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A Beginners’ Guide to SUPER GT

SUPER GTFUN BOOK

Publisher: GT Association

SUPER GT FUN BOOK is sponsored by

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.

Championship Battles
to Go Down to the Wire

A Star-studded Series with Elite Drivers and Prominent Team Directors©GTA

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

Motor Racing isClassified in Two Groups

SUPER GT has a lot of talents and legends. (From left to right) Kazuyoshi Hoshino, the team director of
TEAM IMPUL, was too well-known as “The Fastest Man in Japan” over the course of his racing career,
and won many championships in Japan’s top categories; former F1 driver Aguri Suzuki now serves as
the team director of ARTA; and Yuji Tachikawa (TGR TEAM ZENT CERUMO/GT500) is the record holder forthe most career pole positions in SUPER GT.

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 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

©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 2022 Season• Audi R8 LMS• BMW M4 GT3• Ferrari 488 GT3• Honda NSX GT3• Lamborghini HURACAN GT3• LEXUS RC F GT3• Mercedes AMG GT3• NISSAN GT-R NISMO GT3• SUBARU BRZ GT300• TOYOTA GR Supra• TOYOTA GR SPORT PRIUS PHV• TOYOTA 86 MC• TOYOTA GR86

Cars Entered in 2022 Season• TOYOTA GR Supra GT500• Honda NSX-GT• NISSAN Z GT500

No.12

No.56

CALSONIC IMPUL ZREALIZE NISSAN MECHANIC CHALLENGE GT-R

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
17 models from both classes take part in the 2020
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 with various
specs compete. Taking Prius for example, the decent
four-door sedan can be a competitive race car withengine and chassis rightfully modified to deliver superior
performance. And yet participants are regulated tocome with the same levelof horsepower. Thus
totally different
classifications of car –ultimate sports car andconservative sedan – canbe mixed in a single race.

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 (or orange).

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 (or Orange).

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 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

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

Let’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

Knockout Format

Race weekend schedule

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.

TIP #1

Top 8 advance to Q2

GT500(10 min)

GT300(10 min)

Top 8 advance to Q2

Top 16 determined

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.

9 and below
eliminated andfill positions

Sunday (Race)

Public scrutineering& open pit

8:00

Kids Walk

9:00
10:00

Pit walk

11:00

Top 3 qualifiers talk show

12:00

All drivers appearance

Pit walk

13:00

Starting procedure/grid walk

14:00

8-minute interval

GT300 Group B(10 min)5-minute interval

Top 8 advance to Q2

8-minute interval

Q2

GT300 Group A(10 min)7:00

Grid Walk

Autograph & photo opportunity

Free practice

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.

Q1

Drivers on duty

Saturday (Qualifying)

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 desperateattempt to record the fastest lap in the qualifying sessions within thegiven time. It really is a breathtaking battle well worth watching.

Pit Walk

Race Weekend Schedule

GT500(10 min)

15:00

Top 8 determined

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.

This 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.

All Drivers Appearance

An all-hands event held right before
the start of the race. You can watch theevent through the circuit screens.

Qualifying (knockout)

Race

16:00

Pole Position press conference

17:00

Kids walkPodium Award Ceremony
Race winners’ press conference* Public scrutineering, pit walk, grid
walk and kids walk might not beable to take place in this season.

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

10-minute interval

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.

* Any driver who took part in Q1 may not participate in Q2.

SUPER GT is Held Throughout Japan and Abroad!

2 RACESUPER GT covers the nation and now diversifies into Asian countries. The globalization expands the sport’s fan basenot only within Japan but also around the world.
MiyagiSportsland SUGO

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 #2

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

3 POINT SYSTEM

6

Thailand*

Chang Int’l Circuit

Malaysia*

Sepang Int’l Circuit
OkayamaOkayama Int’l Circuit

OKAYAMA

Rd. 1

1 Point May Carry Extra Meaning to the End

Top ten finishers of each class ineach race score points towards
both the drivers’ and teams’
standings. Points areaccumulated in each race
depending on the results. Somedrivers in the past have won the title by a single
point. One point could not be considered negligible.

