japanese touring cars

ringo · 25 Oct 2002, 05:09 (Ref:412864)

does anyone know a website for the Japanese touring car series? What about team websites or contacts?

Thanks...

StuiE · 25 Oct 2002, 07:20 (Ref:412904)

www.jgtc.net

Or is Jap Touring cars something else, super tourers or something?

V8moz · 25 Oct 2002, 14:14 (Ref:413234)

ringo,
as far as I know the Japanese Touring Car Championship closed its doors in 1998. At that time the once great series with big super touring grids (and stars like Steve Soper, Anthony Reid and so on) only had 9 or 10 cars left. Most of them Toyotas. Until 1996 (?) The series was only for super touring but in 1997 the teams were allowed to use a bigger body with sometimes extreme wings...costs exploded most teams left and joined the All japan GT Series (can be found with the JGTC.NET link) The last touringcar champion was Masanori Sekiya in a works TOM'S-Toyota Chaser.
Here's a "roll of honour":
1985: Naoki Nagasaka/Kazuo Mogi (BMW 635Sci)
1986: Aguri Suzuki/Takao Wada (Nissan Skyline Rs)
1987: Naoki Nagasaka (Ford Sierra Rs500)
1988: Hisashi Yokoshima (Ford Sierra Rs500)
1989: Masahiro Hasemi/Toshio Suzuki (Nissan Skyline GTR)
1990: Kazuyoshi Hoshino/Toshio Suzuki (Nissan Skyline GTR)
1991: Masahiro Hasemi/Anders Olofsson|S (Nissan Skyline GTR)
1992: Masahiro Hasemi/Hideo Fukuyama (Nissan Skyline GTR)
1993: Masahiko Kageyama (Nissan Skyline GTR)
-> Skylines went to the then new Japanese GT championship
1994: Masanori Sekiya (Toyota Corona E)
-> First ST year
1995: Steve Soper|GB (BMW 318is)
1996: Naoki Hattori (Honda Accord)
1997: Osamu Nakako (Honda Accord)
-> fist year with the "big cars"
1998: Masanor Sekiya (Toyota Chaser)

kmchow · 25 Oct 2002, 17:43 (Ref:413459)

People often get confused between JTCC and JGTC. JTCC started out as allow any bodystle to race. From '94-'98, the JTCC became a Supertouring (sedan only) championship. After '98, the JTCC folded due to a lack of manufacturer support. The latter all moved to the cheaper JGTC. The JGTC was created in part to spite the JTCC b/c the latter banned 2 doors. The JGTC allowed only 2 door cars to race.
But in recent years, the cost of racing in the JGTC has rise significantly, just like they did in the JTCC.

In '02, a special waiver was given to allow Cusco Racing to race their Impreza sedan. All the other cars must remain as 2 doors.

Don't forget to check out the JGTC promo movie they have. It is sweet!

StuiE · 26 Oct 2002, 11:55 (Ref:413955)

Was JTCC the series that Anthony Reid used to race in, in a HKS Primera?

V8moz · 26 Oct 2002, 13:08 (Ref:413993)

@gtr69:
yes and no! Anthony drove a HKS Opel Vectra in 1995. He joined the Nissan squad in 1996 for the German STW.

StuiE · 26 Oct 2002, 13:20 (Ref:413998)

Ah thats it, thanks V8moz, I couldn't decide whelther it was a Cavalier(Vectra) or a Primera (they sorta look the same) and I don't think they were sold in Japan, so I said Primera....I think I have a pic of the car somewhere...

kmchow · 26 Oct 2002, 23:57 (Ref:414300)

I believe all the "US" manufacturers like Ford/Opel/Chrysler are represented in Japan. However, their sales are very limited. We can go for hours debating whether it's due to Japanese protectionist trade laws, perceived or actual quality problems of the big 3 automakers.
It's too bad that ST never continued to prosper. It really is cool to have a touring car series that is basically like the open wheels F2000 or F1600.

racer69 · 27 Oct 2002, 09:40 (Ref:414556)

The '95 Championship was an interesting one. Schnitzer were there with factory BMW's, the HKS team were there, the dominent drivers in the Championship were Soper and Reid (both Brits), yet some weird decision's went the way of the Japanese drivers and against the Brits. Reid was kinda screwed out of the title at the second last round. At least the better driver did win, Steve Soper. Interesting that in all his years as a Touring Car driver that was the only championship he won.

I remember Toyota built a car for the proposed new 1999 regulations, based on a Chaser, with was basically a body shell around a space frame chassis. Never heard anything after that though.

In 1998, there were 10 cars, 9 Toyota's and one Group N Subaru Imprezza Wagon. Interesting that Kelvin Burt raced a factory TOMS Toyota in 1998.

Armco Bender · 27 Oct 2002, 10:04 (Ref:414576)

What about a riceburner V8 for Bathurst?,Have the Japs got anything that could run in Aussie?

Jack racer · 27 Oct 2002, 10:11 (Ref:414585)

Yep but will they ever be allowed is more the question. Quadcams will have to be introduced in the next few years to keep with the times. Then we may see them.

Armco Bender · 27 Oct 2002, 10:18 (Ref:414588)

Aussies still scared of Godzilla huh?

racer69 · 28 Oct 2002, 11:10 (Ref:415346)

No, just Holden and Ford

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