Motor Sports
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Motor Sports Hiromasa Tanaka1） Hiromi Hayashi2） Satoru Terada3） Shinichi Yamashita3） 1）Honda R&D 2）Toyota Motor 3）Suzuki Motor 4）Bridgestone 2. 1. 1. Super GT (Fig. 1) 1 Introduction The racing distances of the second round (Fuji Speed- Even as countries around the world face up to eco- way) and fifth round (Suzuka), which were shortened in nomic and environmental issues, activities are being pur- 2009 to reduce participation costs, were returned to the sued to ensure the continued future of motor sports. original distances of 500 and 1,000 km, respectively, in Major regulatory changes in motor sports in 2012 2012. Four official tests are now held each year, increas- included the introduction of different standard engine ing the amount of vehicle and tire development testing displacements for the motorcycle Road Racing World in conjunction with the tire manufacturer tests. Championship Grand Prix. However, as car racing is on In the GT300 class, participating cars must be based the verge of substantial changes to power plant regula- on production vehicles. Cars are now divided into two tions, no major changes to regulations occurred in 2012. main categories: FIA GT3 cars and JAF-GT300 cars that However, steady progress was made in specific technical are based on authorized or registered vehicles (other studies in anticipation of the future modifications. cars were limited to participants in the 2011 series that In Japan, Suzuka Circuit celebrated the 50th anniver- were allowed to continue racing in 2012). The regula- sary of its construction as the country＇s first full-scale tions for performance adjustment of FIA GT3 cars have racing circuit in September 1962. Since then, Suzuka has basically adopted world championship standards for survived the changes of the passing years, re-affirming each model rather than individual adjustments, which the position of motorsports as a part of Japanese culture. was previously the case. Since the standards for perfor- Through its historical development, motorsports in Ja- mance adjustments have been clarified and compliance pan have gained an individual quality somewhat different made easier, the number of FIA GT3 cars has increased. to that in Europe and the U.S. However, regulations and At the opening race, of the 25 cars that reached the final technology from Japan may well have a major influence race, 16 (8 models) were from the FIA GT3 category. To on the future of global motorsports. The continuation of match the performance of the FIA GT3 cars, elements a sound approach based on the whole range of historical such as tire widths, ground clearances, aerodynamic de- perspectives is the key to resolving issues common to all vices, intake restrictor diameters were revised for the motor sports and further enhancing its sustainability. JAF-GT300 cars and restrictions were lifted on electronic chassis controls and paddle shifts. 2 Car Racing Trends (Table 1) In addition, hybrid vehicles, which have already been 2. 1. Trends in Japan recognized in the regulations of the GT300 class, also Car racing in Japan has somehow overcome the aus- participated. A Toyota Prius took part from the opening terity measures adopted in the wake of the Great East race and a Honda CR-Z took part from the fourth round. Japan Earthquake in 2011. 2012 was a year that aimed Both demonstrated a constant level of competitiveness. to achieve recovery and new forms of evolution. Al- The GT500 class also did not make major changes to though there were no major changes to vehicle regula- regulations from the previous year. However, the intake tions, racing was invigorated by organizational and other restrictor was enlarged by two ranks to maintain the changes behind the scenes, and various new activities performance gap to the GT300 class. were implemented. 2. 1. 2. Formula Nippon (Fig. 2) Excluding the dual race format of the final round, Copyright© 2013 Society of Automotive Engineers of Japan, Inc. All rights reserved Table 1 Details and results of major car racing categories in 2012. Participating Japa- 2012 champions Category Outline of races Outline of vehicles Remarks nese manufacturers Drivers Manufacturers F1 2 0 r o u n d s o n c i r c u i t s Dedicated race cars (formula) Sebastian Vettel Red Bull (Shanghai, Monaco, Brazil, 2.4 -liter V8 NA engines (third consecu- Racing ─ South Korea, Suzuka, Abu tive year) (team) Dhabi, etc.) WRC class 13 rounds on general roads 4WD cars based on commer- Sebastian Loeb Citroen (Sweden, Jordan, Greece, cially available vehicles (ninth consecu- (team) ─ UK, etc.) Maximum 1.6 -liter direct-in- tive