TIP #3SUGO

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

Rd. 6

September 17 - 18

April 16 - 17

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.

Tochigi

Mobility Resort Motegi

Team Points (*given to race finishers)

MOTEGIRd. 8Classification 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.

Oita

Autopolis

AUTOPOLIS

Rd. 7

October 1 - 2

Mie
SUZUKA

Suzuka Circuit
Rd. 3

May 28 - 29

Rd. 5

August 27 - 28

Shizuoka
FUJI

November 5 -6

Fuji Speedway

Rd. 2

May 3 - 4

Rd. 4

August 6 - 7* Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2022 season will have domestic rounds only.
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 Paddock

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

A closed area in which teams’transporters are kept, and also teamcrew, drivers and other officials dotheir job. You will see the drivers
walking and race cars right overthere unless you keep a respectful
distance from them.

CA

C PitsB

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 (gridgirls) appearances on the stage,
various cars on display, and Kids Kart
where kids aged 6 to 12 can have afree trial of his/her first taste of driving.
The SUPER GT official shop is in thisarea featuring team merchandise,model cars, official SUPER GT
merchandise and more. There are also
places to eat introducing snacks andyummy local dishes.

SUPER GT Emergency System “FRO”
©GTA

©GTA

Professionals
Working at the Circuits
SPECIALISTS
Race Director
The race director manages thelogistics of the race. He is
authorized to make every decision
about the race control incl. issuanceof flags and penalty decision. Eachcircuit has its own race director.
8©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 2022.

©GTA

©GTA

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

MarshalMarshals (a.k.a. officials) are observers
on the trackside whose primary role is
to give attention to race to go on safely
and smoothly. They are bound in duty
to wave a flag to signal the drivers what
is happening on the track. When an
accident occurs, they rush over to thescene of the accident to ensure safety.

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

VEHICLES
Safety Car
The Safety Car (SC) leads the formation of competition
vehicles before the start of the race by adjusting their
speed, and in the event of an accident during the raceor if a race car stops on the track, it controls the pace ofthe race cars to prevent damage from parts falling on
the track or further accidents. In 2022, TOYOTA GR
Supra served as the SC until the second round at Fuji,
and Nissan Fairlady Z takes on the role from the thirdround at Suzuka.

Ambulance & Helicopter
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
Transporter is a lorry loaded with race cars
and teams’ equipment to transport themfrom a circuit to the other. Most of them are
specially liveried, and have plenty of fans.

9TECHNOLOGY

AERO PARTSGT Car Description ENGINE
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.

COCKPIT
Cockpit is a driver’s compartment. It isentangled in roll cages to protect the driverfrom being injured and the car seat is custom
fitted to achieve optimal fit and comfort. Air
conditioner and cool suit are provided to avoid
getting heatstroke.

The success in a race depends on how goodthe engine got tuned to gain racing
competitiveness. All teams give one of the
top priorities to the engine development.
Currently, GT500 cars must be powered by
a 2-litre turbocharged inline-four. In theGT300 class, cars built to the GT300
regulations are free to mount any engine
from the same manufacturer as those of
the base chassis while the FIA GT3 cars are
more strictly regulated and have no suchflexibility in the engines.

The significance of aerodynamics is to channel theairflow perfectly and generate as much downforce aspossible that 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 thewindswept part such as either in the sides of the front or
the rear. In the GT500 class, the front spoiler, under-floor
and rear diffuser must be predetermined configurations;and all cars 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 blue in the illustration on theright. Above the specified area, it must be the same asthat of production cars. In the GT300 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 the GT300 can beused on condition that the basic
specifications are followed, butchanging the aero parts
themselves is not
permitted.

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.

TIRE
SUPER GT employs purpose-built
racing tires which are wider than thoseon production cars. Tires must be
optimally chosen according to thetrack conditions. Slick (grooveless) tires
are best in dry conditions while raintires should be used in wet weather.

