Masafumi Hishii claimed his third consecutive PN5-class victory at Round 7 of the All-Japan Gymkhana Championship, held September 5–6 at Suzuka Circuit's South Course. Driving the Bridgestone-shod Cusco GR Yaris, Hishii set the winning time of 1:12.027 before rain turned the surface wet and slowed the later runs — a streak now running since Round 5.
The round also settled three season titles: series championships were clinched in PN1 by Asayama, in BC2 by Hirose — who also set the meeting's outright fastest time at 1:11.215 — and in BC3 by Ohashi.
Gymkhana, the JDM discipline hiding in plain sight
For overseas readers who know Japanese motorsport through drifting and circuit time attack, gymkhana is the third pillar: ultra-technical sprint courses driven solo against the clock, where runs last little more than a minute and positions can turn on hundredths of a second. The discipline also serves as a development and proving ground for Japanese tire, suspension and differential specialists — which helps explain why aftermarket companies like Cusco support front-running entries.
The GR Yaris has become the class weapon of choice at the sharp end, and Hishii's streak is part of a broader 2026 pattern: the same nameplate is currently winning WRC rounds at world level, JRC gravel rallies and now domestic gymkhana rounds, in wildly different states of tune.
The PN5 championship will be decided at the season finale — Round 8, "Super Slalom in Kumakogen," at Highland Park Mikawa in Ehime Prefecture on October 3–4.