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The "Axo-ring" a.k.a. The Morioka Motor-center, is a fictional Japanese Testing Facility turned Motorsport Facility. (Created for SMARL)



LORE SUMMARY (This is there for the sake of it, so do not feel pressured to read this):

The "ring" was created in 1971 to act as a testing Facility. This was made to test their cars at a constant velocity; giving them a measure for the reliability and true mileage of their cars (along with enough space within its infield for a road course). This project was originally pitched by the Japanese Government in collaboration with Mitsubishi in 1958, but they instead opted for the creation of Fuji Motor Speedway.

Nissan saw interest in this project, and Headed its revival in collaboration with Bridgestone. Originally, the ring was created with 3.15 degrees of banking, with 5 lanes to choose from. Built within a space of 1km^2, the Ring was at the right radius for a car to consistently hover around its top speed, without worry of bumps either, as the ring was remarkably smooth for the time.

Eventually, Nissan approved for part of the infield circuit to be connected to the ring in 1979, along with steeper banking, in order to capitalize on Formula 1s departure from Fuji. After the creation was complete in 1980, The World Sportscar Championship came to Morioka, having it be their sole Japanese slot, and giving the circuit its first international event.

The race was quite eventful, since leaving and rejoining the oval was quite challenging for drivers; with re-entering the oval being quite an obstacle as the gradual banking made it difficult for drivers to get on power, causing it to be a hotspot for spinouts. The hairpin before this re-entry also offered an adequate area for overtaking, but that was really the best place. Other areas were difficult to dance around, making results more of a product of chaos than anything. Thankfully, the facility became a popular venue as a product of this.

Formula 1 never came, but the facility brought success despite that.

However, it would not remain in such a positive light, as in 1990, an egregious accident occurred on the banking. A competitors car had lost a body panel on the circuit a quarter of a kilometer before joining the infield. Unfortunately, a Nissan Group C car wasn't too far behind, and was unable to notice the bodywork before hitting it. After colliding, the driver had become a passenger, as the bodywork had lodged itself under the car, causing it to catch enough air to become airborne. The car had flown into the surrounding trees, and was unable to keep itself in the incident. The #7 driver, 3 time winner at this circuit, (nicknamed "The Axolotl" by his Latin-American fans because of his short stature, constant smile, and incredible resilience shown in his stints in IMSA) sadly did not make it.

Because of this tragedy, along with the various other near fatal incidents this circuit had, Nissan had cut any future plans for this circuits involvement in international racing events for over a decade. The infield would continue to host domestic events, such as JGTC, but the combined/endurance layout would remain closed.

However, in 2003, after Nissans cross-sharing agreement with Mitsubishi and Renault. It was agreed that the facility, headed by all three, would be brought up to standard for international racing once again, with a chicane now being built on the same banking that brought this Facility into dismay. A new pitlane alongside said banking would be built with grander facilities, along with grandstands large enough to seat a village, and Sakura trees lining the surrounding Ring for the showing of national pride. With its soon debut, Nissan headed the construction of a small park near the old pitlane, built in memory of the Circuits most successful and most common test Driver, "The Axolotl". Within the park would be 7 large trees, in respect of his most used driver number.

When the circuit held its very first international event in 2005, 15 years after its last venture, the event would be called "The 12 hours of The Axo-Ring", being named by a Nissan representative, whom was a former JGTC driver and co-driver/teammate of "The Axolotl". While the name was specific to the Endurance layout, it eventually was used refer to the entire facility.

To continue their mission of creating a safer facility, in 2018, the track would adopt the very same speed scrubbing paint the FIA had used for the Paul Ricard Circuit, in order to slow errant cars down.