A Variety of Cars under Diverse Regulations©GTA

DRIVERTo 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 whole shoulder. Racing suit is required to
be flame retardant so as to offer protection in the event of a fire.
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 system and bodywork. On top of that,
another new concept cars, on which GTA-developed
mother chassis (having a number of common components
such as monocoque and engine) is employed, are now
taking part in this class. FIA GT3- regulated cars,
meanwhile, are eligible for many other GT races held
across the globe with a huge fan base worldwide, andmany FIA GT3 cars also participate in SUPER GT. Such thediversity adds absolute excitement to the GT300 class.

GT300 CLASS
11

TECHNOLOGYTeam Members

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; and tirechange 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 over competitors. Let’s findout how it works.

Essential Tool
for Pit Work #1

Fire
Extinguisher

As the SUPER GT cars run on petrol, pit
works must be performed with extreme
care to avoid fires caused by fuelleakage or spark. A crew is on standby
with a fire extinguisher
whenever refuelling.

Team Director

Pit Board Man

The team director has total control over the raceby making every strategic decision, including
when to pit, rationally and instantly in eachphase. He is the main pillar of the team leading all
members.

A man holds out a board on the pit wall to
inform a driver of the time interval to hiscompetitor(s) and the timing of a pit stop. As
the driver streaks across the main straight, It isabsolutely crucial to hold the board up for him
viewing it easily.

Engineer

Team Manager

Race Queen

The engineer’s main role is toanalyze data obtained from race
car as well as drivers’ feedback.
He then shares every strategic
decision with mechanics toachieve the best performance.

The manager covers a wide
range of duties: handling media
enquires and taking excellent
care of sponsors are of particularsignificance to this job. There are
a number of women valued inthis professional field.

With adding glitz and glamour tocircuits, the race queens (grid girls)
serve as an important symbol ofpromoting teams and their sponsors’
products. They sure play
an essential role as belles
in SUPER GT.

Refuelling
As a full tank of fuel does not cover thewhole distance, refuelling is needed tocomplete the race. Although rigs used inSUPER GT are designed to allow for
rapid refuelling, flow rate has been
programmed in to provide enough time
for a driver switch.

Impact Wrench

Essential Tool
for Pit Work #2

A tool designed for quickly winding off andon wheel nuts, allowing pit crew to changetires breathtakingly fast. Crew often
customize their wrench to fit comfortably intheir hands to improve work performance.

12

Tire Change
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 side of
the car, the pistons project downwards topromptly lift the car off the ground.

Driver Change
Each car is required by the regulations
to be driven by at least two drivers
sharing the driving duty in a race. A
driver may not drive for more than
two-thirds (2/3) of the whole distance.

To cover a long-distance race, youprobably have got to change tires atsome 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 bytire changers’ consummate performance:
lifting heavy tires effortlessly, taking off
the worn rubbers and fit the fresh ones all done so quickly and precisely.
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 toburn fuel to create heat into motion so that the car
can move.
Engines come in many different types and all havetheir distinctive feature such as having good
acceleration, capable of increasing top end speed,
and lightweight. In SUPER GT, there are a plethoraof vehicle types, and thus engines are also naturally
quite diverse. Giving great attention to the engines
might be another good idea for you to enjoy therace even more.

Straight/Inline

V Engine

Flat Engine

Common on production cars,suitable for small displacementand 2, 3 or 4-cylinder

Reduces the overall length ofengine with many cylinders

Reduces engine height andlowers the center of gravity

From an anterior view, an arrayof cylinders is arranged in twobanks to form “V” which is to
avoid overly long engine withmany cylinders arranged intandem. This engine is often
used on cars requiring highhorsepower such as sports cars
and large-size cars.

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

This engine can be seen on
Mercedes AMG GT3
Audi R8 LMSThis engine can be seen on
SUBARU BRZ GT300

Commonly used vehicle engine
generates power by moving
pistons up and down, of which
inline engines have cylinders
aligned in one row with nooffset. These engines are usuallyfound on small displacement
vehicles.
This engine can be seen on
TOYOTA GR Supra GT500
Honda NSX-GT
NISSAN Z GT500

Their Engine’s
Distinctive
Value
14

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.

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.

