Coronet Powerworks

Coronet Powerworks was formed in 1986 in a small warehouse on the outskirts of the city of Okayama (in what is now the higashi-ku, or Eastern Ward) by a former Toyota mechanic who was dissatisfied with the repeated breakdowns of his new Celica – Daisuke Urasawa. By his own account, the goal was never to become a reputable tuning shop known for specialized engine and drivetrain work; rather, he wanted to build, rebuild, and tune engines to be reliable, first and foremost.

That focus on reliable repair work led many grassroots and ‘underground’ racers in the Okyama prefecture to Coronet Powerworks; while never focusing specifically on building racing engines in the beginning, Daisuke was always willing to put in the work needed to improve the performance of an engine if the customer requested it done – usually after they had blown up an engine first and wanted something better and faster.

In a different universe, Coronet Powerworks would have continued building reliable engines and would only have been known as one of the best repair shops in Okayama – were it not for the opening of the TI Circuit Aida in 1990, now known as the Okayama International Circuit. The draw of having a racetrack within a short drive was too much for Daisuke to ignore, and he began to build a Nissan 300ZX (Z32) into a proper race car on the side, specifically for what is known today as the Japan Super Production Series.

Crucially, instead of handling the driving duties entirely himself, he decided to make his son, Daiki, the lead driver for the Z32 when he was ready and of legal age to race. For four years Daisuke built the car into a functional racing machine, doing all of the work on the engine and drivetrain systems himself while logging countless testing laps at Okayama Circuit - until, at the age of 16, Daiki made his racing debut at Okayama driving the Z32, numbered #101 and painted in a simple gray and white livery with only the name of the tuning shop on the side.

Success was not easy, and financial difficulties were the name of the game for the tuning shop-turned amateur racing outfit until the global fallout from the GT Racing Exodus of 1999 and subsequent formation of the Kaido Association in 2002 – while not exactly recognized as a true powerhouse among the tuning shops and grassroots racing scene, the reputation both on and off the track for Coronet Powerworks as a well-respected independent team allowed for a rather unlikely customer racing program; the opportunity to receive support and funding from Nissan Motor Co.

That is where the team continues to stand today; with the formation of the Saikou no Taikyu series under the J-Speed Association banner, Coronet Powerworks has been a steady participant since day one, with a few short stints in the top-flight J-Speed GT Masters series. The team has continued to evolve their uncommon racing machines at a consistent pace; with every new Z model Nissan brings out, a new race car is crafted to perfection by the dedicated individuals within Coronet Powerworks – all the while maintaining a reputation for excellence and dignity on and off the racetrack.

The second son of a family of merchants in Mine, Kazuya’s ‘racing’ career began strictly as an after-school activity at the local go-kart facility. His family never expected him to show any serious aptitude for driving, and coupled with his ‘apathetic’ personality there were no great expectations placed upon him as a child – and yet, he has managed to carve out an impressive racing resume in a relatively short span of time.

What led him into becoming a racing driver was a meeting in high school with the president of Mine Circuit, the local racing circuit famous as a major road testing facility and as the host of J-Speed Association events. With assistance from a team sponsored by Mine Circuit, Kazuya managed to juggle both his high school classes and racing obligations, originally in the Japan Super Production Series’ N-Tourer 2 class, then continuing his path of ‘dual-purpose’ by earning his degree from Shimonoseki City University with a major in chemical physics and continuing to move up the J-Speed Association’s race tiers.

A multiple race winner in both Tourer-3 and GENKI (National GT4) machinery, some may find fault with his indifferent personality off the track – in a sense, he just lives his own life outside of racing – but on the track, his reputation for even-handedness and calm, precise driving makes him a formidable challenger behind the wheel of whatever he is driving. His only vice appears to be high-citrus food and drinks.

The eldest daughter and former heir to one of the largest wineries within the German state of Baden-Württemberg, Ninian Henzler has made a name for herself as a driver who is a master at tire preservation and consistent pace, despite her relatively late start in motor racing and lack of experience.
Originally from Heidelberg, her goal as a child was to become a great jazz musician, contrary to what her family wished for her career path, and it was only after her father took her and her family to see a Tourer-1 World Championship event at Hockenheim did her interest in motorsport become real. With reluctant support from her family, she was given a drive in a German Formula Rookie Grand Prix car at the age of 16 despite never really racing in a kart in any sort of capacity. To everyone’s surprise, she finished all of the races in her first season and managed to take four podiums, with a 2nd place at Hockenheim her best result. Her second season was even better, with two wins and a 3rd place points finish at year’s end.
At that point, and with offers of a drive in the EURO Junior Grand Prix on the table… she decided to quit racing entirely and focus instead on earning her degree from Heidelberg University as an engineering psychology major. No one knows the reason for dropping her racing career at that point, but it is rumored that her family refused to continue supporting her racing career, and as a result she cut ties with them and renounced any claim over the family affairs and estate.
It was only last year that she rejoined the racing world in the British Touring Pro League, making a name for herself as a consistent driver capable of reaching the podium on any given day despite less-than-superior equipment and an unfortunate habit of poor starting positions. Now, given the opportunity to drive in the J-Speed GT Masters as a Nissan development driver, she has been given the support she finally needs to continue her career. Her main hobby is falconry, which is where her Tripwire handle comes from.

Son of the founder of Coronet Powerworks, now retired from full-time driving and working as the team principal while his father continues to manage the tuning shop portion of the organization. Never known as a driver with pure pace, but is known for composure and consistency both behind the wheel and in his management style. Known as a calculated risk-taker, Daiki has made decisions that seem questionable at face value but have led to consistent success throughout his tenure as team principal. Still races the original Z32 car his father built for him in historic events but can also be called upon as a reliable endurance driver if he feels compelled to do so. The very definition of the quiet and respected leader.

A longtime friend of Daiki’s despite their age difference, Tomoyuki attended the Okayama University of Science and majored in both mechanical and automotive engineering. After his graduation, Daisuke offered him a position within the racing team to help out on the development of the first iteration of the Nissan 350Z JSA-GT machine the team built. His continued devotion to development of the drivetrain systems makes him one of the most valuable assets within the team. Has a similar personality to Daiki, but is willing to speak his mind when necessary.

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