RUF and Gran Turismo Celebrate 30 Years of Partnership with Tokyo Event and Clothing Line

RUF Automobile and Gran Turismo recently joined forces for a special pop-up event in Tokyo, Japan, on March 14, 2026, celebrating a 30-year relationship. The event coincided with the inaugural Luft Tokyo, an air-cooled Porsche celebration held on the city’s elevated KK expressway line.

A Collaboration Launched at Ginza Sony Park

The pop-up event took place at Ginza Sony Park and featured a display of the RUF Tribute. It also served as the launchpad for a limited-edition clothing collection created in collaboration between RUF and Gran Turismo [GTPlanet]. RUF shared images from the event, including a visit to Polyphony Digital’s Tokyo offices, on their Instagram account.

A Partnership Rooted in Gran Turismo 2

While billed as a 30-year celebration, the partnership between RUF and Gran Turismo dates back to the release of Gran Turismo 2 in December 1999 [GTPlanet]. Kazunori Yamauchi, the creator of the Gran Turismo series, personally approached Alois Ruf Jr. To request the inclusion of RUF vehicles in the game.

RUF’s presence in the Gran Turismo series became particularly significant due to a long-standing exclusivity agreement between Porsche and Electronic Arts. This agreement prevented Porsche vehicles from appearing in most racing games outside of the EA portfolio. RUF, as an independent manufacturer recognized by the German government with its own VIN codes, filled the void, offering players a compelling alternative [GTPlanet].

Navigating Porsche’s Return to Gaming

When Porsche’s exclusivity deal with EA ended in 2016, and Porsche cars began appearing in other racing games, RUF’s role in the gaming world diminished. The brand was notably absent from Gran Turismo Sport’s initial release in 2017, despite early plans to include the RUF logo. Still, RUF made a triumphant return with the CTR3 in November 2019 as part of Gran Turismo Sport’s Update 1.50 [GTPlanet]. The CTR3 was chosen specifically because it is built on an original chassis, avoiding potential licensing complications with Porsche.

The 30th Anniversary Collection

The “30th Anniversary RUF x Gran Turismo Kollektion 2026” clothing line was designed by Aloisa Ruf, representing the third generation of the Ruf family involved in the business. The collection blends RUF’s automotive heritage with the visual style of Gran Turismo [GTPlanet].

Items in the collection include:

• T-shirts and long-sleeved shirts featuring original sketches and technical illustrations of the Tribute.
• A hoodie inspired by the in-game user interface.
• Japanese street-style bucket hats.
• Crewneck sweatshirts with “Pfaffenhausen RUF” lettering.
• A softshell jacket based on the team’s uniform.

The collection is available for purchase through the RUF Automobile online shop.

Luft Tokyo and the KK Line

The pop-up event was strategically timed to coincide with Luft Tokyo, the first Japanese edition of the Luftgekühlt air-cooled Porsche event. The main Luft Tokyo indicate was held on the KK Line in Ginza, a decommissioned elevated highway slated for redevelopment as a public green space [Octane Magazine]. The KK Line, partially opened in 1959 and fully completed in 1966, was closed in 2025.

The KK Line’s setting resonated with Gran Turismo fans, as it closely resembles the fictional Tokyo Expressway circuit featured in Gran Turismo Sport and Gran Turismo 7 [Octane Magazine]. The event attracted over 11,000 enthusiasts and showcased over 220 air-cooled Porsches, including historically significant racing cars like a 1964 Porsche 904, a 1967 Porsche 910, and a 1984 Porsche 956 [Octane Magazine]. Polyphony Digital was listed as a sponsor of the event alongside Porsche Japan and Tag Heuer.