1 Load Support

Supporting 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

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

4 Comfort

Absorbing Shocks
from RoadAs 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.

Bringing SUPER GT-proven Technologies to Commercial Tires
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

Injector

Components to DeliverHigh Performance
to GT500

Make More Enjoyable Life with Car

Engine Control
Unit (ECU)

MOTORSPORT & CAR LIFE
High-pressure
pump

GT500
introduction to GT500 control system

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 the
motorsport.

Motorsport is robustly backed by many companies.
The amsc members are all engaged in the development of various automotive products.
Their consumer products are actually used on the GT cars as well.
[ amsc MEMBERS ]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 to
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

17

GOODSTECHNOLOGYThe Real Driving Simulator

GRAN TURISMO 7

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

How Helmet Works

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, arereproduced in unparalleled detail. More than 90 racing tracks areincluded. GRAN TURISMO 7 features the return of the legendary
GT Campaign Mode enabling every car enthusiast to enjoy not
only as a racer but also as a collector, tuner, designer andphotographer. On top of that, those who like to compete withother players can try out
their skills in the Sport
Mode. As connectingwith players from allover the world, findyour own play style andenjoyment in a variety
of modes.

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?

The Racing Helmet Trusted byMany Drivers
The “GP-6 8859”, Arai’s top
domestic 4-wheel helmet, isconstantly evolving that
benefits from a proven trackrecord in the world’s top
races. It has a race-provenstructure to assure a highlevel of safety and, at thesame time, achieves lightweight and comfort. The GP-6 8859 comes with
M6 terminal to attach anchors for connecting
HANS device to the helmet. This headgear has all
the features that satisfy professional demands.
For more information on Arai Helmet:

INFORMATIONMOVIESUPER GT Video Portal Finally Launched!

SUPER GT VIDEO Online
SUPER GT VIDEO Online, the official video portal ofSUPER GT, has just launched! Approximately 40 official
footages are scheduled to be released during the eachcoming race week. In addition, videos related to SUPER
GT produced by teams, drivers and car manufacturers
will also be posted and distributed. Watch the videos
and experience “what’s on” and “excitement” ofSUPER GT to the fullest!

Suggested Retail Prices■ for PS5

8,690JPY (incl. tax)
7,590JPY (incl. tax)
■ 25th anniversary edition		
10,890JPY (incl. tax)

OFFICIAL SITE

■ for PS4GRAN TURISMO official website

SUPER GT Official Website
http://www.gran-turismo.com/jp/

Gran Turismo 7: ©2022 Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc. Developed by Polyphony Digital Inc. Manufacturers, cars, names, brands and associated imagery featured in thisgame 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 endorsement of this game by such party or parties. “Gran Turismo” logos are registered trademarks
or trademarks of Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.

18

All you need to know is here!

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, Japan’s biggest four sports satellite TV
channels, broadcasts all qualifying sessions andraces of 2022 SUPER GT, mainly live. All episodes
are aired in returns and highlighs. J SPORTS has arich line-up of programs for you to enjoy SUPERGT to the fullest.

Have more fun on SUPER GT
with SUPER GT SQUARE!
SUPER GT Supporters ClubWe run a fan club to provide a variety of privileges to the members.
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.

SUPER GT Official StageFor the 2022 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!

SUPER GT Official Stage offers stage content such as drivers’ talkshows on the onsite event space.

SUPER GT Free Kart Trial for Kids
SMARTPHONE APP

The app for you to keep
up with SUPER GT

MOBILE APP

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 watch interview
movies with the top
finishers from qualifying
and race.

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 "GTA2022".

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

SUPER GT Official Shop
We have a large selection of SUPER GT merchandise including cheering
goods, apparel and sundries.
Goods for kids

SUPER GT Bears “Pole & Winnie”

SUPER GT quick drying T-shirt

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

More kids stuff incl. hoodies and caps
are available.

* The image above is for illustrative purposes only. They may
differ from the actual screen.
* You may not be able to watch the video depending on thespecifications of your device and the network environment.
* This service is currently under pilot operation and is available
free for this year.

SMARTPHONE APP• in-app purchase(980JPY, tax incl.)

