.msf.ne.jp