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A Be
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Publisher: GT Association

SUPER GT FUN BOOK is sponsored by

R GT

IT’S AWESOME

©GTA
©GTA

Introduction to

SUPER GTS

UPER GT is Japan’s premier touring car competition featuring heavily-modified production
cars (or those designed to be commercially available). GT stands for Grand Touring – a highperformance automobile capable of high speed and long-distance driving. SUPER GT is a longdistance racing competition driven by a couple of drivers per car sharing the driving duty. The
cars lining up to compete in the top class GT500 are from the Japanese “Big 3” automakers while
domestic and overseas manufacturers go up against each other in the other class GT300. One of
the greatest excitements of SUPER GT is a mixed format that GT500 and GT300 cars run a samerace as a pack. It has led the series to the Japanese top favourite motorsport drawing approx
400,000 spectators a year.

A Star-studded Series with Elite Drivers and Prominent Team Directors
The drivers participating in SUPER GT are well beranked as the best in the country. Many of themstarted their career in junior karting competitions andeventually stepped up into higher categories, of whichsome have competed internationally incl. even F1 andWorld Endurance Championship (WEC). SUPER GT
actually has many world-class talents from abroad aswell. On top of that, most teams appoint charismaticformer drivers to team directors who have achieved
successful career in the top categories such as F1 andthe 24 Hours of Le Mans. This has made the series
establish a leading position in the Japanese motor
racing, and creating even more exciting battles.
2©GTA

Championship Battles
to Go Down to the Wire

©GTA

©GTA

SUPER GT car is driven by two drivers sharing
the driving duty. Driver points are awarded tothe top ten finishers in each race, and thedriver duo who earns the most points over thecourse of the season becomes the champion.
To equalize competitiveness and avoid any
runaway contender, a success weight (successballast) is assigned to cars according to thedrivers’ points scored in the previous races. It
reduces any single car’s chance of domination
over the season, thereby the championship is
highly likely to go down to the wire!

Motor Racing isClassified in Two Groups

SUPER GT has a lot of talents and legends. (From left to right) It is well known that Satoru
Nakajima, the General Manager of Nakajima Racing, and Ukyo Katayama, the Team Director of
GOODSMILE RACING & TeamUKYO, had successful careers as F1 drivers. Tadasuke Makino (TeamKunimitsu) is the youngest driver to win the GT500 chanmpionship. The series has many otherhighly talented drivers.

Motor racing is classified roughly into
two groups according to type of motor
vehicle. One is “formula car racing”
featuring open-wheel and single-seatedcars designed exclusively for racing. F1 isthe best-known category in this group.
The other is “touring car racing” withheavily-modified street cars. SUPER GT
belongs to this group.

©GTA

Touring Car Racing Formula Car Racing
Cars seen on the streets with closed cockpit are referred toas “touring cars”. Some races feature production vehicles
that remain unmodified whereas others, such as SUPER GT,
involve considerably modified cars.

Open-wheel and open-cockpit formula cars are lighter
weight than production vehicles that have been designed
primarily to produce high speed. The single-seated cars
actually have excellent acceleration and cornering speed.

3

IT’S AWESOME

Tips for Giving an Added Excitement
SUPER GT comes loaded with exciting twists to give you a buzz.
Races would be more fun if you know it is all about!

GT500 CLASS

GT300 CLASS
Cars Entered in 2023 Season• Audi R8 LMS• BMW M4 GT3• Honda NSX GT3• Lamborghini HURACAN GT3• LEXUS RC F GT3• LEXUS LC500h• Mercedes AMG GT3• NISSAN GT-R NISMO GT3• SUBARU BRZ GT300• TOYOTA GR Supra• TOYOTA 86 MC• TOYOTA GR86

Cars Entered in 2023 Season• TOYOTA GR Supra GT500• Honda NSX-GT• Nissan Z GT500

No.18

No.100UPGARAGE NSX GTSTANLEY NSX-GT

Classes and Models

Diversity Provides Excitement

SUPER GT is a mixed-format racing competition where
two classes, GT500 and GT300 determined by thedifference in performance level, race together. Each classis categorized by the respective horsepower that is
capped by intake of fuel flow to the engine in GT500
while by intake of air flow in GT300. What makes
SUPER GT tremendously exciting is two classes atdifferent performance levels are racing together, thusfans get to enjoy seeing frequent overtaking. A total of
15 models from both classes take part in the 2023
season. There is no such race series as SUPER GT withthis colourful array of cars to compete.

One of the features of SUPER GT is the cars withvarious specs compete. Taking Lexus LC500h forexample, the hybrid car can be a competitive race carwith engine and chassis rightfully modified to deliver
superior performance. And yet participants are
regulated to come withthe same level ofhorsepower. Thus totallydifferent classifications ofcar – ultimate sports car
and hybrid car – can bemixed in a single race.
The hybrid car “Lexus LC500h”.

Spot Class at a Glance
You can spot the difference
between GT500 and GT300 simply
by looking at these three points
represented in respective colours:
windshield decal, headlight andcar number panel. GT500 classcars come with clear/white while
GT300 are with yellow.

Headlight

Headlights are also an easy way for you
to spot classes even from a distance orin bad weather.

Rd. 1

WeightConversion

PointsScoredn/a5Weight to be Loaded(points scored in previous races × applicable weight)

35pts × 2kg = 10kg

15

8pts (5+3) × 2kg = 16kg

20

23pts (5+3+15) × 2kg = 46kg

Rd. 5

13

43pts (5+3+15+20) × 2kg = 86kg

Rd. 6

4

56pts (5+3+15+20+13) ×2kg = 112kg

Rd. 2
Rd. 3
Rd. 4

1pt = 2kg
*1

Rd. 7

1pt = 1kg

Rd. 8

n/a

*2

1

60pts (5+3+15+20+13+4) × 1kg = 60kg
0kg
*1: 3kg in GT300 *2: 1.5kg in GT300* Weight is assigned according to accumulated points the driver has scored in previous races. * Success ballast max out at 100kg (i.e. In the above table, the car in Round 6 should havea weight of 112kg though the excess 12kg are exempted). *In GT500, the car with weights of 51kg and over must employ one of three different fuel flow restrictor to cap
engine power.

