What is the special space that Maserati prepared in Tokyo on the eve of the Formula E “Tokyo E-Prix”?

Racing activities continuing since the company’s founding

The author chatting with Takayuki Kimura, representative of Maserati Japan.

The week of a major race is a time when special social opportunities abound. In the West, it’s customary for the circuit itself to become such a place, whether for leisure or business. And since so many people gather in one city from all over the world, it’s only natural that many special, one-off spaces also emerge outside the circuit.

On May 17th and 18th, Formula E took place in Japan for the second time. Held in Odaiba, it’s an urban event, and with the participation of many car manufacturers, it proved extremely popular. Compared to circuit-style events in the suburbs, this race features electric cars, and the elegance of the lifestyle is more apparent than the smell of oil associated with motorsports. On the eve of the popular Tokyo E-Prix event, or two nights before to be exact, a quiet yet glamorous party was held in the heart of Tokyo for a select few.

The event was hosted by Maserati. This long-established luxury brand based in Modena has traditionally had a strong interest in motorsports, and although there was a brief hiatus, it has been involved in racing since its founding. While it develops and produces its own technically impressive V6 engine, the Nettuno, it is also focusing on its electrified model, the Folgore. As a result, it is now competing in Formula E as well as the GT2 category, making it a rare luxury brand that continues to be involved in motorsports in both “electricity and engine” categories. It achieved a dramatic victory at last year’s Tokyo E-Prix.

Cars aren’t the only topic of conversation

Maria Conti, head of Maserati Corse (racing team).

The venue that Maserati chose for its VIP night event is the Bvlgari Hotel Tokyo, which opened in April 2023. Located on the 40th to 45th floors of Tokyo Midtown Yaesu, a 45-story skyscraper that towers over the Yaesu exit of Tokyo Station, the main entrance to Tokyo, the hotel offers views of the entire city center.

That night, 15 couples (30 people) from all over Japan were invited to the Terrace Room on the 40th floor. Gentlemen and ladies dressed to their liking gathered in the ballroom, which had a large terrace from which they could enjoy a spectacular view of Tokyo. As the conversation became more and more heated, the volume gradually increased. There was an irresistible sense of nervousness before the party began.

The party began with a speech and toast from Takayuki Kimura, president of Maserati Japan. I quickly found an old friend and we engaged in lively discussions about cars. His biggest interest was in the finish of the latest model, the GT2 Stradale. He had already placed his order. Having already completed testing on the circuit and on public roads in Spain, I shared my first impressions. Night parties are both interesting and meaningful in that they allow for direct and honest communication.

Of course, the main topic of conversation was cars, but as they were VIP customers, there was also a wide variety of lifestyle-related topics. Indeed, when people gather together under one umbrella, in this case VIP customers who love Maserati, it’s easy to get along in many ways. They seem to have no trouble talking about their car hobby, as well as investment and business topics.

Special guests participated

2020-21 Formula E champions Stoffel Vandoorne (center) and Jake Hughes (left).

The stars of the party were of course the VIP customers who gathered, and the ones who really livened up the party were the splendid guests. That night, three special guests attended the Bvlgari Hotel Tokyo.

The first person was Maria Conti, who came from the Italian headquarters. She is currently the representative of Maserati Corse (racing team). Having previously worked in public relations at Alfa Romeo and Maserati, she is an old acquaintance of mine. It seemed she remembered my face, and we chatted for a while, catching up on old memories.

The second group, of course, are the drivers who will be competing at Odaiba that weekend. The first is Stoffel Vandoorne (Belgium), who is well known in Japan. He previously competed in Japan’s Super Formula and was also a member of the McLaren F1 team. He was also the 2020-21 Formula E champion. The other is Jake Hughes (Great Britain), who also has extensive formula racing experience.

The atmosphere of a “VIP party”

When they entered the venue accompanied by their team manager, the atmosphere at the party heated up even more. This is what it means when all the right people come together. After finishing their talk show on stage, they were bombarded with requests for commemorative photos. What was impressive was how relaxed they remained throughout the event, providing fan service. This was probably due to the unique atmosphere of a VIP party with only a select few people gathered. Incidentally, it seems that they were looking forward to the food as well as the passionate Japanese fans.

Two days after the party, after an eventful start to the eighth race on Saturday, with qualifying being cancelled midway due to rain, Stoffel Vandoorne won. The customers who attended the party were sure to be immersed in the precious afterglow of excitement.