Rally Round – How An Australian Rally Launched the Japanese Car

The first Japanese Grand Prix held in 1963, at Honda’s then very new facility at Suzuka, is generally recognized as the coming of age of Japanese motor sport. But six years prior to that, a Japanese car competed in an overseas event for the first time – the 1957 Mobilgas Round Australia Rally.

The Round Australia was right up there with the Monte Carlo and East African Safari. To qualify for entry, at least 1000 examples of a particular car must have been built. Very few modifications were allowed, including reinforcing.