4

Car number panels with black numbers
on either white or yellow background
go on display on the side of the cars.

Front Windshield Decal
GT500 class cars come with white decals while GT300 cars arewith yellow.

Success Weight Creates Close Battles Success Weight (success ballast) in GT500 Class
One-car dominance spoils thefun of the sport. To avoid
this, SUPER GT introduced
the success ballast systemcalled ”Success Weight”
where additional weight
determined by each race
result is loaded to the car in The decal on the side of the car shows
how much weight is imposed to the car.
the following race.Heaviercars have poorer acceleration and braking; thus thechampionship battle is highly likely to go down to
the wire.

Car Number
Panel

Rolling Start
SUPER GT employs a rolling start to initiate a race.
Unlike F1, which adopts a standing start with carsremaining stationary on the grid until a green signal isgiven to start the race, SUPER GT races start with carsalready in motion. In the rolling start, all cars follow alead car, known as a safety car, in qualifying ordermaintaining speed and position until the safety car
leaves the track and starting signal turns green. As
overtaking is allowed only after passing the start line,
all the drivers get to charge ahead towards the firstcorner to outdo the competitors. Don’t miss thegruelling scramble as they vie for a better position!
5

TIPS

The Path to Victory

Race Weekend ScheduleLet’s have a look at how a race weekend is going.
Learn more about SUPER GT and enjoy your time at circuit.

1

QUALIFYING

Grabbing Pole Position Is Not Easy

Pit Walk

Better qualifying results put you to be way out front in the starting grid which brings a great advantage over the competitors in the race.

Grid Walk

Knockout Format

Top 8 advance to Q2

17th and below eliminated and fill the positions.
The 9th qualifier in the Q1 faster Group fills the 17th position,
the 8th in the slower Group fills the 18th,
and the same alternation of Group A and B follows.

2

RACE

GT500
(10 min)8-minute interval

Top 8 advance to Q2

GT300 Group B(10 min)5-minute interval

GT300 Group A(10 min)

GT300(10 min)

The grid walk enables you to catch aglimpse of the starting grid right before
the race commences. Experience a tense
atmosphere as teams make their final
preparations for the race. Accessible
only for Grid Walk pass holders.

Top 8 advance to Q2
9 and below
eliminated andfill positions

Top 16 determined

GT500(10 min)

Kids WalkThis free event is similar to the Pit Walk
but limited to younger kids under 15. It
takes place on Saturday evening. Any
adults as guardians accompanied by
his/her children can also attend, so it’smore of a family event to enjoy.

Top 8 determined

10-minute interval* Any driver who took part in Q1 may not participate in Q2.

Pit walk

11:00

Top 3 qualifiers talk show

12:00

Pit walk

Starting procedure/grid walk

14:00

Race

15:00

Quaifying (knockout)
16:00

Pole Position press conference

17:00

Podium Award Ceremony

Kids walkDrivers on duty

©GTA

Race winners’ press conference

Autograph & photo opportunity*Check out for the fixed schedule at supergt.net or the circuit’s official website.

MiyagiSportsland SUGO

SUGO Rd. 6 (300km)

September 16 - 17

Autopolis

Oita

Okayama
October 14 - 15

Okayama Int’l Circuit

OKAYAMA Rd. 1 (300km)

April 15 - 16

1 Point May Carry Extra Meaning to the End

Top ten finishers of each classin each race score points
towards both the drivers’ andteams’ standings. Points areaccumulated in each race
depending on the results.
Some drivers in the past have won the title by asingle point. One point could not be considerednegligible.

6

10:00

* Figures in brackets ( ) indicate race distance.

AUTOPOLIS Rd. 7 (450km)

TIP #3

09:00

SUPER GT covers the nation and now diversifies into Asian
countries. The globalization expands the sport’s fan base not
only within Japan but also around the world.

One driver may only drive up to two-thirds (2/3) of a given race distance.

3 POINT SYSTEM

08:00

SUPER GT is Held Throughout Japan and Abroad!

Genuine Speed Is Not EnoughRace strategy is a big key to win a race. It includes which driver to be assigned firstto driving duty and when to pit. As each team has its own strategy, it could create
more exciting races. Both speed and intelligence are vital to victory.

TIP #2Sunday (Race)

Public scrutineering& open pit

07:00

13:00

Neither GT300 nor GT500 teams whose qualifying result is below a predetermined
position can advance to the second stage (Q2). They are eliminated in the first stage (Q1)and fill the back of the grid. The Q1 qualifiers will then battle Q2 out for pole position.
GT300 are divided into 2 groups in Q1 as the class has many participants.

Q2

8-minute interval

Q1

Saturday (Qualifying)Free practice

An event to experience walking throughthe SUPER GT pit lane where you canview the cars and garages up close.
Sometimes drivers meet your wishes for
autographs and photos if you are lucky.
Accessible only for Pit Walk pass holders.

Qualifying is crucial as it is where the starting lineup is determined. As SUPER GT employs knockout format, both
two drivers must be quick enough to get into higher position. Everyone makes a desperate attempt to record thefastest lap in the qualifying sessions within the given time. It really is a breathtaking battle well worth watching.

TIP #1

Race weekend schedule

Friday is dedicated to preparing for the race. On-track
actions begin on Saturday with free practice andqualifying. Sunday is where the actual race takes place (*).
In between SUPER GT sessions, there are a variety ofevents held for all ages. The circuit is bustling withexcitement and you can fully enjoy yourself all day long.

Race completion points are added to team points
corresponding to the number of laps completed.

Driver Points (*given to race finishers)
Classification 1st
Points
20

2nd
15

3rd
11

4th
8

5th
6

6th
5

7th
4

8th
3

9th
2

10th
1

* One point is given to the driver duo in each class who claimed pole position.

Team Points (*given to race finishers)
Classification 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th 10th
Points
20
15
11
8
6
5
4
3
2
1
No. of laps
Same lap as 1st
1 lap behind 1st Finished race 2 laps or more behind 1st
GT500
3 points
2 points
1 point
No. of laps Same lap as 1st or 1 lap behind 2 laps behind 1st Finished race 3 laps or more behind 1st
GT300
3 points
2 points
1 point* In races with a distance of 700km or longer,
driver/team points are awarded on a 25-18-13-10-8-6-5-4-3-2 basis.