A dedicated iPhone/iPad app “SUPER GT 2022 Timing App” gives you an instant accessto 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 eachtrack session (free practice, qualifying and race) and circuit position view of the 2022
series. Get it now on the App Store!
* 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.
* Google Play and the Google Play logo are trademarks of Google LLC.

20

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

iPhone & iPad app

SUPER GT 2022 Timing APP

Ever-popular Success Weight goods

Follow
SUPER GTon social media
and get thelatest news!

@supergt_squaresuper_gt_square@SuperGTSquare

Add SUPER GT to your LINE!!

SUPER GT Success Weightflat pouch (various designs available)

You will get an original wallpaper.
Search the ID (@sgt_square)on the “Add Friends” menu; orscan the QR code.

Also available inonline store!

SUPER GT weight towel(scarf type)@sgt_square

21

HISTORY

The World-class Racing Series
SUPER GT launched in 1994 originally as the AllJapan GT Championship. The predecessor series
mainly featured domestic sports cars along withforeign cars such as Porsche, Ferrari andL a m b o r g h i n i . I t s p o p u l a r i t y h a s g ro w n
tremendously as the number of participants
increased, and the series began expanding into
overseas in the 2000s. This globalization led to theseries name change to SUPER GT in 2005. SUPERGT gets more globalized with a lot of FIA GT3 cars
entered in GT300 in recent years, and thecollaboration between GT500 and DTM. They
began using common technical regulations in 2014
and now they even have some joint events.

1994 All-Japan GT Car Championship (JGTC) launches with 5 rounds.
1995 The season has 6 rounds.

The season has 9 rounds. SUPER GT marks 100th race in Round2007 9 at Fuji.

The season has 9 rounds. Fairlady Z successor GT-R is entered in

The classes are reclassified into GT500 and GT300 representing

2008 GT500.

inaugurates in addition to the predetermined 6 rounds.

2009 The season has 9 rounds.

1996 the expected horsepower. A non-title race “All Star Series”
With Honda’s full-season entry, GT500 now is the competition

1997 among Big 3 automakers with Toyota and Nissan already inparticipation. The season has 6 rounds and an All Star Series.

1998 The season has 7 rounds and an All Star Series.
1999 The season has 7 rounds and an All Star Series.
A first-ever overseas exhibition race in Malaysia takes place in

The season has 7 rounds with an exhibition race in Malaysia as2001 in 2000.
The season has 8 rounds of which one is the first official

2002

GT500 cars are now all FR powered by 3.4-liter V8 engine to meet the2010 technical regulations. NSX successor HSV-010 GT is entered 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. First-ever hybrid

2000 addition to the predetermined 7 domestic rounds.

The new mother chassis concept cars first arrive in GT300. The
cars now share a number of common components including the2015 monocoque, and it allows the teams to develop competitive cars
more freely at lower cost. The season has 8 rounds.
8 rounds were initially scheduled though the Kumamoto earthquakes

2016 cause the cancellation of Round 3 Autopolis. It is rescheduled to thefinale at Motegi in November followed by Round 8.

The season has 8 rounds. GT500 introduces new car that meets2017 the updated safety standards, and has crossover exhibition
races with DTM both in Germany and Japan.

2011 The season has 8 rounds with JAF GP at Fuji.

2002 overseas round in Malaysia (Round 4).

2012 vehicle in SUPER GT is introduced in GT300.

2013 The season has 8 rounds with JAF GP at Fuji.
GT500 now uses common technical regulations with DTM, governing
the 2014 cars onwards (2.0-liter four-cylinder direct injection
2014 turbocharged engine and common monocoque chassis). The season
has 8 rounds of which one is the first official round in Thailand.

The season has 8 rounds. The year 2018 marks 25th anniversary

2018 of the JGTC inauguration.

The season has 8 rounds. A joint race with DTM “SUPER GT /2019 DTM Special Battle” takes place in November at Fuji.

