When I first started out in automotive photojournalism, I never expected my work to have so much crossover with the gaming world. Many of you will know that the Turnpike team previously spent a lot of time working on a major car game. In fact, for Larry and me, it was a pretty big part of our respective professional careers.
That connection may be gone, but fast forward to 2026, and I’m incredibly happy to announce that Turnpike is partnering with the team behind Forza Horizon 6. It’s an incredible opportunity to start this storytelling journey, not even one year into Turnpike. We’re truly humbled and excited to be working with one of the biggest names in car gaming – especially as the next Forza game (set for release next month) is set in the country I’ve called home for 33 years, and whose car culture I’ve covered for 25.
It feels like car gaming has come home, and that’s exactly what Forza celebrated a few days ago with a celebration event in the heart of Shibuya. The Tokyo event took over a multi-storey car park and brought together car and gaming creators from around the world. This was the first look at Forza Horizon 6, and with it, a proper celebration of car culture. The parking lot featured Japanese-inspired decor, food trucks, and most importantly, a selection of JDM cars to set the tone.
While Larry has been involved with Forza for a few months, this was my first chance to officially announce that I’ve joined the team as an ambassador of the upcoming game – a role I’m excited to take on. It’s an opportunity to help the game’s development team tell some cool stories from behind the scenes and throughout the design process.
For this first activation, however, it was about having fun – exploring the open world format of the game, trying it out on a simulator rig, and even getting hands-on with a limited edition Forza Horizon controller. Seeing Japan so beautifully recreated in-game, along with the cars and challenges, felt surreal – like I was watching my life in Japan as an automotive photojournalist play out right in front of my eyes. I only spent 30 minutes playing the game, but I can see myself getting totally immersed and lost in it.
The party was also a great way for the Forza team to introduce the game to key people in both the car and gaming worlds. Alec and I added to that by stepping up to select nine cars to represent Japanese car culture, alongside my RWB Porsche 964. The lineup ranged from wide-body RX-7s and an over-fendered Honda NSX on air, to classics like an AE86 Trueno, a drift-spec Corolla wagon, and a Datsun 210 previously featured on Turnpike. Tying it all together was a rare Tommykaira M19, a complete car that the Kyoto-based builder created in the late ‘80s before it got busy building its Nissan based line up.
These cars joined other special cars from Forza’s manufacturer partners, including Lamborghini, McLaren, AMG, and Aston Martin. For me, though, the highlights were the Ferrari J50 and the yet-to-be-released Gazoo Racing (Toyota) GT. The GR GT, in particular, blew my mind. Seeing it up close, away from the usual show crowds, its proportions really hit hard. It has such an imposing presence – no wonder it was chosen as the hero car for Horizon 6!
Hope you enjoy the photos Alec and Louis snapped on the day, and that you’re as excited as we are at Turnpike to welcome Forza as a partner.
