Japanese Billionaire’s Private Racetrack for family racing
Words NZ Autocar | Images Magarigawa Club
A Japanese billionaire built an exclusive racetrack in the mountains of Chiba Prefecture. Known as the Magarigawa Club, it cost around $US200m to build. He build the facility for private family use. However, it is now an invitation-only, private members club.
MES reports that the track was designed by Hermann Tilke, responsible for Formula 1 circuits in Bahrain and Abu Dhabi. The Magarigawa circuit is a 3.2km layout and includes steep hills, long straights, and sharp turns. It has 22 corners and will test the limits of even the fastest supercars.
An hour out of Tokyo, drivers can see Mount Fuji in the distance and Tokyo Bay below. One visitor said: “It is like racing in the clouds, with mountains watching you.”
The track starts near the house, passes between the front porch and the swimming pool, and then snakes into the mountains.
Associated facilities include an infinity pool, restaurants with fine dining, a gym, and even a karaoke room. Members who come here race and also enjoy a full resort experience.
One guest commented: “You could spend a whole weekend here and never touch a car, and it would still feel like one of the best resorts in Japan.”
On pit lane, there are mechanics ready to check, repair, or tune cars for the members. The aim is to make driving simple and enjoyable.
Evidently it is an exclusive club indeed. It supposedly costs around $US230,000 a year to be a member. And the number of people is strictly limited.
Several special cars have performed at the track, include the Lamborghini Revuelto, the Aston Martin Valkyrie AMR Pro, and the Apollo Evo. So it is indeed a “dream park for supercars” as one guest described it.
The Magarigawa Club is the first private racetrack of its kind in Asia. As one visitor commented: “When you are rich enough, you don’t just buy a car. You build the road for it.”
