2025/07/22
"Do what you want to do now" - Give your all to your hobbies and work
The year was 2020. In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, in his sixth year at the company, Yasuyo Matsubara, an engineer in charge of evaluating the reliability of regenerative braking at ADVICS, decided to seriously pursue his childhood dream of becoming a racer.
"I can't meet the people I want to meet," "I can't go to the places I want to go." Through his experience of the COVID-19 pandemic, Matsubara felt strongly that "I shouldn't put off doing what I want to do," and decided to pursue his dream. He bought a Mazda Roadster and started participating in "one-make races*" in which commercially available cars compete.
*A race in which commercially available cars with standardized machine specifications compete against each other
From "Beginner" to "Winner"
Although he experienced a crash in his first year and was disappointed, he improved to win five out of eight races in his second year. In 2022, he achieved good results in the "Roadster Party Race III ND Clubman Class" with five wins, two second places, and one fourth place.
(Right) Matsubara (center), winner of the first round of the Party Race East Japan Series
In 2023, he won the series championship at the Fuji Champion Race Roadster Cup 1.5 Challenge Class. In addition, he came in second in the East Japan Series at the Roadster Party Race III ND Series Class, steadily building up his track record.
Enter the professional stage with Mazda's Challenge Program.
In recognition of his achievements, Matsubara has been selected as the driver of the year for the Club MAZDA SPIRIT RACING Challenge Program "Road to Super Taikyu Race" run by Mazda Motor Corporation for the second consecutive year starting from 2024.
Club MAZDA SPIRIT RACING is centered around the activities of Mazda's racing team, MAZDA SPRIT RACING, and operates under the slogan "Taking on the Challenge Together," with the goal of making motorsports more accessible and casual to people to enjoy. The Challenge Program aims to develop human resources through its activities and to broaden the base of participatory motorsports, thereby promoting them.
Matsubara is currently competing in the "ENEOS Super Taikyu Series 2025 Empowered by BRIDGESTONE (hereinafter referred to as "Super Taikyu")"* as a driver of the Club MAZDA SPIRIT RACING ROADSTER No. 120 ST-5 class.
*One of Japan's largest endurance race series, contested by vehicles based on commercially available cars. Divided into multiple classes, the series is characterized by multiple drivers taking turns racing over long distances ranging from 3 to 24 hours.
(Right) The Mazda SPIRIT RACING ROADSTER (2025 spec) that Matsubara will be riding in
At the "Super Taikyu Round 3 Fuji 24 Hours Race" held at Fuji Speedway from May 30 to June 1, 2025, Matsubara's team won third place. It was the first time that both the team and the individual achieved a podium finish in the Super Taikyu series.
The skills gained from racing are put to good use in the development field
Matsubara is in charge of coordinating reliability evaluations of regenerative braking systems installed in electric vehicles. He says that the experience he gained in motorsports is certainly put to good use in his daily work. Motorsports is a sport that requires advanced skills and mental strength, but it also requires ingenuity in time and cost. Efficient and strategic approaches are essential to achieve results under limited conditions.
In addition to practicing on the circuit, Matsubara also uses a racing simulator to conduct continuous and rational training. Whether on the road or in the simulator, he does not rely solely on intuition; he analyzes driving data, identifies his own issues, and then develops improvement measures, which he then puts into practice. By going through this cycle, he is always aiming for higher levels. These skills are a great advantage in the development field, and contribute to improving the reliability of the technology.
"Take care" is a great strength -- the existence of a workplace that supports passion
When participating in high-level races, Matsubara sometimes takes consecutive days off during the week to prepare. To avoid delays in his absence, Matsubara plans and advances his work schedule. Many members of the team are inspired by Matsubara's dedication to both his work and motorsports. His activities are understood and supported at work, and a cooperative system has been established to ensure that work proceeds smoothly.
Matsubara's challenge is supported by warm daily support, such as conversations such as "Do your best!" before the race and "How was it?" after the race, cheering on at the venue, and introductions to the team's activities in the company newsletter and within the department.
(Right) Commemorative photo with colleagues who came to support the race
Where technology and passion intersect
Chasing your dreams sometimes requires courage. But if you don't give up, your dreams can take on a new form and become reality. Matsubara's story teaches us that. ADVICS has a culture that supports challenges. And the passion of individuals boosts the technical capabilities of the organization. Such interactions are certainly alive and well at ADVICS.