year) jection turbocharged engines PWRC class 8 rounds on general roads 4WD cars based on commer- Mitsubishi Benito Guerra R a (Monaco, Portugal, Finland, cially available vehicles Subaru l l y France, etc.) Maximum 2.0 -liter direct-in- jection turbocharged engines SWRC class 8 rounds on general roads 4WD cars based on commer- Craig Breen W (Mexico, Jordan, Finland, cially available vehicles o ─ r l France, etc.) Maximum 2.0 -liter direct- d c injection NA engines h a m WEC 8 rounds on circuits (Se- Dedicated race cars (open/ Toyota Benoît Audi p i o bring, Spa, Circuit de la closed body) Nissan Tréluyer n s h Sarthe in Le Mans, Fuji, LMP1 : Maximum 3.4 -liter Honda André Lotterer i p s Bahrain, Shanghai, etc.) NA, maximum 2.0-liter turbo- Marcel Fässler charged, or maximum 3 .7 -liter turbo-diesel engines LMP2 : Cars based on commer- cially available vehicles, maxi- mum 5.0 -liter NA or maximum 2.3 -liter turbocharged engines Touring cars 24 rounds at 12 venues 2WD cars based on commer- Honda Robert Huff Chevrolet (circuits: Italy, Morocco, cially available vehicles, maxi- Germany, Japan (Okayama), mum 1.6 -liter direct-injection Macao, etc.) turbocharged gasoline engines FIA GT1 9 rounds on circuits (Noga- Front-engine rear-wheel drive Nissan Marc Basseng All-Inkl.com ro, Zolder, Navarra, Slova- (FR) or mid-engined cars based Markus Win- Münnich kia Ring, etc.) on commercially available ve- kelhock Motorsport hicles, 5 to 7 -liter NA engines GT500 class 8 r o u n d s o n c i r c u i t s FR cars based on commer- Toyota Ronnie Special JAF (Suzuka, Sepang, Okayama, cially available vehicles, 3.4-li- Nissan Quintarelli Grand Prix Fuji, etc.) ter V8 NA engines Honda Masataka are also held Uniform vehicle body depth Yanagida S and width, wheelbase, and u p e overhangs r G T GT300 class Cars based on commercially Toyota Kyosuke Mineo available vehicles. Engine Nissan Naoki Yo- conversion, displacement, tur- Honda komizo I n bocharging, and drive wheels Subaru t e r are not regulated, or FIA GT3 n a t homologated vehicle i o n a l DTM 1 1 r o u n d s o n c i r c u i t s FR cars based on commer- Bruno Spengler s e (Hockenheim, Nurburgring, cially available vehicles, 4.0-li- ─ r i e s Brands Hatch etc.) ter V8 NA engines IRL 15 rounds on ovals and Dedicated race cars (formula) Honda Ryan Hunter- circuits (Indianapolis, San 2.2 -liter V6 direct-injection tur- Reay Paulo, Long Beach, etc.) bocharged engines Blended fuel consisting of 85 % ethanol and 15 % gasoline IRC (rally) 1 3 r o u n d s o n g e n e r a l 4WD or 2WD cars based on Subaru Andreas Mik- Skoda roads (Italy, Spain, Cyprus, commercially available vehicles Mitsubishi kelsen (second Corsica, etc.) Maximum 2.0 -liter turbo- Honda c o n s e c u t i v e charged or NA engines year) Copyright© 2013 Society of Automotive Engineers of Japan, Inc. All rights reserved Table 1 Details and results of major car racing categories in 2012 (continued). Participating Japa- 2012 champions Category Outline of races Outline of vehicles Remarks nese manufacturers Drivers Manufacturers Formula Nippon 7 r o u n d s o n c i r c u i t s Dedicated race cars (formula) Toyota Kazuki Special JAF (Suzuka, Motegi, Fuji, etc.) 3.4 -liter V8 NA engines Honda Nakajima Grand Prix are also held F3 15 rounds at 7 venues on Dedicated race cars (formula) Toyota Ryo Hirakawa circuits (Fuji, Okayama, Maximum 2.0-liter inline 4-cyl- Nissan etc.) inder NA engines based on Honda commercially available units Class 4 9 rounds on general roads 4WD or 2WD cars based on Subaru Norihiko Kat- J a p (Hokkaido, Chubu, Kyushu, commercially available ve- Mitsubishi suta (third con- a n etc.) hicles, engine displacement: secutive year) e s e more than 3.0 -liters (turbo Sayaka Adachi c h coefficient: 1.7 ) a m p Class 3 4WD or 2WD cars based on Toyota，Honda Tomoyuki i o n commercially available ve- Daihatsu Shinkai s h i R p hicles, 1.5 to 3.0 -liter engines Masahiko a s l l (turbo coefficient: 1.7 ) Shimazu y Class 2 2WD cars based on commer- Tomoyuki Toyota cially available vehicles, 1.4 to Amano Mazda 1.5 -liter engines (turbo coef- Yukiko Inoue ficient: 1.7 ) Class 1 4WD or 2WD cars based Daihatsu Takatoshi on commercially available Nissan Yamaguchi vehicles, maximum 1.4 -liter Makiko engines (turbo coefficient: 1.7) Yamada Dakar Rally Held in Argentina and Cars based on commercially Mitsubishi Stéphane Pe- BMW/Mini Chile available vehicles, dedicated Toyota Auto terhansel O t h Total distance: 8,600 km race car, dedicated race Body Jean-Paul Cot- e r Start/finish: near Buenos trucks Hino tret Aires NA gasoline or turbo-diesel Nissan engines Subaru Formula Nippon races became all the same length of 250 km.