Which Honda track in Tochigi Prefecture opened in 1997?

The Honda track in Tochigi Prefecture that opened in 1997 was Motegi, now called Mobility Resort Motegi.

Honda built the facility in the town of Motegi as part of an effort to expand its involvement in American-style open-wheel racing. It opened in August 1997 under the name Twin Ring Motegi, a reference to its two principal circuits: a banked oval and a permanent road course. The venue remains owned by Honda and operated by Honda Mobilityland.

The oval helped bring IndyCar racing to Japan, including the Indy Japan 300, while the road course became an important venue for Japanese motorcycle racing. Motegi has also hosted Super GT, Super Formula, and the Japanese Motorcycle Grand Prix. Its road course and oval can be used independently, making the complex unusually versatile.

The name changed to Mobility Resort Motegi on March 1, 2022, marking the facility’s 25th anniversary. That renaming can cause confusion in quizzes and search results: “Motegi,” “Twin Ring Motegi,” and “Mobility Resort Motegi” refer to the same Honda-owned venue. Suzuka is another Honda-associated circuit, but it opened decades earlier, in 1962.