Mooncraft Co., Ltd. | |
Type: | Kabushiki gaisha |
Industry: | Automotive |
Foundation: | 1975 |
Founder: | Takuya Yura |
Location City: | Gotemba, Shizuoka |
Location Country: | Japan |
Area Served: | Worldwide |
Key People: | Takuya Yura Masato Furukawa |
Parent: | Toray Carbon Magic |
Homepage: | https://www.mooncraft.jp/ |
is a Japanese race car constructor based in Shizuoka, Japan.
Mooncraft was founded by in 1975.[1] The company was created to design and market race cars within Japan and abroad.
The company created the Shiden 77 in 1977, driven by Noritake Takahara in the Fuji Grand Champion Series; the car featured a unique design that won it many fans although it was not competitive[2] and was ultimately destroyed in a crash.[3] In addition to their own cars, Mooncraft also constructed cars for other teams and manufacturers; one of their most notable early creations was the Mazda 717C, which won in its class at the 1983 24 Hours of Le Mans, the first Japanese car to do so.
Mooncraft formed their own race team in 1985;[4] since then, Mooncraft vehicles have been used in all forms of motorsports. A new wind tunnel facility was installed in the company's new facility in Gotemba in 1986.[5] Toray Carbon Magic acquired Mooncraft in 2018.[6]