Tochigi

Mobility Resort Motegi

MOTEGI Rd. 8 (300km)
Mie
SUZUKA

Suzuka Circuit
Rd. 3 (450km)
Rd. 5 (450km)

June 3 - 4
August 26 - 27

Shizuoka

November 4 - 5

Fuji Speedway

Rd. 2 (450km)
FUJI
Rd. 4 (450km)

May 3 - 4
August 5 - 6
7

TIPS

Circuits are Filled withFun!

D

GrandstandCircuit has many facilities besides a track including pit area where teams do their duties; race
control tower to keep the race safe, legal and punctual; and medical center for the injured to becared for. Come to the circuit and experience SUPER GT at first hand. All those SUPER GT cars
are just inch away from you, and you’ll be overwhelmed by their irresistible speed and engine
sound. You may even bump into your favourite drivers. In between sessions, there are many fun
events you don’t want to miss: talk shows and stage performances at the event space, and pit
walk and kids pit walk on the pit road... everything must give you a great time!

A

Race Control Tower

B

The race control is responsible for monitoringand supervising everything happening on the
track. It includes keeping the track safe,
providing timing data and penalizing
violations of the regulations.

Paddock

A closed area in which teams’transporters are kept, and also teamcrew, drivers and other officials do theirjob. You will see the drivers walking andrace cars right over there unless you
keep a respectful distance from them.

C

C
A

Pits

An area designated for teams to workon the cars and for the drivers to makepit stops for refuelling and/or driverchange during the race. The area isopen to the public only when the pit
walk and kids pit walk take place.

D

Event Space

A ton of fun events make your day
extremely enjoyable! Go see thedrivers’ talk shows, Race Queen(grid girls) appearances on thestage, various cars on display, andKids Kart where kids aged 6 to 12
can have a free trial of his/her firsttaste of driving. The SUPER GT
official shop is in this area
featuring team merchandise,model cars, official SUPER GT
merchandise and more. There arealso places to eat introducing
snacks and yummy local dishes.

SUPER GT Emergency System “FRO”
©GTA

©GTA

©GTA

SPECIALISTS❶ Race Director
The race director manages thelogistics of the race. He is authorized
to make every decision about therace control incl. issuance of flags
and penalty decision. Each circuit
has its own race director.

©GTA

S U P E R G T ’s u n i q u e o n e - s t o pemergency system is called FRO (First
Rescue Operation). A well-trained
driver, an emergency physician, a firewarden, and a set of fire extinguisher
are all loaded in a single car to provide
strong support for quicker rescue
activities. SUBARU Legacy Outback,Nissan Patrol NISMO and Toyota Land
Cruiser serve as FRO in 2023.

©GTA

Professionals
Working at the Circuits

8B

The success of race owes not only to integrity of infrastructure but tothe team of specialists and vehicles with a mission to stand behind therace. No events can happen without their commitment.

❷ Marshal❸ Medical TeamMarshals (a.k.a. officials) are observers on
the trackside whose primary role is to giveattention to race to go on safely andsmoothly. They are bound in duty to wave
a flag to signal the drivers what ishappening on the track. When an
accident occurs, they rush over to thescene of the accident to ensure safety.

The medical team joinsSUPER GT throughout theseason to be on stand-by
at all times for accidents
and emergencies. They
also serve as a “family
doctor ” to keep thedrivers fit.

VEHICLES❹ Safety Car
The Safety Car (SC) leads the formation ofcompetition vehicles before the start of the raceby adjusting their speed, and in the event of an
accident during the race or if a race car stops on
the track, it controls the pace of the race cars toprevent damage from parts falling on the track orfurther accidents. In 2023, Nissan Fairlady Z serves
as the SC.

❺ Ambulance & Helicopter❻ Transporter

Both are on stand-by for accidents.
Ambulance is posted around thetrack to rush to the scene of injury.
Helicopter is also kept ready at all
times for any severe case to transport
quickly to hospital.

Transporter is a lorry loaded withrace cars and teams’ equipment totransport them from a circuit to theother. Most of them are speciallyliveried, and have plenty of fans.

9TECHNOLOGYGT Car Description
GT cars are heavily-modified production cars.
Let’s take a look at the differences
between the two to find out
what modifications have been made to GT cars.

DRIVER

AERO PARTSTo ensure safety, the drivers are
obliged to wear a helmet with a
HANS (Head And Neck Support)
device to disperse the impact onhead and neck into the wholeshoulder. Racing suit is required to beflame retardant so as to offer
protection in the event of a fire.

The significance of aerodynamics is to channel the airflow
perfectly and generate as much downforce as possiblethat presses the car down onto the road. This increases
the car’s grip generated by the tires to permit higher
cornering speed. They are mounted in the windswept
part such as either in the sides of the front or the rear. In
the GT500 class, the front spoiler, under-floor and reardiffuser must be predetermined configurations; and allcars have common rear wing. For the body, thedevelopment of aerodynamics can be done freely to thespecified area (in the lower part of the car) shown in bluein the illustration on the right. Above the specified area,

COCKPITit must be the same as that of production cars. In theGT300 class, the GT300 subclass permits development
within the prescribed limits, and the rear wing uses single
plane. In the FIA GT3 subclass, designs not allowed in theGT300 can be used on condition thatthe basic specifications arefollowed, but changing
the aero parts
themselves is
not permitted.

Cockpit is a driver’s compartment. It is entangled in roll cages toprotect the driver from being injured and the car seat is custom fitted
to achieve optimal fit and comfort. Air conditioner and cool suit areprovided to avoid getting heatstroke.

ENGINEThe success in a race depends on how good theengine got tuned to gain racing competitiveness.
All teams give one of the top priorities to theengine development. Currently, GT500 cars must
be powered by a 2-litre turbocharged inline-four.
In the GT300 class, cars built to the GT300
regulations are free to mount any engine fromthe same manufacturer as those of
the base chassis while the FIA GT3
cars are more strictly regulated andhave no such flexibility in the engines.

TIRE
SUPER GT employs purpose-built
racing tires which are wider thanthose on production cars. Tires
must be optimally chosen according
to the track conditions. Slick(grooveless) tires are best in dry
conditions while rain tires should be
used in wet weather.

