2012 Japanese Super GT

[Japanese Samurai]

new? low-drag rear fender
http://twitter.com/NISMO_TEAM/status.../photo/1/large

[Japanese Samurai]

*NISMO (#23) introduced new endplate of rear wing.
http://twitpic.com/ahbok6
*NISMO (#23) tests new bonnet (black one).
http://twitpic.com/ahb8bj
*New fender mirror and front bamper attachment of HSV-010.
http://twitpic.com/ahbgbp

[Articus]

Why should Lexus bother to introduce an LFA to the current regulations? Woudn't it be cheaper to race the SC 430 in 2013 as well. Then build the LFA or whatever new sportscar they are cooking up for the 2014 season tie up with DTM.

[aneesh99]

I still wouldn't discount the Supra making a return to the Toyota line-up in a few years. If it does, they'd probably be better served using that than an LF-A. Not saying that I'd have a problem with a GT500 LF-A though....

[Japanese Samurai]

GTA announced 2013 SUPER GT Provisional calendar.
R1 Okayama Apr 6-7
R2 Fuji Apr 28-29
Exhibition Korean international circuit May 18-19
R3 Sepang Jun 22-23
R4 SUGO Jul 27-28
R5 Suzuka Aug 17-18
R6 Fuji Sep 7-8
R7 Autopolis Sep 28-29
R8 Motegi Nov 2-3
JAF-GP Fuji Nov 15-17
http://supergt.net/pages/pg:news_det...ln:ja/id:12349

[TF110]

Crazy updates, thats why I love SuperGT, it's almost like F1 level of development, but on sports cars.

[tbz]

Rd.2 is on monday (cuz of the golden week)

[Japanese Samurai]

SGT official test general result
http://supergt.net:8080/upload/files...1770393750.pdf
*SARD (#39) tested new bonnet.
http://twitpic.com/ahnc4o/full
http://twitpic.com/ahnc9t/full

[MagVanisher]

I wonder will there ever be a time where the JAF/GTA replace another round at Fuji (except for the Sprint Cup) with a different venue?

Still, I hope Toyota can bring the LFA to the GT500 class if the Supra is not yet materialized.

[LOLWUT612]

Do GT300 and GT500 cars race together?

[TF110]

Originally Posted by MagVanisher

I wonder will there ever be a time where the JAF/GTA replace another round at Fuji (except for the Sprint Cup) with a different venue?

Still, I hope Toyota can bring the LFA to the GT500 class if the Supra is not yet materialized.

My thoughts are the same! Perhaps LFA next year or 2014. I'd like to see them go to Singapore instead of another Fuji race.

Originally Posted by LOLWUT612

Do GT300 and GT500 cars race together?

Yes, they do.

[tbz]

I've just noticed a couple of new 3rd driver entries for Suzuka in the GT300 class.

GT300 3rd driver Entries

[Japanese Samurai]

According to Sports-carracing.net,
GTA requested ACO to participate GT300 vehicles in the GTE class of AsLMS.
However, ACO expressed that GT300 was equivalent to GTC class.
The difference in recognition of GTA and ACO is caused by the lack of ability of the interpreter of GTA.
GTA and ACO will conclude a contract during this week.

[MitchZ06]

Those GT300 cars are about as fast as the GT3 cars which themselves are faster than most GTE cars so....ACO on crack again?

[MagVanisher]

That's stupid! Why would ACO branded GT300 as another GTC class?

Man, they should hire a better interpreter... I mean, GT300 might compare their performance to GTE since they're lighter than GT3.

[Peterdr]

In this case GTC is for GT3 cars isn't it, which r the cars GT300 runs against in Super gt.

Much as I like GT300 it's a hard sell to put them in GTE, at least until more is known about there relative performance.

In fact why not just keep GT300 separate as it's for touring type cars, it could be the answer for a two tier GT system again as you don't have similar cars running in different classes.

[aneesh99]

GT300 as a GTC class car is beyond silly. I believe that Samurai-san has already posted what it cost to run a GT300 vs GT3, GT300 being a much larger investment which puts into context how it would stack up budget wise against a GTC. Why would anyone bother a more expensive car? Even it Japanese teams ran it under ACO rules as a side to SGT so they wouldn't be out of pocket on buying a car, they'd be getting no marketing value running against a spec single model class.... GTE on the other hand, taking it to the best grand tourers in the world...

EDIT, found the source:

Originally Posted by Japanese Samurai

Car Graphic magazine reported the budgets of GT300 class.
A certain team clarified the annual participation badgets (*vehicle price/lease fee is not contained).
*FIA-GT3 car: about 60 million yen
*JAF-GT300 car: about 100 million yen

[TrueBlueFlyer]

Originally Posted by MagVanisher

While Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore, and Malaysia will most likely have a Super GT round, I'm worried that Brunei and the Philippines won't have a round too.

apparently CAMS has won a contract to train Philippine marshals, so they're preparing for something

[DistortedSmile]

Originally Posted by aneesh99

GT300 as a GTC class car is beyond silly. I believe that Samurai-san has already posted what it cost to run a GT300 vs GT3, GT300 being a much larger investment which puts into context how it would stack up budget wise against a GTC. Why would anyone bother a more expensive car? Even it Japanese teams ran it under ACO rules as a side to SGT so they wouldn't be out of pocket on buying a car, they'd be getting no marketing value running against a spec single model class.... GTE on the other hand, taking it to the best grand tourers in the world...

EDIT, found the source:

I don't think this necessarily implies they'll be using GTC as a spec Porsche Cup class as in ALMS, afterall in last year's chinese ILMC round there were GT3 Mercedes and Audis in the GTC class.

They could just have GTE and GT300 cars battle for overall GT victories, simply renaming GT300 as GTC.

[rich07]

Maybe the ACO wants the participation of the GT300 cars but not to have the Japanese cars beat the GTE cars in their own class? Thus they are in GTC which really makes no sense at all but thats the ACO for you

[MitchZ06]

ACO has allowed GTC in the ELMS as restricted GT3 cars, that's why GTC has been mentioned. It's not ALMS GTC Cup Beetles.

[MagVanisher]

Originally Posted by rich07

Maybe the ACO wants the participation of the GT300 cars but not to have the Japanese cars beat the GTE cars in their own class? Thus they are in GTC which really makes no sense at all but thats the ACO for you

Then, should ACO allow GT500 cars to compete in GTE? Oh wait, I don't think it won't happen anytime soon...

[Japanese Samurai]

Suzuka round Friday photo
http://as-web.jp/photonews/keyword_r...?c_id=2&no=115

*Subaru BRZ introduces front-side exhaust.

[Articus]

For a car that looks so good it would be nice for them to win this season.

[rich07]

Great to see Subaru in the series, was a big fan of the Impreza and the Legacy that came before the Br-z. Not knowing much about the latest car, is it running the engine from the Legacy or a brand new engine based on the brz unit?