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The Ebisu Circuit badly needs your help

The famed drift course was heavily damaged by an earthquake

The popular drift circuit lies in ruins due to an earthquake. PHOTO FROM EBISU CIRCUIT

If you’re a fan of drifting, you probably know about one of the sport’s more popular Japanese venues. Located in Fukushima Prefecture, the Ebisu Circuit usually has the pungent smell of burnt rubber as gearheads flock to this ribbon of tarmac just to kill time and a couple of sets of tires. Some enthusiasts even consider the track as a bucket-list item—with the main goal of nailing a high-speed slide as close as possible to the barrier on the Minami drift course.

Before the pandemic, the Ebisu Circuit was teeming with cars dancing around its corners. PHOTOS FROM EBISU CIRCUIT

But recent times have not been so kind to this facility. Not only has the car industry been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic, practically any automobile-related entity has experienced some degree of downturn. The Ebisu Circuit is no different as restrictions on social gatherings and recreational events have basically emptied the racetrack of its regular customers. And if that wasn’t enough, a recent magnitude 7.3 earthquake off the coast of Fukushima has ripped apart some portions of the track.

The downturn brought about by COVID-19 left the track's owners no choice but to ask for help. SCREENSHOT FROM EBISU CIRCUIT

According to the site put up by the racetrack’s management, funds are being raised to help rehabilitate the racetrack. Proceeds will be used to pay for the repair works that will include fortifying the circuit against future natural disasters like this. Donor names will be put on a special signboard once restoration is completed. If you want to help, you may do so via electronic fund transfer (Japanese banks only) or crowdfunding via GoFundMe.



Miggi Solidum

Miggi is an editor-at-large at VISOR. Professionally speaking, he is a software engineering dude who happens to like cars a lot. And as an automotive enthusiast, he wants a platform from which he can share his motoring thoughts with fellow petrolheads. He writes the 'G-Force' column.



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