Happy days are here for Tsuchiya Engineering, as on Monday, the three-time GT300 champions announced that Hoppy Beverage Company, brewers of Japan’s leading brand of non-alcoholic beer, will become the title sponsor of their entry into the 2018 Autobacs Super GT Series.
The new-look #25 Hoppy Toyota 86 MC will be driven by Takamitsu Matsui, Sho Tsuboi, and Tsubasa Kondo this season, as their team celebrated their new deal over the weekend.
A creation of post-war Japan in 1948, Hoppy was created as a beer substitute for those who could not afford alcoholic beverages – this year will be Hoppy’s 70th anniversary, by far the most well-known non-alcoholic spirit in Japan.
Hoppy had been an associate sponsor of Tsuchiya Engineering since their return to Super GT in 2015, but with the departure of embattled former title sponsor VivaC Co. Ltd, an opportunity was created for a new title sponsor to take their place at one of the series’ most successful and respected teams.
Hoppy Beverage Company president Mikio Ishiwatari said, “I dreamed that one day we could become the title sponsor of a Super GT team. I am very excited to make this dream a reality with Mr. [Takeshi] Tsuchiya and his team.”
“Because my helmet is also pink, the new sponsor is a perfect fit!” Said Tsuboi, who joins Tsuchiya Engineering after attaining Rookie of the Year honours in 2017 with LM Corsa.
The Toyota young driver will race alongside 2016 GT300 Champion Matsui for the majority of the season – though he is also expected to stand in as a GT500 driver later this year due to WEC commitments from the likes of Kamui Kobayashi and Kazuki Nakajima.
Tsuchiya Engineering won the GT300 title most recently in 2016, they also won it in back-to-back years in 1998 (with Team Taisan) and 1999 (with A’PEX Racing, now known as apr Racing).
Super GT World 