A Variety of Cars under Diverse Regulations

BODY
Production cars are made of steel/aluminium whereas SUPER GT cars use lighter sturdy
carbon-fibre in the bodywork to pursue higher speed. It helps the race cars to reduceweight drastically.
10

GT300 class is open to cars constructed to both GT300 and FIA
GT3 regulations. The GT300 regulations relatively allow for
greater flexibility in the development of cars, thus you will see
various cars with all different engine displacement, drive systemand bodywork. On top of that, another new concept cars, on
which GTA-developed mother chassis (having a number ofcommon components such as monocoque and engine) is
employed, are now taking part in this class. FIA GT3- regulatedcars, meanwhile, are eligible for many other GT races held
across the globe with a huge fan base worldwide, and many
FIA GT3 cars also participate in SUPER GT. Such the diversity
adds absolute excitement to the GT300 class.

GT300 CLASS

11

Team Members

TECHNOLOGY

Anatomy of a Pit Stop
SUPER GT has strict regulations about pit work: a maximum of fivemechanics are allowed in the working area to conduct all theoperations; tire change must be done by no more than two crew ofthe five; the engine must be switched off during any pit stops; andtire change is not allowed during refuelling. Since choosing the
optimal pit strategy as well as crew’s performance is crucial for a
successful race, they ceaselessly train very hard to pursue as quick
and accurate as possible pit works to gain an advantage overcompetitors. Let’s find out how it works.

Essential Tool
for Pit Work #1

Refuelling
As a full tank of fuel does not cover
the whole distance, refuelling isneeded to complete the race.
Although rigs used in SUPER GT aredesigned to allow for rapid
refuelling, flow rate has been
programmed in to provide enoughtime for a driver switch.The use ofcarbon neutral fuels (CNF) insteadof fossil fuels started this year withthe aim of reducing CO2 emissions.

Team Director

Pit Board Man

The team director has total control over the race bymaking every strategic decision, including when topit, rationally and instantly in each phase. He is themain pillar of the team leading all members.

A man holds out a board on the pit wallto inform a driver of the time interval tohis competitor(s) and the timing of a pit
stop. As the driver streaks across the mainstraight, It is absolutely crucial to hold theboard up for him viewing it easily.

Engineer
The engineer’s mainrole is to analyze
data obtained fromrace car as well as
drivers’ feedback. He
then shares ever y
strategic decision
with mechanics toa c h i e ve t h e b e s t
performance.

Team Manager

Race Queen

The manager covers a wide
range of duties: handlingmedia enquires and taking
excellent care of sponsors
are of particular significanceto this job. There are anumber of women valued inthis professional field.

With adding glitz andglamour to circuits, the race
queens (grid girls) serve as
an important symbol ofpromoting teams and theirsponsors’ products. Theysure play an essential role
as belles in SUPER GT.

Fire
Extinguisher

As the SUPER GT cars run on
petrol, pit works must be
performed with extreme careto avoid fires caused by fuelleakage or spark. A crew ison standby with a fire
extinguisher wheneverrefuelling.

Tire Change
To cover a long-distance race, you probably have got tochange tires at some point. Nevertheless, as tire change
is optional, it is at each team’s discretion to change all
four, either front or rear only, or none. You will be
impressed by tire changers’ consummate performance:
lifting heavy tires effortlessly, taking off the worn rubbers
and fit the fresh ones - all done so quickly and precisely.
12

Driver Change
Each car is required by theregulations to be driven by atleast two drivers sharing thedriving duty in a race. A
driver may not drive for morethan two-thirds (2/3) of thewhole distance.

Air Jack
A pneumatically-driven device
for lifting a car off the ground
while changing tires. By
injecting compressed nitrogen
into insertion slots (pistons) on front or sideof the car, the pistons project downwards
to promptly lift the car off the ground.

Essential Tool
for Pit Work #2

Impact Wrench
A tool designed for quickly winding off andon wheel nuts, allowing pit crew to changetires breathtakingly fast. Crew
often customize their wrench tofit comfortably in their hands toimprove work performance.

13

TECHNOLOGY

What Makes GT Cars So Fast?
Engine – the Heart of the Car

Tire – a Big Performance
Differentiator

Engine is considered the most critical part of the vehicle.
A variety of engine types can be seen in SUPER GT.

It is vitally important to select the right ones for greater performance.

Four Primary Functionsof SUPER GT Tires

How Tire WorksHow Engine WorksEngine is one of the most vital components which is said to be the “heart” of automobile. The mechanism isquite intricate but, put simply, its purpose is to burn fuel to create heat into motion so that the car can move.
Engines come in many different types and all
have their distinctive feature such as having good
acceleration, capable of increasing top end speed,
and lightweight. In SUPER GT, there are aplethora of vehicle types, and thus engines arealso naturally quite diverse. Giving great attention
to the engines might be another good idea foryou to enjoy the race even more.

Tires provide fundamental motions. They
play a key role in driving stability andoptimum braking distance. As SUPER GT
cars are designed to go much faster than
production vehicles, the tires tend to wear
out very quickly. For this reason tires used inSUPER GT are all from proven and trusted
manufacturers.
There are four tire suppliers competing inSUPER GT this season. Teams can partner up
with whichever supplier as they think thebest match with their cars. You will
sometimes see the same models on trackwith different tires on for a strategic reason
that makes the race more intriguing andunpredictable.

■
Straight/
InlineV Engine

Flat
EngineSupporting Car’s Weight

Even though GT car is lighter weight than road car, it weighsover one ton. With a driver and success weight added on, tires
must be strong enough to withstand considerable load.

2 Traction & Braking

Transmitting Propulsion
and Braking

Tires must transmit braking force onto the track surface
accurately. SUPER GT tires are carefully designed to reducebraking distance allowing for tire-road friction. It works wellespecially in pit stops.

3 Steering & Stability Direction of Travel

Changing and Maintaining

Common on production cars, suitable for small displacement and 2, 3 or 4-cylinderThis engine can be seen on

Commonly used vehicle engine generates power by moving pistons up anddown, of which inline engines have cylinders aligned in one row with nooffset. These engines are usually found on small displacement vehicles.

