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Evangelion Co-Sponsors Super GT300 Car Racing Team (Update 2)

Not-So-Daily Link of the Day II: The Evangelion anime franchise has announced on Thursday that it is co-sponsoring a car racing team in the Super GT300-class grand touring championship series. The "Evangelion RT-01 apr Corolla" will debut in round 3 at the Fuji Speedway during the May 1-2 weekend. The customized Toyota Corolla Axio (#31) will have a unique "Eva Racing" logo and colors inspired by the Evangelion EVA-01 unit of the anime's main character Shinji Ikari.

Run'a Entertainment and apr's racing team, headed by Hiroto Kaneso, has won the Super GT/JGTC championship series four times in the past. Teruo Nagai runs the team with drivers Koki Saga and Kosuke Matsuura. As with other teams, individuals can sponsor the team through the Eva Racing Supporters program and receive limited-edition goods.

Last month, the model company Tamiya released a Evangelion EVA-01 "Awake" Version of its Mini-4 Pro AVANTE Mk. III Azure model car kit, with coloring designed by Evangelion mechanical designer Ikuto Yamashita. The mobile content company Media Magic began offering two new bicycles in the Evangelion Bike Project, complete with official EVA01 Spandex Bicycle Shorts and other matching accessories.

Images © Khara

Update: In the past, Studie GLAD fielded a BMW Z4 decorated with the virtual idol singer Hatsune Miku, and apr fielded a Toyota MR-S decorated as Lightning McQueen from Pixar's Cars film. Thanks, SonicDaMan and Hon'ya-chan.

Update 2: In the current race season, Good Smile Racing with Cox is fielding a Porsche 996 RSR decorated with new illustrations of Hatsune Miku. Team Mach is fielding a Vemac 408R painted like the Mach 5 of the Mach Go Go Go (Speed Racer) anime. Thanks, HockeyKamen.