Stopping at a petrol station in the middle of nowhere – miles from civilisation or the nearest highway – might seem like the perfect night out for slasher film buffs eager to channel the energy of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. However, for most of us, the only reason for such a detour would be if the petrol station sold 99RON fuel.

But this is Japan, where high-octane petrol is as ubiquitous as sushi and available at every station, from Hokkaido to Okinawa. Yet the allure of this particular Apollostation, situated deep in the mountains of Gifu Prefecture, is far more intriguing.

As I pulled up to the forecourt, owner Keiji Kasugai waved me in.

I spotted Maeda-san – no stranger to Speedhunters – skillfully reversing his pristine Subaru Forester S/tb-STI into the loading bay of a nearby shed. It only has 30,000 kilometres on the clock, and smells like new shoes. Maeda-san’s collection includes several 22Bs and a couple of WRC Imprezas, and Keiji-san looks after all of them.

Before we check out what Maeda-san was unloading, let’s explore the main Apollostation Autocare workshop…

Anywhere else in the country, an Autocare workshop is where families bring their Honda Stepwgns for routine service. This Autocare, however, serves as a front for a far more interesting operation. Step into the dim light of this service centre, and you’ll find more than just kei cars waiting for an oil change.

What may seem like a typical service station is also home to Keiji-san’s true passion: AION Racing Service.

Keiji-san provides race support for Formula Drift Japan and D1 Grand Prix competitors. But his skills aren’t limited to race weekends; AION Racing Service also builds and tunes various race cars for these series.

In one corner of the workshop, an FDJ3 Toyota JZX entry in hot pink awaits Keiji-san’s touch.

The 2024 D1GP R2-winning Toyota GR86, powered by a Nissan R35 GT-R VR38DETT, is parked alongside. The new engine is still top secret so I can’t show you it now, but don’t worry – I’ve scheduled a shoot.

Across the forecourt, a more nondescript shed houses even spicier machines.

A forklift was used to shift a JDM Mercedes-Benz Unimog 411 out of the way, but I was glad to keep it in my frame. Presumably a parallel import from the late 1950s, the Unimog’s portal axles are perfect for Japan’s mountainous terrain. A favourite of farmers and emergency services, these quirky machines are still used by Shinkansen rail construction crews today.

By now, you might be beginning to understand Keiji-san’s impressive mechanical expertise. And the projects he takes on are as eclectic as they come.

Stepping inside the unassuming shed transports you back to the glory days of the WRC. “It looks like the Prodrive workshop from 1999!” exclaims Maeda-san, owner of W24 SRT, as he admires his fully restored Prodrive S5.

We unload a box from the back of the Forester: a set of refurbished WRC dampers. They join a collection of new, old stock and used Subaru WRC parts cluttering the workshop. Think carbon fibre air intakes, hub assemblies, body panels, and subframes.

In the corner, a familiar sight catches my eye: an Impreza Retna, identical to my two-door project car. This was the other vehicle Maeda-san had squirrelled when I bought mine. It’s been completely stripped and is destined to become a WRC replica, complete with original steel wide-body panels from Prodrive for a touch of authenticity.

Keiji-san is tasked with the replica’s restoration, but he also maintains these priceless rally legends.

Yet Keiji-san isn’t just some ex-Prodrive mechanic living out an idyllic retirement in Japan’s mountains; he’s just a very clever man.  Intrigued by the array of rally cars in various stages of repair, I asked Keiji-san how he learnt to fix WRC cars. “I just learnt by doing,” he replied with a casual shrug.

Fair enough. But, I wonder, when parts break, are they still available? “Many parts are still available, like brakes and suspension. But if something else breaks, I just make a replacement or modify something else to work.”

In a way, Keiji-san’s ingenuity embodies the rally spirit. Images of Colin McRae bashing a bent control arm back into shape with a boulder on the side of a gravel road come to mind.

In the opposite corner, a Safari Rally-spec shell awaits its buckled body panels to be pulled out, set up on the chassis jig, and restored. There was a time when these ex-works cars could be purchased for the price of a well-kept R32 Nissan Skyline GT-R. Those days are long gone; even cars like this mangled wreck have become highly sought after.

I’m just grateful that places like AION Racing Service exist, where the broken warriors of WRC are rehabilitated and reborn as road-legal reminders of Subaru’s rally history.

Toby Thyer
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