TOYOTA GR Supra GT500
Honda NSX-GT
NISSAN Z GT500

Reduces the overall length of engine with many cylinders

This engine can be seen on

4 Comfort

From an anterior view, an array of cylinders is arranged in two banks to form“V” which is to avoid overly long engine with many cylinders arranged intandem. This engine is often used on cars requiring high horsepower such as
sports cars and large-size cars.

Mercedes AMG GT3
Audi R8 LMS

As GT cars run at high speed, drivers are subject to impact fromobstacle and bumps on the track. SUPER GT tires absorb suchshocks and offer comfort for drivers to stay focused on the race.

Reduces engine height and lowers the center of gravity

This engine can be seen on

Also called horizontally opposed engine having cylinders arranged by pairs
on opposite sides of the crankshaft (180 degrees apart) that can be kept
shorter, and lower the center of gravity. As the piston movements resemble
boxing, they are also referred to as “boxer engine”.

Their Engine’s
Distinctive
Value
14

1 Load Support

SUPER GT tires provide excellent steering precision on corners
and good stability on straights responding to a wide variety ofdemands of drive and road.

Absorbing Shocks
from Road

Bringing SUPER GT-proven Technologies to Commercial Tires
SUBARU BRZ GT300

SUBARU makes a SUBARU BRZ entry into the GT300 class. The car comes with a flat(boxer) engine in its power unit. An excellent vehicle balance is achieved by lightweight,
compactness and lower center of gravity, compared to standard engines. Theseadvantages allow for a smooth and shudder-free feel to deliver driving stability.
Additionally, since the design philosophy for the location of GT car engine andmounting arrangements are shared with that of production vehicles, it delivers highlevel and good balance driving experience you can enjoy with SUBARU vehicles.

All the technologies and experience gained in SUPER GT
and other motorsport competitions have trickled down
to Bridgestone’s sport tire range “Potenza”. The
product lineup varies depending on the intended use.
“RE-12D”is a premium performance tire exclusively forcircuit use with lap time benefit; “RE-71RS” is for race
track to everyday driving tuned for both dry and wet
conditions; and “S007A” provides the superior driving
performance for an exciting ride.
For more information on Bridgestone motorsport

RE-12D

RE-71RS

S007A

https://ms.bridgestone.co.jp/4/supergt/
15

TECHNOLOGY

Components to DeliverHigh Performance
to GT500

Make More Enjoyable Life with Car

Injectoramsc
is an organization that supports
モータースポーツを応援する団体、
それがmotorsport.
amscです。

Engine Control
Unit (ECU)

High-pressure
pump

GT500
introduction to GT500 control system#8 2023 ARTA MUGEN NSX-GT
Key components to ensure optimalengine performance: ECU is for thecomputerized control of an engine,
injector controls the injection of thefuel, and high-pressure pumpprovides fuel into the injector.
They all demonstrate the highreliability under severe
conditions of theCmotorsport.
M

Y

CM

#16 2023 ARTA MUGEN NSX-GT

Motorsport
backedbyをmany
companies.
たくさん の 企is業robustlyが モ ーター
スポーツ
応 援して
います 。
The amsc amscに参加している会員企業は、
members are all engaged in the様々なクルマ関連製品を開発しています。
development of various automotive products.
Their consumer products are実はGTマシンにも使われているのです。
actually used on the GT cars as well.
お店で購入できるそれらの商品が、
参加企業】
【 aｍｓ
[ amscｃ
MEMBERS
]

MY

CY

CMY

Power box

An intelligent control anddistribution unit for electriccomponents such as
headlight, indicator and air
conditioner. By optimizing
the control, it is capable touse electric power efficiently
and make effective use ofengine power.

Multi-display

With this device in the cockpit,
drivers have access instantly toK
all the information they needso that they can stay focused on
driving. The big and HD display
ensures high viewability. As
menu structure is configurable,
the user can choose forexample intended for the useof driver or for pit crew.

Bosch’s contribution in motorsport began in 1901 Nice–Salon–Nice race where a car equippedwith a Bosch magneto ignition claimed victory. Since then, Bosch has been chosen as the provensupplier in many major race series such as F1, WEC and WRC for over 120 long years. They havebeen committing to the motorsport to keep on evolving while increasing technological capability
to address the development of even safer, more efficient and pleasing production vehicles.
As an official sponsor of SUPER GT, Bosch now offers a variety of vital components to all theGT500 cars including engine control unit (ECU), multi-display, power box, injector, high-pressure
pump and wiper motor. Most of them are high-performing products optimized for the
motorsport.
With the common components as the big differentiators of engine performance, Bosch sure will
do much for yet higher performance and create more exciting series than ever.

16

2023年3 月10日現在会員企業

17

GOODSThe Real Driving Simulator

GRAN TURISMO 7TECHNOLOGY

Helmet – Driver’s Signature Item
More than just a protective gear.
Helmet is something to give individuality to the driver.

How Helmet Works
Helmet is primarily a protective gear worn toprotect the driver’s head from injuries and impacts.
Only authorized helmets that meet the strict safety
standards, including shock-absorbing capacity,
penetration resistance and fire retardancy, can beused in SUPER GT.
Helmet also is uniquepersonal item with
iconic design and livery,so that the drivers canbe easily spotted.
Whose artwork is yourfavourite?
GRAN TURISMO 7 is the latest in the acclaimed GRAN TURISMO
series, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary. Over 420 vehicles,from classic cars to cutting-edge supercars, are reproduced in
unparalleled detail. More than 90 racing tracks are included. GRAN
TURISMO 7 features the return of the legendary GT Campaign Modeenabling every car enthusiast to enjoy not only as a racer but also as
a collector, tuner, designer and photographer. On top of that, those
who like to compete with other players can try out their skills in the
Sport Mode. As connecting withplayers from all over the world, findyour own play style and enjoyment ina variety of modes.