GT500 cars and DTM cars now use common technicalregulations. The season was supposed to have 2 overseas and 62020 domestic rounds, but it has been rescheduled to have 8
domestic rounds in 3 circuits due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Considering the worldwide spreading of the COVID-19

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

Z replaces GT-R in GT500. Same as last year, the season is2022 scheduled to have 8 domestic rounds in 6 circuits.

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

2019

1996

2012

2014

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

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

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 RiseF I A - F 4 J A PA N E S E C H A M P I O N S H I P
certified by the Fédération Internationale
de l’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 in2014 with the inauguration of ItalianChampionship followed by many othernations’ own championships including
Japan, UK, Germany, Australia andChina. The new feeder series employs
one-make formula cars with which
drivers compete under high level ofsafety and equal conditions.
22

2003 The season has 8 rounds.
2004 The season has 7 rounds and an All Star Series takes place in the USA.
2005 The series is renamed to SUPER GT with 8 rounds in this season.
2006 The season has 9 rounds. Supra successor SC430 is entered in GT500.

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

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 Sponsors

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

F1
FIA-F2/SF
FIA-F3/S
FL
FIA-F4
Watch FIA-F4 LIVE#80 OTG DL F4CHALLENGE

FIA-F4 JAPANESE* Viewing availability depends on your network conditions.

23

2022 Season Entry List
No.

CAR

DRIVER

3

CRAFTSPORTS MOTUL Z
Nissan Z GT500

Katsumasa Chiyo

8

ARTA NSX-GT
Honda NSX-GT

Tomoki Nojiri

12

CALSONIC IMPUL Z
Nissan Z GT500

Kazuki Hiramine

14

ENEOS X PRIME GR Supra
TOYOTA GR Supra GT500

Kazuya Oshima

16

Red Bull MOTUL MUGEN NSX-GT
Honda NSX-GT

Ukyo Sasahara

17

Astemo NSX-GT
Honda NSX-GT

Koudai Tsukakoshi

19

WedsSport ADVAN GR Supra
TOYOTA GR Supra GT500

Yuji Kunimoto

23

MOTUL AUTECH Z
Nissan Z GT500

Tsugio Matsuda

24

Realize corporation ADVAN Z
Nissan Z GT500

Daiki Sasaki

36

au TOM’S GR Supra
TOYOTA GR Supra GT500

Sho Tsuboi

37

KeePer TOM’S GR Supra
TOYOTA GR Supra GT500

Sacha Fenestraz

38

ZENT CERUMO GR Supra
TOYOTA GR Supra GT500

Yuji Tachikawa

39

DENSO KOBELCO SARD GR Supra
TOYOTA GR Supra GT500

Yuhi Sekiguchi

64

Modulo NSX-GT
Honda NSX-GT

Takuya Izawa

100

STANLEY NSX-GT
Honda NSX-GT

Naoki Yamamoto

Mitsunori Takaboshi

Nirei Fukuzumi

Bertrand Baguette

Kenta Yamashita

Toshiki Oyu

Nobuharu Matsushita

Sena Sakaguchi

Ronnie Quintarelli

Kohei Hirate

Giuliano Alesi

Ritomo Miyata

Hiroaki Ishiura

Yuichi Nakayama

Hiroki Otsu

Tadasuke Makino

ENTRANTTIRE

NDDP RACING

MI

ARTA

BS

TEAM IMPULBSTGR TEAM ENEOS ROOKIEBSTEAM Red Bull MUGEN

DL

Astemo REAL RACINGBSTGR TEAM WedsSport BANDOH

YH

NISMO

MI

KONDO RACINGYH

TGR TEAM au TOM’SBSTGR TEAM KeePer 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

CAR

DRIVER2

muta Racing GR86 GT
TOYOTA GR86

Hiroki Katoh

4

No.

26

ENTRANT

TIRE

No.

