[custom_adv] Dozens of people in Japan have taken part in a race on office chairs - a competition which was inspired by Formula One and Le Mans.The contest, which founded 10 years ago, involves teams of three battling it out across two hours to see who can complete the most laps of the 200m course. [custom_adv] Over the weekend, 55 teams entered the Hanyu race, with the winning team Kitsugawa Unyu claiming the top prize of 90kg of rice.There are 10 different Isu-1 Grand Prix events planned across the country this year. [custom_adv] The rattle of tiny plastic wheels echoed through the normally sleepy streets of Hanyu, Saitama Prefecture, on Sunday morning as the small city about 60 kilometers (37 miles) north of Tokyo played host to the Japan office chair “Isu-1” Grand Prix. [custom_adv] Founded 10 years ago and inspired by Formula One and Le Mans endurance racing, the race sees teams of three battle it out on ordinary office furniture across two grueling hours to see who can complete the most laps of the 200 meter course. [custom_adv] Propelling the chair backward was the universal tactic employed by the racers, who were at least spared the added constriction of business dress with competitors choosing their own outfits. [custom_adv] The three team members rotated during the race — Le Mans-style — to try and stay fresh, but in the summer humidity it proved a tough battle for even the most experienced racers. [custom_adv] The series, which started with a race in Kyoto in 2009, was the brainchild of Tsuyoshi Tahara, and will feature at 10 different grand prix events across Japan this year.
