2012 Japanese Super GT

[tbz]

Woooow.. 1000km Race will be resurrected this year!

第5戦 8/18-19 鈴鹿サーキット 1000km

[radiocheck]

Originally Posted by TF110

GT300's might not have been setting fastest laps, but they did win races. Therefor they are just as fast, and faster at some tracks. Maybe not most. They lacked the straight line speed the GT3's have. With more HP this will change. I agree they will be a few seconds faster, but i think that's a few seconds faster than the GT3's times. So closer to 5-7 seconds off the GT500 times from 2011. Like i said, they're lighter than GT3's, correct? Produce more d/f so with more power they should be more than a match for the GT3's.

I agree on most counts but don't forget that last year's GT3 cars (like the Z4, Ferrari etc...) were NOT using FIA BOP so they will also get a lot more powerful in 2012. (That explains the time difference between the Sepang pole time by the Z4 compared to a proper GT3's time). Normally the GT3's and the japanese cars will be quite well matched. Probably slight "political" advantage towards the japanese cars (a GT3 type won last year so they have to keep the balance )

[Japanese Samurai]

GTA and JAF announced 2012 SGT calendar

2012 Super GT calendar
R1 3/31-4/1 Okayama (300km)
R2 5/3-4 Fuji (500km)
R3 6/9-10 Sepang (300km)
R4 7/28-29 SUGO (300km)
R5 8/18-19 Suzuka (1000km)
R6 9/8-9 Fuji (300km)*
R7 9/29-30 Autopolis (300km)*
R8 10/27-28 Motegi (250km)
JAF GP 11/16-18 Fuji*

[tbz]

excellent JS

[TF110]

Radio, I understand what you're saying. The FIA GT3 cars make over 500hp. In SGT I'm sure it's not that much, but I feel they may be able to match those times this year because the GT3's in SGT's GT300class are to use FIA's bop. So if they'll equal the FIA series' cars, the GT300's will have to be as fast. I bet the GT300's will be up to 4-5 seconds faster this year than last. GT500's will have to be upgraded too, so they will probably put up LMP2 type times.

[Japanese Samurai]

GT300 Prius technical information
*Motor, alternator, battery and inverter are genuine parts of Prius.
*It has adopted the regenerating brake system. The regeneration brake caliper made by Project-mu is used. This electronic control system is genuine parts of Prius, too.

[TF110]

Prius parts, ready for racing! That's great. Good to see they are up to the challenge. Samurai san, is the hybrid power a 'boost' like kers? Or will it aid with fuel economy or perhaps both?

[Japanese Samurai]

Originally Posted by TF110

Prius parts, ready for racing! That's great. Good to see they are up to the challenge. Samurai san, is the hybrid power a 'boost' like kers? Or will it aid with fuel economy or perhaps both?

Both use are possible.

[TF110]

Great, will it power rear wheels only, or front?

[rich07]

Originally Posted by tbz

Woooow.. 1000km Race will be resurrected this year!

Fantastic!!!

[Japanese Samurai]

Originally Posted by TF110

Great, will it power rear wheels only, or front?

Rear only. 1 motor behind the gearbox.

[Japanese Samurai]

Koki Saga (Prius driver) says that GT300 Prius project is the test for developing the sport hybrid (road-going) car of Toyota on his blog.
So, They use not racing hybrid system (like Supra HV system) but genuine hybrid system.
It is very interesting attempt.
http://ameblo.jp/koki-racing/entry-11135163863.html

[TF110]

That's interesting, and it makes sense. Perhaps this will be a system used in the production version of the concept Lexus LF-LC?

[banzailap]

Originally Posted by TF110

That's interesting, and it makes sense. Perhaps this will be a system used in the production version of the concept Lexus LF-LC?

