Super GT is the unique type of race series being performed in Japan only. It began in 1994 as “All Japan Grand Touring Car Championship” and was renamed to “Super GT” later in 2005. One of its features is that it is divided into two classes, GT500 and GT300. The GT500 class, with its common chassis and 2000cc four-cylinder direct-injection turbocharged engines, although the specifications differ from manufacturer to manufacturer, is very understandable in its intention to keep the cars in equal condition as much as possible. The GT300 class, however, has different specs for each car, and while it can be said that there is a lot of variety, in reality, it lacks a sense of unity. The majority of the cars are front-engined, but there are also midship cars and cars with engines in the rear like Porsche. In addition to this, there is a wide range of engine displacements, so it is natural to wonder how they maintain equal conditions. For this reason, performance adjustments are made for each car, but that’s a separate topic.
The GT500 is attended by vehicles from three leading Japanese automobile manufacturers: Toyota (GR Supra GT500), Honda (NSX-GT), and Nissan (GT-R NISMO GT500). The other GT300 class is attended by many cars from foreign manufacturers like Ferrari, Audi, BMW, Lamborghini, LOTUS, Mercedes AMG, and Porsche as well as domestic carmakers as Subaru, Nissan, Toyota, and Honda.
The way to tell them apart is that the light covers and number bases are white for the GT500 class, while yellow for the GT300 class. Above all, it is obvious once you start driving. This is because there is a clear difference in speed. In fact, in the final race, the GT500 class would eventually catch up to the GT300 class and make them lap each other. When several cars are lined up in a corner, it can be a chilling sight. Of course, it would have been safer to separate the classes, but in the beginning, there was probably a reason to secure a certain number of cars. Nowadays, from the standpoint of the GT500 class, the question is “how to overtake smoothly”, while from the standpoint of the GT300 class, the question is “how to be overtaken without loss”.
Some of you might have heard of it, but Upgarage also being participated in Super GT since 2015. The debut had been done with Toyota 86 machine which was changed to Honda NSX in 2019. There is actually a victory in our piggy bank that was earned on the 3rd year of participation in the Okayama International Circuit.
Coming back to the topic of Super GT, it is not a race that anyone can enter. The basic prerequisite is that the driver must have an International Driver’s License Grade B, commonly known as “International B” or higher. To obtain this license, you need to go through a series of steps and accumulate achievements.
In addition, for the GT300 class, drivers must take the rookie test, which is for drivers who are competing for the first time, as well as drivers who have been absent for more than two years. The judging items are the average lap time for multiple laps, and the ability to drive 12 consecutive laps at racing speed without spinning or going off course.
Team Upgarge`s current drivers are 34 years old Kobayashi Takashi and 21 years old Natori Teppei. They both are young enough but have long-term experience in the racing world. We will appreciate your kind cheering in future races. And who knows maybe someday you will be able to come to watch the race in order to feel the exciting atmosphere of the circuit.
Super GT is being held at six circuits in Japan where both the qualifying and final rounds are conducted so that motorsports fans across the country are able to enjoy them. They are the Okayama International Circuit, Fuji International Speedway Circuit, Twin Ring Motegi Circuit, Suzuka Circuit, Sportsland SUGO Circuit, and Autopolis International Circuit. And in order to get more fans from overseas, the races were also performed at the Chang International Circuit in Thailand and the Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia, but from 2020 are being suspended due to the Pandemic spread. We do hope that with the convergence of the Pandemic disaster, overseas races will surely be revived.
Have you ever seen the Super GT race in real?
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