The Passion of Mazda: 2025 Fuji Fan Festa Experience – Feature

Before anything else, I need to make a confession: I am not a Mazda die-hard, nor am I an expert when it comes to anything about the brand. Don’t get me wrong, I’m of course aware of the highlights like the MX-5/Miata, RX7, RX8, Cosmos, and many more.

However, knowing the cool cars or the great models doesn’t always give you the full picture, especially since I’ve actually only driven an MX-5, so how lucky I was to be invited to this year’s installment of the Mazda Fan Festa, which was to be held at the legendary Fuji Speedway in Japan.

2025 Mazda Fan Festa Fuji Speedway

Prior to this trip, I’d had conversations with people who had already gone to Fan Festa before, and there was this understanding that what I was about to experience was something transcendental; they would tell me how epic it would be. As built up as this event was, I must admit that I was excited for a number of reasons, mainly to finally set foot on the legendary Fuji Speedway.

For me, Fuji Speedway stands around the top 5 of my most favorite race tracks, nestled between the undulating peaks of the area surrounding Mt.Fuji (where the track gets its name), it is one of the most, if not the most, picturesque tracks out there. Fuji Speedway also hosts some of the top-flight racing series in the world, like the World Endurance Championship, and they also used to hold F1 races there back in the early 2000s.

Besides being an international venue, the track is also home to some of the local race series, like Super GT and others, where Mazda also participates with racing versions of the Mazda 3 and the MX-5 under the Mazda Spirit Racing team. How lucky the Japanese are to be able to call Fuji Speedway a “local” track.

We arrived at Fuji Speedway bright and early at around 8 am to avoid the major crowds, even though Fuji Speedway is located quite far from any major cities or towns, crowds gather in the 10’s of thousands just to participate in the festivities.

Getting off the bus and just taking in the surroundings almost put me in a dizzy spell. Everywhere we looked, there were people driving up and down in Mazdas of all shapes, sizes, and colors. Already present were die-hard fans lining up at the merchandise tent, ready to blow all their money on brand paraphernalia. We crossed over to the main paddock area of the circuit, where even more vendors were selling various items, and alongside them, booths and tents offering different activities like fan making, flag making, and many more. All of these activities catered towards giving each and every fan a memorable experience.

Awakening

After we were given our media vests and briefed by the track officials, we were ushered to the “Mecca” of this whole event, the garage that housed all the special race cars and heritage models that were going to do some showcase laps. At first, we were running a bit late, and by the time we got back down to ground level, I could already make out the distinct high-pitched wail of the 787B clearing its throat. In a mad panic, I sort of ran to try to make it, but when I entered the garages amassed around the 787B was a big crowd.

I crammed myself against the crowd and took some sneak peeks, and there it was in all its orange, green, and yellow glory, a motorsports icon and hero. Let me first explain why the 787B matters. The 787B is historic because it is quite simply the last rotary-powered car to win the famed 24 Hours of Le Mans, and is the first Japanese manufacturer to win the race. As a racecar driver myself and a die-hard motorsports fanatic, the mere sight of the 787B almost sent me into a frenzy. I could’ve (and should’ve) probably knelt down in front of it and offered some sort of sacrifice.

Going back to reality, having thought that I missed the warm-up, I was quite sad, but when the general public was asked to leave, I almost followed them. Luckily for me, a Mazda employee held me back and said I could stay due to my Media pass and vest. Stay for what I thought? The show’s over? But before I could say anything else, the 787B was wheeled back out of the garage onto the pits, and we scampered around it, taking pictures and videos without the public around to hassle us. As I continued to snap photos, suddenly the 787B burst (yes, it sounded as if it blew up) into life, and the snap, crackle, and pop of the initial ignition was replaced by the patented high-pitched note, and as the driver built up his revs, we watched it ease out of the garage and make its way to the starting grid for a parade lap.

As if the moment couldn’t get any more surreal, the world around suddenly ignited. The other race cars parked in the garage were also going to be part of the festivities, and one by one, each car turned on and started warming up. The garage was filled with the guttural sounds of race-prepared rotary engines revving higher and higher, smoke and gasoline filled the air, but it was the sheer beauty and assault of the moment that had me in man tears. I will admit here and now that that is probably one of the most memorable experiences I’ve ever had.

The day progressed with other activities, and there were also race exhibitions in the form of the Mazda MX-5 Cup and endurance races, and also parade laps for all Mazda cars that signed up. It truly is a sight to behold, such love for a brand and such passion.

We were also treated to a small closed-door session with Fujimoto-san, who is the Global Head of Marketing for Mazda, and she is also credited as the brains behind the Mazda Fan Festa itself. During our session with her, she drove the point home that Mazda’s goal with this event is to showcase its core beliefs in creating “fun to drive” cars, and to give not just their fans, but also their employees joy and pride about the brand.

Before capping off the Fan Festa weekend, there was to be one more classic racecar showcase. This time, though, instead of coming out of the pits, we were able to see them parked on the Grid for a race start. The gates to the grid opened, and it was another big moment for me to be able to take proper steps on the tarmac of Fuji Speedway. I took the moment in and walked around, taking more photos of the cars on track, and also generally observed the other people around me.

I continue to be in awe of Japanese cars and race fans; these people can be die-hard in the best way. Around me were men, women, children, and even older people taking photos with the drivers and the cars, savoring each moment like I was. After a few minutes of grid walking, the final days’ showcase laps went underway; once again, the otherwise quiet and peaceful surroundings were shattered by the noise of racing.

Having finished shooting my content, I found myself a spot on the pit wall to savor every moment. I watched as each race car zoomed past us, closing my eyes, trying to play my own little game to guess which car had just driven by. The crackles and pops of each exhaust note made me all giddy, hearing the drivers’ heel and toe shift the cars through the corners.

Finally, since it was the final run of the day, the driver of the 787B started driving it as if he was once again on the Mulsanne Straight at the Circuit De La Sarthe, where the 24 Hours of Le Mans is held. The 787B was being run pedal to the metal style, and on occasion would be driven close to the pit wall, inches from me and my ears, each lap searing itself into my memories as that intoxicating engine note screamed past me (sometimes spitting fire out of the exhaust) on lift off.

It’s all about the Passion

Those who are big fans of Mazda will definitely appreciate what Fan Festa stands for, as it is the culminating celebratory event of the brand. However, for people like me who just love cars and have a passion for racing, Mazda’s Fan Festa felt like a religious pilgrimage for me. I may not be a fanatic, but the respect I now possess for Mazda is immense.

We used to refer to our industry as the car industry, but now all the buzzwords are geared towards “mobility”; it’s all about the efficiency of travel for the human race, usually at the expense of true passion and what it means to drive fantastic vehicles. It is the reality we now face in 2025, that Mazda as a brand isn’t shunning, but rather is taking steps to adapt and develop properly for the next frontier of mobility, without sacrificing its passion and remembering its roots.

I remember thinking quite poetically that each of the heritage racecars that were on display that day had its own story. These cars stand as mirrors into a past filled with motorsport passion and success that led Mazda to where it is today, and continue to be the driving force behind what makes the brand a favorite amongst the true enthusiasts.