Stopping at a gas station in the middle of nowhere – miles from civilization or the nearest highway – might seem like the perfect night out for slasher film enthusiasts looking to channel the energy of their lives. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. However, for most of us, the only reason for such a detour would be if the gas station sold 99RON fuel.
But this is Japan, where high-octane gasoline is as ubiquitous as sushi and available at every station from Hokkaido to Okinawa. Yet the appeal of this particular Apollo station, located deep in the mountains of Gifu Prefecture, is much more intriguing.
As I pulled into the forecourt, owner Keiji Kasugai motioned for me to come inside.
I immediately noticed Maeda-san – no stranger to Speedhunters – expertly backing his immaculate Subaru Forester S/tb-STI into the loading dock of a nearby warehouse. It has only 30,000 kilometers on the odometer and smells like new shoes. Maeda-san’s collection includes several 22Bs and a few WRC Imprezas, and Keiji-san maintains them all.
Before we see what Maeda-san was unloading, let’s explore the main workshop of Apollostation Autocare…
Elsewhere in the country there is an Autocare workshop where families take their Honda Stepwgns for routine maintenance. However, this Autocare serves as a cover for a much more interesting operation. Step into the dim light of this service center and you’ll find more than just that Where cars waiting for an oil change.
What may seem like a typical gas station is also home to Keiji-san’s true passion: AION Racing Service.
Keiji-san provides racing support for Formula Drift Japan and D1 Grand Prix competitors. But his skills are not limited to race weekends; AION Racing Service also builds and tunes various racing cars for these series.
In a corner of the workshop, an FDJ3 Toyota JZX in bright pink awaits Keiji-san’s touch.
The 2024 D1GP R2-winning Toyota GR86, powered by a Nissan R35 GT-R VR38DETT, is parked next to it. The new engine is still top secret, so I can’t show it off right now, but don’t worry, I have a shoot planned.
Across the forecourt is a more inconspicuous shed housing even more powerful machines.
The best WRC garage that isn’t
A forklift was used to move a JDM Mercedes-Benz Unimog 411 out of the way, but I was happy to keep it in my frame. Presumably a parallel import from the late 1950s, the Unimog’s portal axles are perfect for Japan’s mountainous terrain. These quirky machines are a favorite of farmers and emergency services and are still used by Shinkansen railway workers.
By now you may be starting to understand Keiji-san’s impressive mechanical expertise. And the projects he takes on are as eclectic as they come.
Stepping into the unassuming shed takes you back to the glory days of the WRC. “It looks like the Prodrive workshop from 1999!” exclaims Maeda-san, owner of W24 SRTas he admires his fully restored Prodrive S5.
We unload a box from the back of the Forester: a set of reconditioned WRC dampers. They join a collection of new, old stock and used Subaru WRC parts cluttering the workshop. Think of carbon fiber air intakes, hub assemblies, body panels and subframes.
In the corner, a familiar face catches my eye: an Impreza Retna, identical to my two-door project car. This was the other vehicle Maeda-san had made when I bought mine. Completely stripped back, it is destined to become a WRC replica, complete with original Prodrive steel wide body panels for a touch of authenticity.
Everything is possible – just do it
Keiji-san is in charge of the restoration of the replica, but he also maintains these priceless rally legends.
Yet Keiji-san is not just an ex-Prodrive mechanic living an idyllic retirement in the Japanese mountains; he’s just a very smart man. Intrigued by the array of rally cars in various stages of repair, I asked Keiji-san how he learned to repair WRC cars. ‘I just learned by doing’ he replied with a casual shrug.
Reasonable. But I wonder: if parts break, are they still available? “There are still many parts available, such as brakes and suspension. But if something else breaks, I just replace it or adjust something else so that it works again.”
In a way, Keiji-san’s ingenuity embodies the rallying spirit. I think of images of Colin McRae smashing a bent control arm back into shape with a boulder on the side of a dirt road.
In the opposite corner, a Safari Rally spec shell awaits the bent body panels to be pulled out, placed on the chassis mold and repaired. There was a time when these factory cars could be purchased for the price of a well-maintained R32 Nissan Skyline GT-R. Those days are long gone; even cars like this mangled wreck have become highly sought after.
I’m just grateful that places like AION Racing Service exist, where the broken warriors of the WRC are rehabilitated and reborn as street-legal reminders of Subaru’s rally history.
Toby Thyer
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