Q. Can you describe your first encounter with cars?

• 

  Yamanaka

  Yamanaka

  Until I was five years old, I was more interested in trains and locomotives than in cars; it was only when the first Gran Turismo came out that I started to develop an interest in cars.In contrast to trains and locomotives, which run on tracks, the fact that you can direct cars wherever you want appealed to me. When I first started playing, I was frequently crashing into walls, but it was completely absorbing. I also saw the All Japan GT Car Championship for the first time in 2001, and this was another landmark in my relationship with cars. I was only an elementary school student at the time, but I was fascinated by the sounds and the battles, and it was also an opportunity to learn about different cars.

• 

  Miyazono

  Miyazono

  My father is a car fan, so I grew up in an environment in which there were lots of model cars and race DVDs around. I still remember how exciting it was to hear the sounds and see the on-track battles on my TV.

• 

  Kobyashi

  Kobyashi

  I became interested in cars around the age of four or five, when I started playing car games. My interest developed into a passion, and I soon wanted to drive a real car. So, when I was 10, I experienced kart racing at Sportsland SUGO—and ever since then I have been hooked on real motorsports as well.

Q. What was your first encounter with e-Motorsports like? What was the appeal?

• 

  Yamanaka

  Yamanaka

  e-Motorsports was a place where I could express myself. Both my good characteristics and bad are laid bare during races—so, for me, e-Motorsports is extremely important. Without a doubt, I will continue to engage in e-Motorsports even as I grow older.

• 

  Miyazono

  Miyazono

  e-Motorsports has provided me with opportunities to interact with people of all ages and professions, and I feel it has broadened my horizons. When I go to tournament arenas, I can sense first-hand the stages where we have the chance to shine are made possible through the support of many people.

Q. Why do you continue to play e-Motorsports?

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  Yamanaka

  Yamanaka

  If you continue to do something you like, then a whole new world opens up—and I find this extremely attractive. But the most important thing for me is whether I enjoy it or not. Rather than just being active as a player, I want to personally help broaden the appeal of e-Motorsports.

• 

  Miyazono

  Miyazono

  The main reason I continue playing is because I enjoy it—and because I enjoy it, it’s easy to continue playing. In fact, I like it so much that it’s become an obsession. I also like the fact that the results of my hard work can easily be seen in my lap times—it helps me maintain motivation.
  When I compete, my father helps maintain my equipment, and he always watches live streams of my races. On the other hand, I mustn’t forget that the environment I currently find myself in is by no means the norm.

Q. What are the strategies and approaches of top drivers?

• 

  Yamanaka

  Yamanaka

  I try to read what my opponent is doing during on-track battles. I also try and see myself objectively. When I won the TGR GT Cup 2021, I was able to bring joy to all the people who had cheered for me or supported me—this, I believe, is the true significance of winning. I also want to help broaden the appeal of e-Motorsports—as a new form of motorsports—to as many people as possible.
  In this sense, I have high hopes for young Rikuto Kobayashi, who placed third at the TGR GT Cup 2021. He is a next-generation driver capable of great things both in the virtual and real world. I am both happy and grateful to have the opportunity to be able to compete against him.

• 

  Miyazono

  Miyazono

  I am constantly paying attention to the driving and the status of nearby opponents. Who is in what position? When are they pitting? And, what tires are they changing to?

• 

  Kobyashi

  Kobyashi

  The reason I came third at the TGR GT Cup 2021 is because I lacked the necessary all-round ability, and I made a series of mistakes. It’s disappointing, but it’s something I have to accept. The world of e-Motorsports has a large player base, and there are many top-level drivers—in fact, I am just now realizing what a big deal the world championship is. Tomoaki Yamanaka has been one of the top drivers since I started playing Gran Turismo, and I hope to be as good as him one day.

Q. What do you try to do as a top driver?

• 

  Yamanaka

  Yamanaka

  I try to think about the best way of communicating my experience in an easy-to-understand manner. It’s difficult, as people have different driving styles. I find that teaching gives me a greater understanding of cars, and helps me improve my skills.

• 

  Miyazono

  Miyazono

  When teaching, I try to give advice that is appropriate to a person’s level of understanding and attributes—because different people have varying degrees of understanding about how cars move, and have various theories about driving.

