WDK Motorsport looks to Japan for growth

WDK Motorsport, the FIA title-winning historic motorsport business noted for its work with 3 litre Formula One cars of the 1970s and 1980s, based in Stockbridge Hampshire, has appointed UKJP Limited as its agent for Japan.

UKJP Limited, a representation and engineering business consultancy company for UK automotive and motorsport businesses working in Japan, was founded in 2017 by Hiro Toyoda, the former managing director of Honda Racing’s associate company in UK. He has enjoyed a long and distinguished career working in the UK motor racing industry for 25 years, including working for several automotive manufacturers in Formula 1 and endurance racing, on World Rally Car projects and in the establishment of the current Honda F1 base in the UK.

“WDK has already raced several of our clients’ historic F1 cars in Japan, and are well aware of the fast-rising interest there in historic motorsport, so we had been looking for a way into the Japanese market, which Hiro provides,” said Christopher Tate, WDK Motorsport’s Executive Chairman.

“Having personally known Hiro Toyoda in his long career in international motorsport, it is my great pleasure to welcome him to WDK and the world of historic racing. We have exciting plans for Japan, and the ability to use our workforce’s world-wide reputation for quality engineering, to expand into an exciting new market.”

“Since establishing UKJP last year, we have been talking to WDK, and in view of the increasing levels of interest in Japan in not just collecting classic cars, but also in racing classic and historic cars,” said Toyoda. “I’m sure that this is an excellent moment to launch this new service. For example, I was delighted to discover that last year, WDK rebuilt and now maintain, the unique Japanese 1970s F 1 car, the Maki 101-DFV, a car which in many ways, led the growth of F1 interest in Japan back in the 1970s.

“We will not only be working exclusively with WDK in the historic market but will also be representing some other well known and expert names from UK motorsport as 2018 develops. We are excited to have the opportunity to take part in the expansion of classic racing in Japan.”