WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca Announces First-Ever JDM Car Show at the 2026 Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion

MONTEREY, Calif. (May 28, 2026) - WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca will debut its first-ever JDM Car Show as part of the 2026 Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion, August 12–15, expanding this year’s featured marque celebration honoring Japanese performance.

Recognized as one of the world’s premier motorsport lifestyle gatherings, the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion has long celebrated the legends, machines and heritage of racing history. For the first time in event history, those iconic race cars will be joined by a curated display of restored, modified and creatively engineered Japanese automotive builds representing the global influence of JDM culture. The showcase will also feature notable personalities, influential builders and iconic vehicles from across the JDM community, bringing together some of the culture’s most recognizable names and machines during Monterey Car Week.

The JDM Car Show was initiated through a collaborative effort between WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca President and General Manager Mel Harder and Michael Tsuchiura, owner of a Japanese art-influenced apparel company and automotive event planner. The event further expanded through partnerships with Tim Flores of SuperDrive and Terence Lu of ArtHaus, bringing together automotive culture, art and community engagement in a new way during Monterey Car Week.

“This is an exciting opportunity to expand the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion experience while celebrating the incredible impact Japanese automotive culture has had around the world,” said Mel Harder, President and General Manager of WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. “From historic racing legends to modern street and motorsport builds, this showcase highlights the creativity, passion and individuality that define JDM culture while welcoming a new generation of enthusiasts to Laguna Seca.”

The immersive JDM integration will feature interactive fan experiences throughout the weekend, including a Japanese stamp-book style scavenger hunt, vehicle judging and awards, raffles and prizes, interactive art installations with ArtHaus, and a Friday after-hours social featuring a DJ set by Hyper Potions.

The show aims to honor the pioneering spirit of Japan’s domestic market culture, and the enthusiasts, innovators and builders who helped shape modern street style, performance tuning, drifting, time attack competition and motorsport subcultures worldwide.

By showcasing these vehicles during Monterey Car Week, organizers hope to celebrate the artistry, craftsmanship and ingenuity behind Japanese restorations, retromods and motorsport-inspired builds while bridging generations of automotive enthusiasm.

The JDM Car Show will be featured during the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion as part of the broader “Salute to Japanese Motorsports: A Tradition of Precision & Heritage” celebration. For general admission tickets and event information, visit WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.