Q. What have been the major turning points in your career as an e-Motorsports driver?

• 

  Yamanaka

  Yamanaka

  During my second year of junior high school, I participated in an online competition for the first time. I was completely out of my depth, and my result… From then on, I decided to try and shorten my lap times by one second at a time. I dedicated myself to practicing, and during high school I managed to break into the top 10 drivers in Japan.

• 

  Miyazono

  Miyazono

  I have experienced numerous setbacks. The one I remember most is the Gran Turismo Final, when my whole team and I were highly motivated to win. But I collided with the car of a rival and, because of my mistake, my team was penalized and our efforts came to nothing. I believe this experience has helped me grow.
  With real-life motorsports, there are various obstacles to participating, such as the costs involved, or the remoteness of the circuits. On the other hand, with e-Motorsports, the barriers to entry are extremely low when it comes to cost, location, and time—it’s easy to participate. I want to make these attractions more widely known.

• 

  Kobyashi

  Kobyashi

  When my name began to appear on top-10 lists for online time trials, my motivation started to increase.

Q. What do you do in your free time?

• 

  Yamanaka

  Yamanaka

  I sometimes go to real-life track meets with friends I have made through e-Motorsports. We do lots of things together, such as racing rental karts. Simply by racing together, I have made lots of friends from many different countries around the world.

• 

  Miyazono

  Miyazono

  Previously, I didn’t have many friends who were into cars. However, I have been able to make friends with large numbers of car fans through e-Motorsports. Also, before I started competing in Gran Turismo, all my friends were Japanese; now, though, I have friends from lots of countries, such as Germany and the U.S., and I have learned about different cultures. I find it refreshing and satisfying.

Q. Who are your friends and rivals?

• 

  Yamanaka

  Yamanaka

  My biggest rival is myself—if I can’t beat myself, then I don’t have the right to challenge other competitors. Having said that, if I had to name one rival, then I’d least like to lose to Takuma Miyazono.

• 

  Miyazono

  Miyazono

  My rival is Tomoaki Yamanaka.He is a rival, a friend, a fellow-driver—there are many sides to our relationship, but he is a rival first and foremost.

Q. What is e-Motorsports to you?

• 

  Yamanaka

  Yamanaka

  It is life itself.

• 

  Miyazono

  Miyazono

  It’s my life. It is my No.1 hobby, and it plays an irreplaceable role in my life.

• 

  Kobyashi

  Kobyashi

  For me, e-Motorsports is something I cannot live without. It is a sort of friend, or partner, with whom I intend to spend the rest of my life.

Q. What are the differences between real-life motorsports and e-Motorsports?

• 

  Kobyashi

  Kobyashi

  In real-life, you have to prepare by wearing a helmet and suiting up. When you climb into the car, there is a series of movements—you feel the flow of the wind, and the speed of the car. Information is transmitted to your hands through the steering wheel, and to your feet through the pedals; and impacts are transmitted through the car seat to your back. The tires, chassis, engine, driver, road conditions—there is a continual interplay between all these elements, and they shape the race.
  In e-Motorsports, however, the movements of the car and your own input is contained within a screen. And, since you receive no information through your back, you have to process everything through the steering wheel.

Q. What are your thoughts on TGR-DC?

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  Kobyashi

  Kobyashi

  Ever since I was a child, I’ve wanted to be a professional racing driver that competes on the world stage. I decided to go for TGR-DC, thinking that it would help me become a driver in formula series and beyond. When I was selected, I was overwhelmed—both with gratitude to everyone who had supported me, and with joy at having taken the first step toward competing in formula series. By combining real-life driving with Gran Turismo, I believe I can further improve my skillset—so I intend to work hard at both.

Q. What are some of the challenges of real-life motorsports?

• 

  Kobyashi

  Kobyashi

  The higher the level, the greater the number of people involved; on the other hand, your circle of friends becomes smaller, as people with whom you previously worked hard don’t make the cut. I am finding out first-hand that only a select few people ever become top racing drivers. Going forward, I hope to continue progressing through the ranks and competing at an ever-higher level.