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Vol.13: 20, December 2006 
An Interesting Career - with a few very nice perks Michito Matsumura, STI Group N Project PGM Oftentimes one's career path takes a route that's contrary to what we've planned. In this issue of Group N Journal, we speak to Mr. Michito Matsumura, recently appointed as Project General Manager (PGM) of STI's Group N Project, and a man who has had a most interesting career path through FHI (Fuji Heavy Industries) - and who is interestingly also a former rally co-driver.
Matsumura-san's unique background saw him enter FHI, on the engineering side, subsequently moving on to a variety of management positions before moving to his present role coordinating STI's effort with its P-WRC programme. Matsumura-san: "I've joined Fuji Heavy Industries in 1972, but I was experiment engineer at that time. Afterward, I moved to development section. During those days, my role had been sifting from engineer to computer administrator as I was correspondence for engineering computing or simulations. I resided in U.S.A and corresponding International servicing which I never experienced. After I had several experience, finally I joined with STI which is directly linking with Motor sport. It was my initial aim, I had been corresponding Group N machine, but I left their once due to re-structuring. But this time, I backed to Group N correspondence again. I had through all one's fortunes until reach to my current role"
For Matsumura-san, it has been a varied and very rewarding career path. Matsumura-san has brought immense value and expertise to the vast organization over the 34 years he has been a member of the FHI family. A 'perk' of his latest role (purely for research purposes!), Matsumura-san was on hand to take part in ride-along sessions with a couple of the most exciting of the P-WRC competitors prior to the maker's home event, Rally Japan. Part of the Job As the world championship visited SUBARU's home country for Rally Japan, the pre-event test (held on the Monday prior to the rally start) gave Matsumura-san the opportunity to take part in rides-along with some of the top contenders in the category. First it was Finnish ace Aki Teiskonen at the wheel, showing Matsumura-san just how nimble the modern-day Group N machines are over rough, pitted terrain. Next up, compatriot Jari-Matti Latvala completed a couple of runs of the test stages, giving the Japanese boss another taste of modern rallying technology in conditions close to those expected on the rally. GNJ caught up with Matsumura-san shortly after his exciting passenger ride... 'Getting a first-hand look at what the rally crews inside the car experience on the stages is the top priority for these ride-along sessions.' GNJ: Matsumura-san, please tell us what the greatest changes are from when you were actively rallying to your ride-along sessions today.
Matsumura-san: "Well clearly, the greatest difference - and one that I noticed right away - was the speed. The sections we drove were narrow and twisty, with some rutting - yet the pace was very, very quick. I would estimate we were traveling one and a half times as fast as we did in my day. It was really impressive to be in the car in such conditions and running at that speed.""In my day, we basically modified the suspension, and not much more. Nowadays, the cars are developed in every possible area. Sections that we would have run at say, 80kp/h are now taken at 120 or 130kp/h - if not faster!" "The cars are obviously far more highly-tuned than in previous years, and with the advancement in technology, much better in terms of balance, responsiveness etc. This is critical for maintaining the pace that these young guys run at." GNJ: As a former co-driver, there must have been certain aspects that stood out in terms of performance, car characteristics etc.
"The proof in the pudding is in the tasting' as they say, and my experience in modern-day P-WRC machinery is a real endorsement for me to promote the products and the programme from a point of view of experience. This is a very powerful thing, and my rides-along with these young professionals has really given me a broader view of what it is we manufacture and sell to our customers all over the world." With command from boss who is bursting with enthusiasm for Motorsport, other younger members are also being motivated. New face for Group N Project is rapidly progressing. |
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