The Racing Helmet Trusted byMany Drivers
The “GP-6 8859”, Arai’s
top domestic 4-wheelh e l m e t , i s co n s t a n t l yevolving that benefits froma proven track record in theworld’s top races. It has a ■Price ¥104,000(plus tax)
race-proven structure to assure a high level ofsafety and, at the same time, achieves light weightand comfort. The GP-6 8859 comes with M6
terminal to attach anchors for connecting HANS
device to the helmet. This headgear has all thefeatures that satisfy professional demands.
■ For more information on Arai Helmet:

INFORMATIONMOVIESUPER GT Video Portal

SUPER GT VIDEO Online
SUPER GT VIDEO Online, the official video portal ofSUPER GT, was launched last season. In addition to race
footage, we are planning to release videos closely
following the teams and drivers, as well as news videos
that are easy to understand even for race beginners. A
lot of footage brings you “what’s hot” and “charm” ofSUPER GT.

Suggested Retail Price■ for PS5

8,690JPY (incl. tax)
7,590JPY (incl. tax)
■ 25th anniversary edition		
10,890JPY (incl. tax)
■ for PS4GRAN TURISMO official website

http://www.gran-turismo.com/jp
Gran Turismo 7: ©2023 Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc. Developed by Polyphony Digital Inc. Manufacturers, cars, names, brands and associatedimagery featured in this game in some cases include trademarks and/or copyrighted materials of their respective owners. All rights reserved. Any
depiction or recreation of real world locations, entities, businesses, or organizations is not intended to be or imply any sponsorship or endorsementof this game by such party or parties. "Gran Turismo" logos are registered trademarks or trademarks of Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.

18

OFFICIAL SITE

All you need to know is here!

SUPER GT Official Website
SUPER GT official website is easy to navigate and has full of useful
information containing the latest news, teams and drivers profiles, mustcheck points for each race, and ticket information, etc. It’s got everything
about SUPER GT!

■SUPER GT Official Website

http://supergt.net
19

INFORMATIONTV PROGRAM

Enjoy SUPER GT on TV

Watch All SUPER GT
on J SPORTS
J SPORTS, sports satellite TV channels, broadcasts
all qualifying sessions and races of 2023 SUPERGT, mainly live. All episodes are aired in returns
and highlighs. J SPORTS has a rich line-up ofprograms for you to enjoy SUPER GT to thefullest.

Have more fun on SUPER GT
with SUPER GT SQUARE!

Scan the QR for details.

• J SPORTS on demand exclusive stream programs are available on PCs, smartphones and tablets.
In addition to qualifying/finals for all 8 rounds of this season, the official practice sessions before
qualifying and each event on race day will also be streamed live exclusively on demand.

SMARTPHONE APP

For the 2023 season, Sascha will be the main play-by-playcommentator, Hidetoshi Mitsusada will provide commentary
and Jiro Takahashi & Shima Takeuchi will continue as pit
reporters. Special guests will be featured for race commentary
as well. Don’t keep your eyes off!

MOBILE APP

The app for you to keep up with SUPER GT

SUPER GT In-venue only Live streaming app

Sportsnavi

Grooview Multi

Choose “SUPER GT” on
the “Official Sportsnaviapp” for smartphones/
tablets to get latest
news on SUPER GT as
well as quick reports on
qualifying and final.

You can enjoy the official coveragewith Pierre Kitagawa’s running
commentary from your smartphoneor tablet exclusively at the venue.
Download the app and enter the
password "GTA2023".

SUPER GT Supporters ClubSUPER GT Free Kart Trial for Kids

We run a fan club to provide a variety of privileges
to the members.

Kids aged 6 to 12 can have a free trial of his/her
first taste of driving.

SUPER GT Official Stage

SUPER GT Official Shop

SUPER GT Official Stage offers stage content suchas drivers’ talk shows on the onsite event space.

We have a large selection of SUPER GT merchandise
including cheering goods, apparel and sundries.

SUPER GT Bears “Pole & Winnie”

Goods for kids

SGT mascots as well as store managers“Pole & Winnie” goods are now available!

* The image above is for illustrative purposes only. They may
differ from the actual screen.

KIDS American caps

SUPER GT quick drying T-shirt

Ever-popular Success Weight goods* You may not be able to watch the video depending on thespecifications of your device and the network environment.
* This service is available free.

SUPER GT Success Weight key chain
available in 5 designs: • 10kg • 20kg • 30kg • 50kg • 100kg

SMARTPHONE APP
iPhone & iPad app

SUPER GT 2023 Timing APP
A dedicated iPhone/iPad app “SUPER GT 2023 Timing App” gives you
an instant access to gruelling SUPER GT battles in real time. Download
free. By making in-app purchase (980JPY, tax included), you can enjoy
extra content such as live timing data view for each track session (freepractice, qualifying and race) and circuit position view of the 2023
series. Get it now on the App Store!

SUPER GT Success Weightflat pouch (various designs available)• in-app purchase(980JPY, tax incl.)

Follow
SUPER GTon social media
and get thelatest news!

SUPER GT weight towel (scarf type)

Also available inonline store!

Add SUPER GT to your LINE!!
You will get an original wallpaper.

Search the ID (@sgt_square) on the “Add Friends” menu;
or scan the QR code.
@supergt_squaresuper_gt_square@sgt_squareSUPER GT SQUARE* Apple, Apple logo, iPad, iPhone and iPod touch are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries and regions. App Store is a service mark of Apple Inc.

20 * Google Play and the Google Play logo are trademarks of Google LLC.

21

HISTORY

The World-class Racing Series
SUPER GT launched in 1994 originally as the All-Japan GT Championship. The predecessor series mainly
featured domestic sports cars along with foreign cars such as Porsche, Ferrari and Lamborghini. Its popularity
has grown tremendously as the number of participants increased, and the series began expanding into overseas
in the 2000s. This globalization led to the series name change to SUPER GT in 2005. SUPER GT gets moreglobalized with a lot of FIA GT3 cars entered in GT300 in recent years, and the collaboration between GT500
and DTM. They began using common technical regulations in 2014 and now they even have some joint events.

1994
1995

All-Japan GT Car Championship (JGTC) launches with 5 rounds.

2012

The season has 8 rounds with JAF GP at Fuji. First-ever hybrid
vehicle in SUPER GT is introduced in GT300.

2013

The season has 8 rounds with JAF GP at Fuji.

2014

GT500 now uses common technical regulations with DTM,
governing the 2014 cars onwards (2.0-liter four-cylinder direct
injection turbocharged engine and common monocoquechassis). The season has 8 rounds of which one is the first
official round in Thailand.

