Mako Satō
Team Leader and Lead Driver
Vehicle Nissan SilEighty 250 hp
Circuit
Usui Pass
碓氷峠 · Gunma
Circuit data
Territory · Impact Blue Gunma
- Length
- 7.2 km
- Elevation
- 380 meters
- Corners
- 42 technical curves
- Surface
- Old but functional asphalt
- Difficulty
- High
- Type
- Technical medium-radius curves
- Prefecture
- Gunma
- Real-world
- Usui Toge (碓氷峠)
Profile
About the circuit
Usui Pass is a historic mountain pass connecting Gunma with Nagano. It's the territory of Impact Blue, the all-female duo formed by Mako and Sayuki. Their Nissan Sileighty is perfectly adapted for the technical curves.
Background
History
Usui has been a crucial pass for centuries, used on the Nakasendo. Impact Blue chose this pass for its technical curves that favor light and agile vehicles.
The route
Key points
5 sections
- 01 The Glasses Bridge - Iconic historic structure
- 02 The Love Curve - Where Mako and Sayuki perfected their technique
- 03 The Abandoned Tunnels - Old railway line
- 04 The Valley Viewpoint - Spectacular view
- 05 The Nagano Entrance - Final section
Craft
To master it
- Coordinated pair driving
- Light vehicle mastery
- Aggressive female driving techniques
- Using Sileighty for maximum agility
- Historical terrain knowledge
Warning
Hazards
- Old road with irregular maintenance
- Frequent blind curves
- Truck traffic toward Nagano
- Frequent frost in winter
- Unlit areas
Legend
Battles & trivia
- Impact Blue is composed only of women
- The Sileighty is Silvia front, 180SX rear
- Mako and Sayuki are childhood friends
- The pass has over 400 years of history
- The abandoned tunnels are now a tourist attraction
Territory
Impact Blue drivers
Gunma, Japan
Sayuki
Co-driver and Navigator
Vehicle Nissan SilEighty 250 hp
Sources