CAR

DRIVERmuta Racing INGINGBS

48

SHOKUMOU Ks Frontier GT-R
NISSAN GT-R NISMO GT3

Taiyo Ida

GOODSMILE HATSUNE MIKU AMG Nobuteru Taniguchi
Mercedes AMG GT3
Tatsuya Kataoka

GOODSMILE RACING & TeamUKYO

YH

50

Arnage MC86
TOYOTA 86 MC

Masaki Kano

5

MACHSYAKEN AIR BUSTER MC86
MACH GOTOYOTA 86 MC

Yusuke Tomibayashi

TEAM MACHYH

52

SAITAMATOYOPET GB
GR Supra GT
TOYOTA GR Supra

Hiroki Yoshida

6

Team LeMans Audi R8 LMS
Audi R8 LMS

Yoshiaki Katayama

Team LeMans

YH

55

ARTA NSX GT3
Honda NSX GT3

Hideki Mutoh

7

Studie BMW M4
BMW M4 GT3Seiji Ara

BMW Team Studie × CSL

MI56

REALIZE NISSAN
MECHANIC CHALLENGE GT-R
NISSAN GT-R NISMO GT3

Kiyoto Fujinami

9

PACIFIC hololive NAC Ferrari
Ferrari 488 GT3

Takeshi Kimura

PACIFIC CARGUY Racing

YH

60

Syntium LMcorsa GR Supra GT
TOYOTA GR Supra

Hiroki Yoshimoto

10

TANAX GAINER GT-R
NISSAN GT-R NISMO GT3

Ryuichiro Tomita

GAINERDL

61

SUBARU BRZ R & D SPORTSUBARU BRZ GT300

Takuto Iguchi

11

GAINER TANAX GT-R
NISSAN GT-R NISMO GT3Hironobu Yasuda

GAINERDL

65

LEON PYRAMID AMG
Mercedes AMG GT3

Naoya Gamou

18

UPGARAGE NSX GT3
Honda NSX GT3

Takashi Kobayashi

TEAM UPGARAGE

YH

87

Bamboo Airways
LAMBORGHINI GT3
Lamborghini HURACAN GT3

Kosuke Matsuura

20

SHADE RACING GR86 GT
TOYOTA GR86

Katsuyuki Hiranaka

SHADE RACINGDL

88

Weibo Primez LAMBORGHINI GT3 Takashi Kogure
Lamborghini HURACAN GT3
Yuya Motojima

22

R’Qs AMG GT3
Mercedes AMG GT3

Hisashi WadaR’Qs MOTOR SPORTS

YH

96

K-tunes RC F GT3
LEXUS RC F GT3

Morio Nitta

25

HOPPY Schatz GR Supra
TOYOTA GR Supra

Takamitsu Matsui

HOPPY team TSUCHIYA

YH

244

HACHI-ICHI GR Supra GT
TOYOTA GR Supra

Kimiya Sato30

apr GR86 GT
TOYOTA GR86

Hiroaki Nagai

apr

YH

360

RUNUP RIVAUX GT-R
NISSAN GT-R NISMO GT3

Takayuki Aoki

31

apr GR SPORT PRIUS GTTOYOTA GR SPORT PRIUS PHV

Koki Sagaapr

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

34

BUSOU raffinee GT-R
NISSAN GT-R NISMO GT3

Masataka Yanagida

BUSOU Drago CORSE

DL

Yuui Tsutsumi

Reiji Hiraki

Reberto Merhi Muntan

Augusto Farfus

Kei Cozzolino

Riki Okusa

Keishi Ishikawa

Kakunoshin Ohta

Eijiro Shimizu

Masaki Jyonai

Seita Nonaka

Manabu Orido

Yuhki Nakayama

Yuji Ide

Yuki Tanaka

Ryohei Sakaguchi

Kohta Kawaai

Iori Kimura

Joao Paulo de Oliveira

Shunsuke Kohno

Hideki Yamauchi

Takuro Shinohara

Natsu Sakaguchi

Shinichi Takagi

Atsushi Miyake

Atsushi Tanaka

ENTRANTTIRE

NILZZ Racing

YH

Arnage Racing

YH

Saitama Toyopet Green Brave

BS

ARTA

BS

KONDO RACINGYH

LM corsaDL

R & D SPORTDL

K2 R & D LEON RACING

BS

JLOC

YH

JLOC

YH

K-tunes RacingDL

Max Racing

YH

TOMEI SPORTS

YH

27