Give It Some Jandal: The Business of Motor Racing in Japan with Liam Sceats

Liam Sceats is 20 years old, a New Zealand Grand Prix champion, and a racing driver who describes himself first as a startup founder. In this episode, Liam shares candid stories about his visits to Japan to race, giving insights to the motor racing world in Japan which is becoming an increasingly popular destination for racers. Jayne and Catherine also weigh in with some of their best advice and the reminder that arriving in Japan means leaving your ego behind, no matter how well known you are at home. **Subscribe to our list so you never miss an episode of Jandals in Japan** Jandals in Japan is brought to you by Catherine O’Connell Law and PodLaunch with Jayne Visit ON Consulting for in depth articles in Japanese and English If you enjoyed this episode and it inspired you in some way, we’d love to hear about it and know your biggest takeaway. Head over to Apple Podcasts to leave a review and we’d love it if you would come and say hi (or Kia Ora or Konnichi Wa!) over on @jandalsinjapan on Instagram. **In this episode you’ll hear:** - Why Liam Sceats approaches his racing career like a startup founder - How Liam built one of the strongest relationships of his racing career with a Japanese engineer who didn’t speak English - Practical tips for Kiwis building business relationships remotely in Japan - Why international drivers are increasingly focusing on Japan for long-term professional racing careers. **About Liam** Liam Sceats is a 20 year old Kiwi racing driver and New Zealand Grand Prix Champion. Competing in the Lamborghini Asia series, Liam raced at Fuji Speedway in Japan and scored two podium finishes in 2026. Off the race track, Liam is building a business around his racing career. With a focus on fundraising, partnerships, brand building, and premium corporate hospitality experiences, he is taking a business-first approach to progressing in one of the world’s most brutal sporting environments, being the world of Motorsport. As a young Kiwi chasing opportunities across Asia, Liam is passionate about building genuine long-term relationships in Japan and the wider region. **Connect with Liam** LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/liam-sceats-86276021a/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/liamsceatsmotorsport Instagram: http://instagram.com/liamsceats Website: https://liamsceats.com/ **Connect with Jayne and Catherine** Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/company/jandals-in-japan-podcast/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jandalsinjapan/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jandalsinjapan Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@jandalsinjapan