D1 Grand Prix Tokyo Drift 2025 Brings Season Finale Intensity to Odaiba

Tokyo, Japan — The D1 Grand Prix (D1GP) Tokyo Drift closed out the 2025 season with a two-day showdown on November 15 and 16 at a specially constructed street-style circuit in Odaiba, placing Japan’s leading drift teams and drivers under decisive championship pressure.

Serving as Rounds 9 and 10, the Odaiba event carried added weight as one of the few double-round weekends on the calendar. With up to 58 points available across the two days, the title remained mathematically open for several contenders entering the final stop of the season.

A Temporary Circuit Built for Precision

The Odaiba course, assembled along Tokyo Bay, emphasized high-angle initiation, speed control, and proximity rather than outright horsepower. Long acceleration zones fed into technical clipping points, demanding balance and throttle discipline—particularly during tandem battles under night lighting.

Unlike permanent circuits such as Ebisu or Okuibuki, the temporary venue leaves little margin for correction, amplifying the consequences of small mistakes in chase runs.

Teams, Drivers, and Machinery in Focus

The 2025 Tokyo Drift grid reflected the technical diversity of the current D1GP era, with Toyota GR86s, Nissan Silvias, and Skyline platforms sharing the spotlight.

Key competitors included:

• Hideyuki Fujino (Team TOYO TIRES DRIFT), campaigning a Toyota GR86, continuing the model’s strong presence across the season.
• Tetsuya Hibino (SHIBATA Racing Team), one of the most experienced drivers in the field, maintaining consistency through both solo and tandem sessions.
• Naoki Nakamura, whose aggressive chase style has remained a defining element of modern D1GP battles.
• Kojiro Mekuwa, competing with WORK-supported machinery and remaining in championship contention heading into the weekend.
• CUSCO Racing, fielding multiple entries and reinforcing the manufacturer-backed team presence at the season finale.

Across both days, qualifying runs highlighted the importance of line accuracy over spectacle, while tandem battles rewarded composure and adaptability rather than risk-heavy driving.

Round Results and Championship Context

Round 9 (November 15) placed immediate emphasis on solo performance, with the top qualifiers converting pace into controlled tandem victories.

Round 10 (November 16) intensified the championship picture, as drivers were forced to balance aggression against the risk of costly zero-point eliminations.

While individual round winners varied, the Odaiba weekend ultimately functioned as a consistency test, rewarding teams that had refined setups throughout the season rather than relying on last-minute experimentation.

The final standings reflected a season defined by incremental gains, with no single driver dominating outright across all venues—underscoring the competitive depth of the 2025 D1GP field.

Tokyo Drift’s Role in the D1GP Calendar

Tokyo Drift continues to occupy a distinct position within the D1 Grand Prix ecosystem. Unlike regional circuits, Odaiba places drifting in a high-visibility urban setting, drawing both dedicated motorsport fans and casual spectators.

Beyond competition, the weekend incorporated fan exhibitions, team displays, and automotive showcases, reinforcing drifting’s position at the intersection of motorsport and Japanese car culture.

As the curtain fell on the 2025 season, the Odaiba finale reaffirmed D1GP’s emphasis on technical precision, team development, and head-to-head execution, rather than headline-driven spectacle.

2025 D1GP Tokyo Drift — Round 9 (Nov 15, 2025) Results (Top 16)

At the Odaiba special venue, Round 9 saw Tsuiso (tandem) competition decide the winner after qualifying battles. The top finishers:

Top 5 — Round 9

1. Naoki Nakamura – TEAM VALINO × N-STYLE (Toyota GR86 ZN8)
2. Mao Yamanaka – WEINS Toyota Kanagawa × Ore da! Racing (Toyota GR SUPRA A90)
3. Kojiro Mekuwa – VALINO TEAM G-Meister (BMW E92)
4. Koudai Sobakiri – SHIBATA RACING TEAM (Toyota GR86 ZN8)
5. Hideyuki Fujino – Team TOYO TIRES DRIFT 1 (Toyota GR86 ZN8)
   (Positions 6–16 also scored points; full top 16 included drivers such as Tetsuya Hibino, Kenshiro Wada, and Lattapon Keawchin.)

Qualifying (Solo) — Top 3

1. Hideyuki Fujino – GR86 (ZN8)
2. Tetsuya Hibino – GR86 (ZN8)
3. Naoki Nakamura – GR86 (ZN8)

Round 9 awarded points that tightened the title race heading into Round 10.

2025 D1GP Tokyo Drift — Round 10 (Nov 16, 2025) Results & Champion

On Day 2, the competition reached its climax:

• Winner — Round 10: Hideyuki Fujino (Team TOYO TIRES DRIFT 1, Toyota GR86 ZN8)
• Solo (Tanso) Winner: Tetsuya Hibino (SHIBATA RACING TEAM, GR86 ZN8)
• Champion Decided: Hideyuki Fujino won both the round and the 2025 series title by narrowly outscoring his rivals over the two days.

Fujino’s victory in Round 10, combined with his season points total, ultimately secured him the 2025 D1GP Drivers’ Championship — his third series title after previous titles, by just one point over Koudai Sobakiri. 

2025 D1GP Final Championship — Drivers’ Standings (Top 10)

After all ten rounds (including Odaiba), the final series rankings were:

Full ranking extended beyond the top 10 with drivers like Mitsuru Murakami, Hokuto Matsuyama, and Lattapon Keawchin among others. 

Key Takeaways from Odaiba and the 2025 Season

• Hideyuki Fujino (No. 66) executed a critical late-season push, winning the final round and edging the championship by a single point.
• Koudai Sobakiri (No. 31) led much of the season and finished a close second overall.
• Naoki Nakamura (No. 99) emerged as a consistent high-placer and solidified third in the final standings.

The Odaiba finale illustrated how tightly contested the 2025 D1GP season was — where consistency across ten rounds outweighed isolated successes.

Official Links

• D1 Grand Prix Official Website
  https://d1gp.co.jp/
• D1 Grand Prix 2025 Tokyo Drift Event Page
  https://d1gp.co.jp/category/gp/2025-d1gp/
• 2025 D1GP Series Standings (Japan Official): https://d1gp.co.jp/d1gp2025ranking/