2015

The new mother chassis concept cars first arrive in GT300. The
cars now share a number of common components including
the monocoque, and it allows the teams to develop competitive
cars more freely at lower cost. The season has 8 rounds.

2016

8 rounds were initially scheduled though the Kumamoto
earthquakes cause the cancellation of Round 3 Autopolis. It is
rescheduled to the finale at Motegi in November followed by
Round 8.

2017

The season has 8 rounds. GT500 introduces new car that meetsthe updated safety standards, and has crossover exhibition
races with DTM both in Germany and Japan.

2004 the USA.

The season has 7 rounds and an All Star Series takes place in

2018

The season has 8 rounds. The year 2018 marks 25th anniversaryof the JGTC inauguration.

2005 The series is renamed to SUPER GT with 8 rounds in this season.

2019

The season has 8 rounds. A joint race with DTM “SUPER GT /DTM Special Battle” takes place in November at Fuji.

The season has 6 rounds.

1996

The classes are reclassified into GT500 and GT300 representing
the expected horsepower. A non-title race “All Star Series”
inaugurates in addition to the predetermined 6 rounds.

1997

With Honda’s full-season entry, GT500 now is the competition
among Big 3 automakers with Toyota and Nissan already inparticipation. The season has 6 rounds and an All Star Series.

1998
1999

The season has 7 rounds and an All Star Series.
The season has 7 rounds and an All Star Series.
A first-ever overseas exhibition race in Malaysia takes place in2000 addition to the predetermined 7 domestic rounds.

2012

2001

The season has 7 rounds with an exhibition race in Malaysia asin 2000.
The season has 8 rounds of which one is the first official

2002 overseas round in Malaysia (Round 4).
2003 The season has 8 rounds.

1996

2012

The world-renowned McLaren F1 GTR makes a splashy entrance. Allstar race (non title race) inaugurates where the participants havebeen chosen in fan voting.

Hybrid cars (Toyota Prius and Honda CR-Z) first appear in GT300.

The Malaysian round, joined as an exhibition race since 2000, is
now made an official round.

The season has 9 rounds. Supra successor SC430 is entered in2006 GT500.

The season has 9 rounds. SUPER GT marks 100th race in RoundThe season has 9 rounds. Fairlady Z successor GT-R is enteredin GT500.

2021 pandemic, the season has 8 domestic rounds in 6 circuits.

2007 9 at Fuji.
20082009 The season has 9 rounds.

2014
2019

A Thai round of the series is made an official round which is thesecond overseas round after Malaysia.

2012

FIA-F4 INTRODUCTION

FIA-F4 – A Feeder Series on the Rise
FIA-F4 JAPANESE CHAMPIONSHIP certified
by the Fédération Inter nationale del’Automobile (FIA) is a new series
inaugurated in 2015 by the SUPER GT
organizer GTA. Following a proposal by FIA,
FIA-F4 was created as “the fourth formula
car category”. It started off in 2014 with
the inauguration of Italian Championshipfollowed by many other nations’ ownchampionships including Japan, UK, Franceand USA. The new feeder series employs
one-make formula cars with which drivers
compete under high level of safety andequal conditions.
22

A joint race with DTM(Deutsche Tourenwagen
Masters) titled as “SUPER
GT / DTM Special Battle”
takes place in Japan for
the first time featuring 7
DTM cars.

2010
2011

GT500 cars and DTM cars now use common technicalregulations. The season was supposed to have 2 overseas and2020 6 domestic rounds, but it has been rescheduled to have 8

GT500 cars are now all FR powered by 3.4-liter V8 engine tomeet the technical regulations. NSX successor HSV-010 GT isentered in GT500. The season has 8 rounds with a non-title race
“JAF Grand Prix” at Fuji.
The season has 8 rounds with JAF GP at Fuji.

domestic rounds in 3 circuits due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Considering the worldwide spreading of the COVID-19
Z replaces GT-R in GT500. Same as last year, the season has 8
domestic rounds in 6 circuits. GTA announces “SUPER GT Green

2022 Project 2030”, an environmental roadmap for SUPER GT’sefforts.

Carbon neutral fuels (CNF), replacing fossil fuels, is now

2023 introduced to reduce CO2 emissions. The season is scheduled
to have 8 domestic rounds in 6 circuits.

Great Platform for Young Drivers to Improve Their Skills
In the hierarchy of formula
racing category with Formula 1
at the pinnacle (see theillustration at the right), FIA-F4
Championship is ranked as
fourth. The category targets
young drivers serving as a
stepping stone into FIA-F3/Super
Formula Lights (SFL), FIA-F2/
Super Formula (SF) and then F1.

This hierarchical format is similarin structure of baseball: F1 isregarded as the Major League
Baseball while FIA-F4 is ascollege baseball Division 1. As
many of the SUPER GT drivers
hail from these feeder
categories, FIA-F4 Championshipdefinitely is the one that GT fansmust follow.

FIA-F4 Official Sponsor

FORMULA RACING HIERARCHY■：F1■：FIA-F2／SF■：FIA-F3／SFL■：FIA-F4

     Watch FIA-F4 LIVE

FIA-F4 JAPANESE#80 OTG DL F4CHALLENGE* Viewing availability depends on your network conditions.