Gazoo Racing actually built a road going roadster based on a 3,5l V6 with a THS system taken from the Lexus RX flipped to power the rear wheels, good for 350 hp or so. This is an on-going project, but they now have a pretty clean "production concept" that they showed at various events last year, including the Tokyo Motor Show, and this year again at the TAS. It sound pretty much like the system in the Prius, with off-the-shelf components from the THS bin. I wonder if there is any connection. Maybe not, as the various entities inside the Toyota empire tend to proceed independently. Also, the Gazoo roadster has a CVT transmission, I don't think it would work in a race environment.

[TF110]

Yes, I remember the Mid engined concept, wasn't it 4wd?

[Japanese Samurai]

Car Watch SGT tire supplier off-season interview 1
-Michelin Japan/Hiroaki Odajima-
"Having a long-term vision, we will continue participating in SGT."

Q. This is the first time that suppliers other than BS become a GT500 champion.
A. I am simply glad. There were some subjects in our GT500 project. It is the joy which was able to clear them exactly.

Q. What point is the score of 2011 seasons?
A. Perfect points! Because we got the champion. We gained 90 points at 8 rounds. Since it is 11 points per one race, this means that we were always at the podium. This is excellent result.

Q. What was the highlight in 2011 season for you?
A. 2nd round (Fuji). We have monopolized the front row at qualifying there. It has been said that a low-temperature situation is our weak point.
Big impact was given by having monopolized the front row by a different car in such a situation. In the race, we failed in tire choise. We expected that rain decreased. However, the performance after changing into the tire suitable for the situation was good.

Q. 5th rounds (Suzuka) was also impressive race, too.
A. It was intermediate race rather than wet race. Our tire was competitive with wet condition. However, in the situation where a road surface gets dry, we were inferior to the rival. However, after changing into dry tires, we were able to catch up by clearly fast speed. Although the final rain was unfortunate, it was the race which acquired confidence.

Q. About team MOLA and SARD.
A. About team MOLA, We knew that they were competitive teams. Matching with GTR was good by the favor of NISMO. We already knew Quintarelli's ability. However, Yanagida grew up to be a potential driver in 2011. It was a good package altogether.
About team SARD, they changed team organization greatly in 2011. However, matching with SC430 took us time. However, you should mention especially that Ishiura has gained 3 times of pole position. We were surprised by his Speed.

Q. About GT300 activities.
A. If we have a good opportunity, we would like to supply. We have experience of FIA-GT3 car.

Q. The activity plan in GT500 after 2012?
A. We need at least 2 teams. More than it is dependent on conditions.

Q. It is said that Michelin purchased the new motor home, is this investment in a Japanese market?
A. Yes. Our SGT participation is based on a long-term vision. SGT has competition. Therefore, it is worth participating.
http://car.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/...19_503430.html

[Japanese Samurai]

Car Watch SGT tire supplier off-season interview 2
-Bridgestone/Toru Ubukata-
"Although we won 7 victories in 8 rounds, we could not get a champion. Therefore, we must win all races in 2012."

Q. How was SGT for BS in 2011?
A. To speak frankly, it was a very hard year for us. 2011 were a year of change. Since the rival gained power, we had to change. It is regrettable that a result did not follow.

Q. What point are 2011 BS among full marks?
A. I scored 20 points out of 100 points. It is because we missed the champion.

Q. However, 7 victories in 8 rounds are overwhelming. Is it the cause by which that there are many supply teams missed the champion? Moreover, is that test teams differ each time also a reason because of a test restriction rule?
A. Yes. It is a fact that it is disadvantageous for our user team about test restrictions. The rival is testing in the same team repeatedly.

Q. Are you lobbying to GTA about revision of the disadvantageous (for BS) present test restriction rule?
A. I think it is unfair that there are a team which can always be tested, and a team which cannot be tested. The entrant should be the leading role in SGT. About this problem, it should be requested from the team (not from us) to GTA.

Q. What did BS change in 2011?
A. It was development of the tire which can be used at the temperature of a wide range that we tackled.

Q. I think that a wide-range tire is not easy. Structure or compound, which is improved?
A. Both. What it is easy to develop during a season is a compound.
Development of structure requires time. Matching with a machine is most important for the tire development of SGT.

