Introduction to Super GT
The Super GT series, originally known as the All-Japan Grand Touring Car Championship or JGTC when it was founded in 1993, is a grand touring car series promoted by the GT-Association (GT-A). It is officially authorized by the Japan Automobile Federation and is also directly authorized by the FIA.
Originally, the annual race series featured races on world-renowned Japanese race tracks that include the Twin Ring Motegi, Fuji Speedway and Suzuka Circuit. Since the year 2000 however, rounds have been hosted on tracks outside Japan including the Sepang International Circuit (Malaysia) and the California Speedway as an exhibition race. Races are held as a single long endurance race of 300km or greater, the 1000km Suzuka event being one such example.
The cars are divided into two groups:
GT500
The top class in SuperGT, with cars powered by 3.4L V8 engines featuring loose regulations when compared to other GT classifications. The cars are fully race prepared with power limited to 500PS and possess only aesthetic similarities with their road-going counterparts. As a result of minimal regulations, the GT500 competitors are touted as possibly the fastest GT racing cars in the world.
GT300
GT300 cars are much more regulated than their GT500 counterparts and share significantly more similarities to their road-going versions. While engine specifications observe minimal regulations, power output is limited to 300PS. The GT300 series is a category that features the most number of different cars in the world.
The Super GT has grown from strength to strength since its inception and continues to pursue its goal to “Challenge the World” and establish itself as one of the world’s most exciting race series.
DID YOU KNOW
1.
DID YOU KNOW…
FASTEST LAPS TIMED @ SEPANG!
Formula 1: J.P. Montoya in a BMW Williams clocked 1:34.223 (2004)
MotoGP: C. Stoner in a Ducati clocked 2:02.108 (2009)
SUPER GT: GT500- Takashi Kogure in a TAKATA DOME NSX clocked 1'54.306 (2007)
GT300- Kazuya Oshima in an apr MR-S clocked 2'06.584 (2007)
2.
DID YOU KNOW…
Before making their debut on the prestigious F1 circuit, both Pedro De La Rosa (former Team Sauber F1 driver) and Ralf Schumacher (former Team Toyota F1 driver) had competed in the All-Japan GT Championship (known now as the SUPER GT), where Pedro De La Rosa bagged 1st place in 1997 and Ralf Schumacher placed 2nd in 1996.
3.
DID YOU KNOW…
Although officially known as the SUPER GT, many of us (especially we Malaysians), still call it Japan GT. Who can blame them when seven out of eight rounds are held in Japan with only one leg held at the Sepang International Circuit (SIC).
It began when GT Association decided to hold a round outside Japan and identified Shanghai and Malaysia as promising locations. The latter held its inaugural event in 2000, which was only an exhibition race then.
With the success of the exhibition race and a vastly growing fan base in Malaysia and South East Asia, it was only natural that GTA officially made it a part of their calendar. Two years later, it is a permanent feature and is among the A class races in Malaysia, with the likes of Formula 1 and Moto GP.
Although SIC was the event organiser since 2000, for the 2011 and 2012 editions, Kuala Lumpur based JP Performance Motorsport has acquired the rights as promoter as well as organiser to hold the race.
4.
DID YOU KNOW…
A grand tourer (GT) is a high-performance luxury automobile designed for long-distance driving.
The term derives from the Italian phrase gran turismo to represent automobiles regarded as grand tourers; able to make long-distance, high-speed journeys in both comfort and style.
5.
DID YOU KNOW…
That there are two categories in the SUPER GT: GT500 and GT300 (cars with no more than 500 and 300 horsepower). These power outputs are capped via the use of intake restrictors although some heavier cars are given allowances to run larger restrictors to maintain parity.
6.
DID YOU KNOW…
With new regulations in the GT500 category which allows participants to change their engines with other models made by the manufacturer, change the alignment of the engine, or add forced-induction systems to models which do not normally have it, cars in the GT500 are possibly the fastest GT racing cars in the world.
7.
DID YOU KNOW…
The GT300 category is much more regulated than their GT500 counterparts. This is because GT300 cars closely resemble road-going versions. Thus, the GT300 series is a racing category that has one of the most car makes in the world.
8.
DID YOU KNOW…
A number of regulations are put into place to ensure that no team is allowed to benefit from excessive advantages (higher budgets, etc.).
One of it is PARITY, where participating cars are fitted with an air intake restrictor that limits the car’s power to the stated class maximums, thus restricting disproportionate development to make a more powerful engine. Also, pit stops and driver changes during the race are conducted within mandatory windows, to prevent dominating tactics during a race.
The best-known regulation is the success ballast system, or weight handicap where weight penalties are assigned depending on a car’s performance during the race.
Ex: During qualifying,a car in pole position will be given a weight penalty (to be carried in their car during the race).This evens out the playing field and makes the race more competitive as no one driver/team dominates the race.
While this system is also used in other series like the FIA GT and the BTCC, who pioneered the system, the SUPER GT's version of the system is notable in that weight penalties are meted out more aggressively. While other series mete out penalties based on final position at the end of the race, SUPER GT also adds ballast based on qualifying position and individual lap times, and even in specific modifications.
Such regulation also keeps the race highly competitive as it makes the race more skilled based, opposed to teams with higher budgets dominating the race.
9.
DID YOU KNOW…
That the Pit Walkabout is among the main attractions of the SUPER GT as fans will be able to get up close and personal with the super cars, drivers and of course, the beautiful GT Queens during this session.
10.
DID YOU KNOW…
For the race to be held at the Sepang International Circuit, 55 ocean containers filled with equipment and parts and 25,000 liters of fuel will be sent from Japan.
