SUPER GT GUIDE 2020 English SUPER GT GUIDE 2020 2 An international race series born in Japan Since its start as the Japan GT Championship in 1994, SUPER GT has gone on to established itself as one of Asia’s leading international race series, which includes a round in Southeast Asia. Having realized car regulation integration co-worked with Germany’s Packing all the thrills and Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters (DTM) and having held an exchange event with them, It has become an joys of motor sports in one event! international race series that is leading developments With a full roster of top racing drivers from Japan and abroad, in the world of GT racing. SUPER GT has the formula for thrilling, top-flight racing every time. Every race brings non-stop battles that captivate the fans, as rivals compete to win the day or take the series championship titles. SUPER GT brings you motorsport at its very best in one action-packed entertainment arena. What is Entertainment of the highest level ? and a variety of other values SUPER GT We make sure that every SUPER GT event features a wide variety of attractions that even first-time motorsport spectators and families can enjoy, and thanks to this array of entertainment besides the racing, our events boast an exceptionally high spectator draw. We are also actively involved in programs that contribute to society, such as activities promoting traffic safety and support for disaster victims, environmental projects and more. An appealing array of unique Japanese and foreign machines SUPER GT is contested by a great variety of race machines based on high-performance GT cars by automakers from Japan and abroad that bring extra excitement to the racing. The fair and strict regulations these cars conform to keep the field level for even competitive potential. The machines also feature cutting-edge technology aimed at making their performance eco-friendly and safe. SUPER GT GUIDE 2020 3 The Series Schedule and Circuits The 2020 SUPER GT series schedule will include 8 rounds run from July to November. In addition to awarding winners and assigning finishing orders for each of these races, series Driver and Team champions will be named after the final round of the season based on total series points. 2020 SUPER GT Series Schedule Rd.1 Fuji Speedway (Shizuoka) Jul.18 (Sat) – 19 (Sun) Rd.2 Fuji Speedway (Shizuoka) Aug.8 (Sat) – 9 (Sun) Rd.3 Suzuka Circuit (Mie) Aug.22 (Sat) – 23 (Sun) Rd.4 Twin Ring Motegi (Tochigi) Sep.12 (Sat) – 13 (Sun) Rd.5 Fuji Speedway (Shizuoka) Oct.3 (Sat) – 4 (Sun) Rd.6 Suzuka Circuit (Mie) Oct.24 (Sat) – 25 (Sun) Rd.7 Twin Ring Motegi (Tochigi) Nov.7 (Sat) – 8 (Sun) Twin Ring Motegi Rd.8 Fuji Speedway (Shizuoka) Nov.28 (Sat) – 29 (Sun) Circumstances may require changes in the schedule or number of rounds. Fuji Speedway 2020 SUPER GT Offical Test Schedule OKAYAMA International Circuit (Okayama) Mar.14 (Sat) – 15 (Sun) Fuji Speedway (Shizuoka) Jun.27 (Sat) – 28 (Sun) Circumstances may require changes in the schedule or number of official test. Suzuka Circuit Okayama Internatinal Circuit SUPER GT GUIDE 2020 4 The Race Machines – GT500 Class (2020 Series) SUPER GT is competed in two classes, with the GT500 Class as the upper class. Three of Japan’s leading auto makers construct race specific machines of over 500 hp based on their high-performance production sports cars to supply to teams competing in this class. From 2020, these cars will be homologated to the “Class 1” technical regulations unified with Germany’s DTM. TOYOTA GR Supra GT500 Toyota supplies GT500 class cars based on "GR Supra", the sports car built by TOYOTA GAZOO Racing. NISSAN GT-R NISMO GT500 The Nissan machine takes the flagship sports car “GT-R” (R35) as its base model. Participating tire makers Honda NSX-GT The Honda machine is based on its high-performance sports car “NSX.” SUPER GT GUIDE 2020 5 The Race Machines – GT300 Class (2019 Series) The other class in SUPER GT is the GT300 Class, where not only Japanese cars but a large number of foreign makers' GT cars participate. The cars conform to one of three regulations, the FIA GT3 cars manufactured and sold by the car makers as full-fledged race cars, the JAF-GT300 cars heavily modified by the individual teams, and the “Mother Chassis” (JAF-GT300 MC) cars adopting unified parts developed and sold by GTA. Honda LEXUS NISSAN Mercedes-Benz FIA GT3 NSX GT3 FIA GT3 RC F GT3 FIA GT3 GT-R NISMO GT3 FIA GT3 Mercedes AMG GT3 Lamborghini McLaren AUDI Porsche FIA GT3 HURACAN GT3 FIA GT3 720S GT3 FIA GT3 R8 LMS FIA GT3 911 GT3 R Aston Martin TOYOTA TOYOTA LOTUS FIA GT3 Vantage GT3 JAF GT300 MC 86 MC JAF GT300 MC Mark X MC JAF GT300 MC EVORA