Motor Sports that also recovers thermal energy. These trends dem- 1 Introduction onstrate the continuing desire of motorsports to adopt Although the Japanese economy showed signs of re- cutting edge environmentally friendly technology in ad- covery in 2013, the world of motorsports continued to dition to the pursuit of sheer speed. struggle with difficult economic conditions and cost re- 2 Car Racing Trends (Table 1) duction remained a key focus for each sport. Despite this situation, bright spots for Japanese motor- 2. 1. Trends in Japan sports in 2013 included the announcement by Suzuki of a Although there were no major changes to the regu- return to the pinnacle of motorcycle road racing in 2015, lations of any category in 2013, various organizational and Honda＇s decision to return to F1 as an engine sup- modifications and initiatives were carried out. plier in the same year. Kamui Kobayashi also announced 2. 1. 1. Super GT (Fig. 1) his return as an F1 driver for the 2014 season. Further- In 2013, a total of eight rounds of the Super GT series more, the launch and adoption of entry-level sporty mod- and the Special JAF Grand Prix in November were held. els such as the Toyota 86/Subaru BRZ as base models in In addition, the 2013 season introduced two knockout various race categories promises a boost to motorsports qualifying rounds instead of the customary Super Lap in the future by widening the base of participation. qualifying format. In 2013, further progress was made in preparations to In the GT300 class, the previous six categories have merge the regulations for Super GT and the Deutsche been reduced to three to increase the number of en- Tourenwagen Masters (DTM: German Touring Car Mas- trants and reduce costs. These categories are made up ters) series from 2014. It is hoped that moves such as of FIA GT3 cars and JAF-GT300 cars that are based on this will help further stimulate motorsports in Japan as authorized or registered vehicles. As a result, FIA-GT2 the economy recovers. cars in the FIA GT category, LM-GTE cars, and low-pro- In the engine field, the Nippon Race Engine (NRE) was duction sports cars in the JAF-GT category, which were announced. This is a concept 2.0-liter inline 4-cylinder permitted to participate up to 2012, were unable to take turbocharged engine provided with a fuel flow restrictor. part in Super GT in 2013. As in 2012, the regulations for Developed in Japan, this engine will be used in the Su- performance adjustment of FIA GT3 cars continued to per GT and Super Formula (formerly known as Formula adopt world championship standards. As a result, the Nippon) race series. number of FIA GT3 cars in Super GT increased. Outside Japan, it was announced that the FIA Formu- In the GT500 class, although no changes were made la E Championship would start in 2014 and that Porsche to the regulations used in 2012, 2013 was the last season would return to endurance racing with a hybrid vehicle of the rear-wheel drive (RWD) format using 3.4-liter V8 (HV) entrant in the FIA World Endurance Champion- naturally aspirated (NA) engines. From 2014, races will ship (WEC) in the same year. The engines used in F1 be run under new chassis and engine regulations. were changed to downsized 1.6-liter V6 direct injection 2. 1. 2. Super Formula (Fig. 2) turbocharged engines, with similar specifications to those In 2013, the Formula Nippon series was re-named Su- used on commercially available vehicles. In place of the per Formula and a change was made to the race lengths. previous kinetic energy recovery system (KERS), F1 also As in 2012, excluding the dual race format of the final decided to adopt a new energy recovery system (ERS) round, all Super Formula races are 250 km. However, Copyright© 2014 Society of Automotive Engineers of Japan, Inc. All rights reserved Table 1 Details and results of major car racing categories in 2013. Participating Japanese 2013 champions Category Outline of races Outline of vehicles Remarks manufacturers Drivers Manufacturers F1 19 rounds (circuits: Shanghai, Dedicated race cars (formula) Sebastian Vettel Red Bull Sweeping Monaco, Brazil, South Korea, 2.4 -liter V8 NA engines (fourth consecu- Racing changes to ─ Suzuka, Abu Dhabi, etc.) tive year) (team) regulations planned for 2014 WRC class 13 rounds on general roads 4WD cars based on commercially Sebastien Ogier Volkswagen Group R cars (Sweden, Mexico, Greece, UK, available vehicles Motorsport allowed to ─ etc.) Maximum 1.6 -liter direct-injection (team) participate turbocharged engines from 2013 WRC-2 class 13 rounds on general roads (Sweden, Group N4, Super 2000, Group Subaru, Robert Kubica Citroen y l l a