Q. When was the highlight in 2011?
A. 6th round (Fuji). This race was a race for which SC430 of us and SC430 of Michelin competed. Although we lost at qualifying, we won in the race. It was a highlight in the meaning of having won with the new spec tires.

Q. About GT300 activities.
A. It was a trial new for us. Tire development was favorable. We were able to mount the podium in the first race of JAF-GP.

Q. How is the activity plan in 2012?
A. Although not decided at present, the number of GT500 users is not reduced. Development of GT300 is also due to be continued. However, it is undecided for details.

Q. Does tire competition intensify in 2012 and afterwards?
A. Of course. We have to improve efficiency of development. Although we won 7 victories in 8 rounds, we could not get a champion. Therefore, we must win all races in 2012.
http://car.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/...19_503445.html

[banzailap]

Originally Posted by TF110

Yes, I remember the Mid engined concept, wasn't it 4wd?

Yes you are right, just checked, the motor is powering the front wheels. Different beast then.

[Japanese Samurai]

Team A-Speed (#66) announced 2012 driver/car.
*Driver: Kazuki Hoshino, Hiroki Yoshimoto.
*Car: Vantege GT2 (They change into Vantage GT3 in the middle of the season!)
http://ameblo.jp/a-speed/entry-11140804953.html

[Japanese Samurai]

2012 GT500 driver line-up expectatiopns by Autosport
NISSAN
#1 MOLA(MI) Masataka Yanagida*, Ronnie Quintarelli*
#12 IMPUL(BS) Tsugio Matsuda*, J.P de Oliveira?
#23 NISMO(BS) Satoshi Motoyama*, Michael Krumm?
#24 KONDO(YH) Hironobu Yasuda*, Bjorn Wirdheim?
HONDA
#8 ARTA(BS) Ralph Firman*, Kosuke Matsuura??, Hideki Mutoh??, Takashi Kobayashi??
#17 REAL(BS) Toshihiro Kaneishi*, Kodai Tsukakoshi?, Hideki Mutoh??, Takashi Kobayashi??
#18 DOME(BS) Takashi Kogure*, Carlo van Dam??
#32 Nakajima(DL) Ryo Michigami*, Yuhki Nakayama?
#100 Kunimitsu(BS) Takuya Izawa*, Naoki Yamamoto*
LEXUS
#6 LeMans(BS) Daisuke Ito*, Kazuya Oshima*
#19 Bandoh(YH) Tatsuya Kataoka??, Seiji Ara??
#35 KRAFT(BS) Yuji Kunimoto?, Andrea Caldarelli??, Richard Lyons??
#36 Tom's(BS) Kazuki Nakajima*, Loic Duval?
#38 Cerumo(BS) Yuji Tachikawa*, Kohei Hirate*
#39 SARD(MI) Hiroaki Ishiura*, Juichi Wakisaka?

*--Confirmed
?--Strong possible
??-Possible

[Japanese Samurai]

Prius GT300 tech info by Autosport
*Engine: 3.5l V6, 2GR-FSE (It may be changed during a season.)
*Battery: Lithium ion type (Genuine parts of Prius alpha)
*Motor: 60kw (Genuine parts of Prius)
*Battery cooling: Air-conditioner type
*System weight: about 100kg
*Rear 2nd caliper is an additional braking caliper for non-regeneration mode(not regenerating caliper).

[Japanese Samurai]

Autosport web says that Team A-Speed is a first customer of Vatage GT3 in the world.

[I Rosputnik]

Originally Posted by Japanese Samurai

Autosport web says that Team A-Speed is a first customer of Vatage GT3 in the world.

I would of thought Young Driver AMR would of had first dibs on the Vantage GT3.

[Victor_RO]

Originally Posted by I Rosputnik

I would of thought Young Driver AMR would of had first dibs on the Vantage GT3.

What about Beechdean's car bought for British GT? Wasn't that one the first (or at least the first one confirmed officially)?

[DeathOrGlory]

Originally Posted by tbz

Woooow.. 1000km Race will be resurrected this year!

HELL YEAH!