23

2023 Series Entry List
GT500
No.
1

3

8

14

16

17

19

23

24

36

37

38

39

64

100

15 CARSCar

DriverMARELLI IMPUL Z

Kazuki Hiramine

Nissan Z GT500

Bertrand Baguette

Niterra MOTUL Z

Katsumasa Chiyo

Nissan Z GT500

Mitsunori Takaboshi

ARTA MUGEN NSX-GT

Tomoki Nojiri

Honda NSX-GT

Toshiki Oyu

ENEOS X PRIME GR Supra

Kazuya Oshima

TOYOTA GR Supra GT500

Kenta Yamashita

ARTA MUGEN NSX-GT

Nirei Fukuzumi

Honda NSX-GT

Hiroki Otsu

Astemo NSX-GT

Koudai Tsukakoshi

Honda NSX-GT

Nobuharu Matsushita

WedsSport ADVAN GR Supra

Yuji Kunimoto

TOYOTA GR Supra GT500

Sena Sakaguchi

MOTUL AUTECH Z

Tsugio Matsuda

Nissan Z GT500

Ronnie Quintarelli

REALIZE CORPORATION ADVAN Z Daiki Sasaki
Nissan Z GT500

Kohei Hirate

au TOM'S GR Supra

Sho Tsuboi

TOYOTA GR Supra GT500

Ritomo Miyata

Deloitte TOM'S GR Supra

Ukyo Sasahara

TOYOTA GR Supra GT500

Giuliano Alesi

ZENT CERUMO GR Supra

Yuji Tachikawa

TOYOTA GR Supra GT500

Hiroaki Ishiura

DENSO KOBELCO SARD GR Supra Yuhi Sekiguchi
TOYOTA GR Supra GT500

Youichi Nakayama

Modulo NSX-GT

Takuya Izawa

Honda NSX-GT

Kakunoshin Ohta

STANLEY NSX-GT

Naoki Yamamoto

Honda NSX-GT

Tadasuke Makino

Entrant

Tire

TEAM IMPULBS

NDDP RACING

MI

ARTA

BS

TGR TEAM ENEOS ROOKIE

BS

ARTA

BS

Astemo REAL RACINGBSTGR TEAM WedsSport BANDOH

YH

NISMO

MI

KONDO RACINGYH

TGR TEAM au TOM'SBSTGR TEAM Deloitte TOM'SBSTGR TEAM ZENT CERUMOBSTGR TEAM SARD

BS

Modulo Nakajima Racing

DL

TEAM KUNIMITSUBS• Tire: BS=Bridgestone, DL=Dunlop, MI=Michelin, YH=Yokohama* Entries are subject to change.
25

GT300
No.
2

4

5

6

7

9

10

11

18

20

22

25

27

30

31

26

27 CARSCar

Drivermuta Racing GR86 GT

Yuui Tsutsumi

TOYOTA GR86

Hibiki TairaGOODSMILE HATSUNEMIKU AMG Nobuteru Taniguchi
Mercedes AMG GT3

Tatsuya Kataoka

MACHSYAKEN AIR BUSTER MC86 MACH GO Yusuke Tomibayashi
TOYOTA 86 MC

Takamitsu Matsui

DOBOT Audi R8 LMS

Yoshiaki Katayama

Audi R8 LMS

Roberto Merhi Muntan

Studie BMW M4

Seiji Ara

BMW M4 GT3

Bruno Spengler

PACIFIC VSPO NAC AMG

Ryohei Sakaguchi

Mercedes AMG GT3

Jiatong LiangPONOS GAINER GT-R

Hironobu Yasuda

NISSAN GT-R NISMO GT3

Riki Okusa

GAINER TANAX GT-R

Ryuichiro Tomita

NISSAN GT-R NISMO GT3

Keishi Ishikawa

UPGARAGE NSX GT3

Takashi Kobayashi

Honda NSX GT3

Syun Koide

SHADE RACING GR86 GT

Katsuyuki Hiranaka

TOYOTA GR86

Eijiro Shimizu

R'Qs AMG GT3

Hisashi Wada

Mercedes AMG GT3

Masaki Jyonai

HOPPY Schatz GR Supra GT

Togo Suganami

TOYOTA GR Supra

Seita Nonaka

Yogibo NSX GT3

Yugo Iwasawa

Honda NSX GT3

Reimei Ito

apr GR86 GT

Hiroaki Nagai

TOYOTA GR86

Manabu Orido

apr LC500h GT

Koki Saga

LEXUS LC500h

Kazuto Kotaka

Entrant

Tire

No.

muta Racing INGINGBS

48

GOODSMILE RACING & TeamUKYO

YH

TEAM MACH

YH

Team LeMans

YH

BMW Team Studie x CRS

MIPACIFIC RACING TEAMYHGAINERDL

GAINERDL

TEAM UPGARAGE

YH

SHADE RACINGDL

R'Qs MOTOR SPORTS

YH

HOPPY team TSUCHIYA

YH

Yogibo Racing

YH

apr

YH

apr

BS

50

52

56

60

61

65

87

88

96

244

360

Car

DriverShokumou K's Frontier GT-R

Taiyo Ida

NISSAN GT-R NISMO GT3

Yuki Tanaka

ANEST IWATA Racing RC F GT3

Igor Omura Fraga

LEXUS RC F GT3

Yuga Furutani

SAITAMATOYOPET GB GR Supra GT

Hiroki Yoshida

TOYOTA GR Supra

Kohta Kawaai

REALIZE NISSAN MECHANIC CHALLENGE GT-RJoão Paulo de Oliveira

NISSAN GT-R NISMO GT3

Teppei Natori

Syntium LMcorsa GR Supra GT

Hiroki Yoshimoto

TOYOTA GR Supra

Shunsuke Kohno

SUBARU BRZ R&D SPORT

Takuto Iguchi

SUBARU BRZ GT300

Hideki Yamauchi

LEON PYRAMID AMG

Naoya Gamou

Mercedes AMG GT3

Takuro Shinohara

Bamboo Airways Lamborghini GT3

Kosuke Matsuura

LAMBORGHINI HURACAN GT3

Natsu Sakaguchi

JLOC Lamborghini GT3

Takashi Kogure

LAMBORGHINI HURACAN GT3

Yuya Motojima

K-tunes RC F GT3

Morio Nitta

LEXUS RC F GT3

Shinichi Takagi

HACHI-ICHI GR Supra GT

Kimiya Sato

TOYOTA GR Supra

Atsushi Miyake

RUNUP RIVAUX GT-R

Takayuki Aoki

NISSAN GT-R NISMO GT3

Atsushi Tanaka

Entrant

Tire

NILZZ Racing

YH

ANEST IWATA Racing with Arnage

YH

SAITAMATOYOPET Green BraveBS

KONDO RACINGYH

LM corsa

DL

R&D SPORTDL

K2 R&D LEON RACING

BS

JLOC

YH

JLOC

YH

K-tunes RacingDL

Max Racing

YH

TOMEI SPORTS

YH• Tire: BS=Bridgestone, DL=Dunlop, MI=Michelin, YH=Yokohama* Entries are subject to change.

27