Mexico, etc.), with 7 rounds R4, and Group R5 cars based on Mitsubishi World Rally R counting toward the championship commercially available vehicles Team (team) SWRC class 13 rounds on general roads 2WD Group R1, Group R2, and Group Sebastien Char- Citroen (Sweden, Mexico, etc.) , with R3 cars based on commercially donnet World Rally s ─ p i 6 rounds counting toward the available vehicles Team (team) h s championship 1.6 -liter turbocharged engines, etc. n o i p WEC 8 rounds (circuits: Silverstone, Dedicated race cars (open/closed body) Toyota, Allan McNish Audi Sport m a Spa, Circuit de la Sarthe in Le LMP1 : Maximum 3.4 -liter NA, maximum Nissan, Tom Kristensen Team Joest h c Mans, Fuji Speedway, Bahrain, 2.0 -liter turbocharged, or maximum Honda Loic Duval (team) d l r o Shanghai, etc.) 3.7 -liter turbo-diesel engines W LMP2 : Cars based on commercially available vehicles, maximum 5.0 -liter NA or maximum 2.3 -liter turbocharged engines Touring cars 24 rounds at 12 venues (Italy, 2WD cars based on commercially Honda Y v a n M u l l e r Honda (WTCC) Morocco, Germany, Japan available vehicles, maximum 1.6 -liter (Chevrolet) (manufacturer) (Suzuka), Macao, etc.) direct-injection turbocharged gasoline engines Dakar Rally Held in a single direction A mixture of commercially Toyota, Stephane Pe - through Peru, Chile, and available and prototype vehicles, Mitsubishi, terhansel (car), Argentina including motorcycles, cars, Nissan, Cyril Despres trucks, buggies, and all-terrain Suzuki, ( m o t o r c y c l e ) , vehicles (ATVs). Hino, Isuzu, Eduard Nikolaev Yamaha (truck) GT500 class 8 rounds (circuits: Suzuka, FWD cars based on commercially available Toyota, Yuji Tachikawa Special JAF Sepang, Okayama, Fuji, etc.) vehicles, 3.4 -liter V8 NA engines Nissan, Kohei Hirate Grand Prix Uniform vehicle ground height, width, Honda also held T G wheelbase, and overhangs r e p u GT300 class Cars based on commercially available vehicles. Toyota, Hideki Kondo S s e Engine conversion, displacement, turbocharging, Nissan, Yuki Nakayama i r e and drive wheels are not regulated but cars Honda s l a must be authorized FIA GT3 vehicles. Subaru n o i t a DTM 11 rounds (circuits: Hockenheim, FWD cars based on Mike Rockenfel- Audi Sport Team n r e Nurburgring, Brands Hatch commercially available vehicles, ─ ler Phoenix (team) t n I etc.) 4.0 -liter V8 NA engines BMW (manufacturer) IRL 19 rounds on oval circuits Dedicated race cars (formula) Honda Scott Dixon Chevrolet (Indianapolis, San Paulo, Long 2.2 -liter V6 direct-injection (team) Beach, etc.) turbocharged engines Blended fuel consisting of 85 % ethanol and 15 % gasoline s p i Super Formula 6 rounds (originally 7 planned) Dedicated race cars (formula) Toyota, Naoki Yamamo- Special JAF h s n (circuits: Suzuka, Motegi, Fuji, 3.4 -liter V8 NA engines Honda to Grand Prix o i p etc.) also held m a h c e F3 15 rounds at 7 venues (circuits: Dedicated race cars (formula) Toyota, Yuichi Nakaya- s e n Fuji, Okayama, etc.) Maximum 2.0 -liter inline 4 -cylinder Honda ma a p a J NA direct injection engines Copyright© 2014 Society of Automotive Engineers of Japan, Inc. All rights reserved Table 1 Details and results of major car racing categories in 2013 (continued). Participating Japanese 2013 champions Category Outline of races Outline of vehicles Remarks manufacturers Drivers Manufacturers Class 4 9 rounds on general roads 4WD or 2WD cars based on Norihiko Katsuta (Hokkaido, Chubu, Kyushu, etc.) commercially available vehicles, Subaru, (fourth consecu- engine displacement: more than Mitsubishi tive year) 3.0 -liters (turbo coefficient: 1.7 ) Sayaka Adachi Class 3 4WD or 2WD cars based Toyota, Yoshinori Yokoo s on commercially available Honda, Soichiro Nagaya- p i h s vehicles, 1.5 to 3.0 -liter Daihatsu, ma n o i engines (turbo coefficient: 1.7) Mitsubishi p y m l l a Class 2 2WD cars based on Toyota, Ken Kawana a h c R commercially available Mitsubishi, Noritaka Kosaka e s e vehicles, 1.4 to 1.5 -liter Honda, n a engines (turbo coefficient: 1.7) Mazda, p a J Suzuki Class 1 4WD or 2WD cars based Tatsuya Mat- First participation on commercially available Daihatsu, suoka of EVs, Class 4 vehicles, maximum 1.4 -liter Honda, Y u k i h i r o N a - championship engines (turbo coefficient: 1.7) Nissan wata decided in final race Pikes Peak Held once a year in Colorado Entries by various vehicles Toyota, Sebastien Loeb r e International Hill (U.S.) a hill climb up to an including the unlimited Mitsubishi, (car) h t Climb altitude of 4,300 m. class, EVs, motorcycles, and Honda Nobuhiro (Mon- O sidecars ster) Tajima Fig. 1 2013 Super GT: Car No. 38 (Zent Cerumo) (Source: PR Fig. 2 2013 Super Formula: Car No.