Four seasons in one day wasn’t enough to deter the crowds descending on Silverstone for Europe’s biggest and best Japanese car show, Japfest.
Over 20,000 spectators attended the event taking in the sights of more than 3500 cars on display. From Kei cars to the UK’s largest selection of R35 GT-Rs in one place (142) and everything inbetween. There was truly something for everyone. Our show favourite? It was Car of the Show winner Tom and his RB25-engined Datsun 280z.
Track sessions were as popular as ever at Japfest 2025, and each session was filled with a mixture of road-going builds to full on Time Attack specials, offering the sweet smell of petrol and the sounds of wastegates and rev-limiters. But of course the real magic happened when the pro drifters took to the track in what became a spicy afternoon in the wet conditions. 360s turned into 720s as drivers scrambled to find any sign of grip out there. While it likely was stressful inside the cockpit, it made for brilliant viewing for spectators.
Car clubs are the reason we can put on such a huge event for spectators, and this year’s displays did not disappoint. With over 3500 cars on display, choosing our best club awards was no easy feat. However, there could only be one winner for Best Club stand and that was Weapons of Mass Destruction. Why? Simple, the club spent the time parking cars accordingly, which culminated with a central club marquee to bring everything together. Not only that, but the standard of each car on display was up there with the best anywhere in the show.
Elsewhere, Best One-Make Club was won by Battalion30Five, who also happened to be the largest club at Japfest, too, with 142 cars on display. With examples of stock, original launch year (2009) cars on display, alongside the latest iterations, mixed in with high power or even show-ready cars was a pleasure to see.
Taking home Best Modern club was Cult86, a car club dedicated to GT and GR86s as well as Subaru BRZs. From boosted 86s, to full on show cars, the club had examples of everything you wanted to see and more and were more than deserving of the award.
Winning the award for Best Retro club was Kentish UK. We know the club is dedicated towards pre-2000 cars, but nothing could have prepared us for the standard of modified retro cars on display, from 510s to 280zs, to Chasers and everything in between. Kudos team.
Best Regional Club was won by East Coast Japanese club for its eclectic mix of builds covering all ages.
Auto Finesse were back with an army of builds, covering off old, new, show-style and track-attack. There was one common theme amongst the selection of cars in that they were all impeccably finished, with major attention to detail, and above all else, completely spotless. Not to mention the boss, James, and his Toyota Chaser and gorgeous little drift car…
As always, Drift Kings were back with three drifting sessions wowing the crowds. The sounds of 2Js, RBs and rotaries erupted in a cloud of smoke, reminding us all that petrol-powered fun is still at the forefront of the car world.
Not only were spectators ogling over spectacular builds, they also had the opportunity to purchase car parts, detailing products and more from the bustling trade village.
Some of the show’s standout cars were brought along by traders, including The Chemical Guys’s FC RX-7, which won Best Interior. Elsewhere we spotted an LS-swapped Datsun 280z and a widebody Nissan 350z that looked the business.
What would Japfest be without our very own display? We put together some past and future feature cars, including the RB25-powered Datsun 280z, Aaran’s gorgeous Evo VIII and Ash’s incredible 1971 Hakosuka Skyline GT-R. And that’s barely scratching the surface! We had Japanese lowriders in the form of a Bluebird and an EF Civic, we had an Impreza P1 on air, three very different S15s, one a show build, one an LS-swapped weapon and the other a drift set up owned by none other than Michelle Westby. We had Skylines, Supras, Datsuns, even a GR Yaris, there quite literally was something for everyone.
In place of the show and shine competition, the Street Elite paddock was made up of the Fast Car Culture Collection, meaning every single car on display could have taken the crowd. But ultimately there can only be one winner and that was Ash and his 1971 Nissan Skyline GT-R Hakosuka. Beautifully presented, this original car was louder than anything at the show, despite being almost bone stock… 2nd place was given to Ben and his Datsun 510 Bluebird, while the final runner up spot was collected by Aaron and his Evo VIII.
Back for 2025, the Drift Taxis proved hugely popular throughout the day. While we love to have our professional drifters on hand offering demonstrations around the famous circuit, we wanted a feature that allowed you to get up close and personal with these cars, and to experience them for yourselves. As a result, show goers had the opportunity to purchase passenger rides in a number of different purpose built drift cars to experience what it’s like going sideways around a Gymkhana style layout.
For 2025, Liqui Moly took over the Top 10 awards and, algonside our man Jamie, picked out their Top 10 cars of the show. With over 3600 cars on display, narrowing the choices down to just 10 was almost impossible. But in the end, it was these 10 cars that our judges believed were the creme of the crop. Check out the gallery above to see the Liqui Moly Select winners who walked away with a bag full of Liqui Moly goodies.
Loved Japfest but fancy some more variety? Then we’ve got the shows for you. Coming up first is Trax Silverstone on August 31st, which brings together all marques and models for one epic day at Silverstone. The next is the return of Classic Japfest, taking place at Goodwood Motor Circuit this October 4th & 5th and celebrating all thing Old School and Japanese! Don’t miss out, book your tickets today.
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