MC Participating tire makers SUBARU TOYOTA JAF GT300 BRZ GT300 JAF GT300 GR SPORTS PRIUS PHV SUPER GT GUIDE 2020 6 Participating Drivers The drivers participating in SUPER GT are among the world’s best and most famous from Japan and abroad, including ones with F1 experience and success in a variety of world championships. Kazuya Oshima GT500 Champion Ryo Hirakawa GT500 Tsugio Matsuda GT500 Kohei Hirate GT500 In 2007, Oshima became the GT300 and All In addition to being the youngest All Japan Matsuda participated in the domestic race Hirate has won the GT500 championship Japan F3 champion at the young age to 20, F3 champion ever, Hirakawa won the GT500 at the age of 19 in 2000. As one of Nissan's title twice for teams with Lexus cars. After and since then he has competed in GT500 class champion at the age of 23 in 2017. top drivers, he has the most winning record switching to a GT300 class team in 2018, he driving Lexus cars. In the 2019 series, he of 20 wins in total in the GT500 class returned to the GT500 class joining the Nissan won two races to become the GT500 season including champion in 2014 and 2015. team in 2019, where he won the Round 7 race. champion for the first time. Koudai Tsukakoshi GT500 Naoki Yamamoto GT500 Shinichi Takagi GT300 Champion Morio Nittai GT300 After beginning his career with success in kart In Japan, Yamamoto is known as an ace Takagi is a perennial title contender since Despite his veteran status (born 1967), Nitta racing and the Honda driver training program, driver Honda camp. He won the GT500 class he first began competing in GT300 in 1999 was in the race for the title in 2019 with Tsukakoshi competed abroad before returning championship title in 2018. Along with SUPER and he hold the record for class wins with victories in two rounds. He has been GT300 to Japan to compete in the GT500 class from GT, he has also been twice champion of 20. He won the GT300 championship in champion three times. As of 2019, he holds 2008. Known for his proven speed, he has Japan’s other premium class, Super Formula. 2001 and 2019. the record for most wins at 22 and also for continued to be a leading Honda driver. most races entered. SUPER GT GUIDE 2020 7 Team Directors The directors of the teams competing in SUPER GT are mostly legends of the world of Japanese motorsport, and a good number are former star driver with careers in F1 or accolades from races like the 24 Hours of Le Mans. They bring greatness to the series with their team leadership, race strategies and mentoring of young drivers. Juichi Wakisaka Daisuke Ito Kazuyoshi Hoshino Masahiko Kondo As a popular driver, Wakisaka won the Winning three times in 2007 series, he As a driver, Hoshino was known as “The A popular talent in Japan’s pop music GT500 class championship title three became the GT500 and has overseed fastest man in Japan.” Today he is a world, Kondo also became a top-class race times. As team manager since 2016, he the TEAM TOM'S as the team director passionate team director dedicated to driver. Since retiring as a driver, he has has met with more success, with the 2019 since 2017. competitive excellence. continued to be a front-line team director. GT500 class Drivers title to his credit. Kunimitsu Takahashi Satoru Nakajima Aguri Suzuki Ukyo Katayama A competitor in both domestic and overseas The first Japanese driver to hold a regular F1 The first Japanese to finish 3rd in an F1 After winning the nickname of “Kamikaze Ukyo” motorcycle and car racing since the 1960s, seat, Nakajima is also a famed team director race, Suzuki is now the leader of the as a popular F1 driver, Katayama also competed Takahashi is a seasoned veteran who continued who has discovered and forwarded the ARTA teams and an active promoter of later in GT500. Since retiring as a driver, he to compete in GT races to the age of 59. careers of numerous outstanding drivers. motor sports. has led his teams to three GT300 Driver titles. SUPER GT GUIDE 2020 8 Sporting Regulations The SUPER GT competition rules are designed to ensure an exciting race experience that is also fair and regulated to ensure safety as well. Also, to ensure that no single machine dominates the competition, the SUPER GT competition rules and technical regulations are set to ensure that overall team strength throughout the season determines the eventual winners. GT500 GT300 Two classes racing together Weight handicap system Two drivers and a required pit stop The races are competed in two classes, the GT500 class, and the The teams win championship points based on their race results, but The races are competed by teams of two drivers (three possible in GT300 class, running together in the same race.