2016 Japanese Super GT

[rjoconnell]

I also want to say, while I'm no engineer like Fukuda-san, I don't know if the BoP between GT3 and JAF-GT cars in GT300 is as fatally flawed as claimed.

There's not just the difference in weight, there's also the difference in horsepower that puts both sub-classes at roughly the same P/W ratio. Sure, the JAF-GT cars weigh 200kg less, but they have about 100-200PS fewer than most GT3 cars out of the box. GT3 and JAF-GT split the wins last season 4-4, and again in 2013. That's still better balance than when GT3 cars swept the wins for the entire 2012 season and won six of eight in 2014.

At Fuji and Okayama, the GT3 cars dominated for the most part. At Sugo, the balance swung back towards the JAF-GT specials. One track suits one sub-class, another will suit the other sub-class. That's what I think is appealing about this feud within GT300. Some cars will absolutely dominate on one track, then go to another track and be lucky to scrape together a P5 finish.

And the reality is that even if their sheer volume in numbers plays into it, four of the last five GT300 titles have been won by GT3 cars, one of which was won by Gainer just last year. By that measure, one could think the balance is flawed in favor of the GT3 cars, not the JAF-GT cars.

It's a tough thing to accomplish, and it's not perfect - but as it is, the balance isn't irreparably bad - at least from the view of an outsider.

[TzeiTzei]

Originally Posted by rjoconnell

I also want to say, while I'm no engineer like Fukuda-san, I don't know if the BoP between GT3 and JAF-GT cars in GT300 is as fatally flawed as claimed.

There's not just the difference in weight, there's also the difference in horsepower that puts both sub-classes at roughly the same P/W ratio. Sure, the JAF-GT cars weigh 200kg less, but they have about 100-200PS fewer than most GT3 cars out of the box. GT3 and JAF-GT split the wins last season 4-4, and again in 2013. That's still better balance than when GT3 cars swept the wins for the entire 2012 season and won six of eight in 2014.

If you have two cars with the same power to weight ratio, but the other one is 200 kg lighter... I would call that a massive advantage. Sure, more horsepower means bigger top speed even with the same P/W ratio, but 200kg is simply a massive advantage while braking and cornering.

[Japanese Samurai]

Yosuke Fukuda says on the facebook that there is a rumor that the regulations revise which raises the minimum ground clearance of the too fast JAF-GT300 car is accomplished. But a fundamental problem is the weight difference between GT300 and GT3. Tire load and influence to the fuel consumption are big. The feature of JAF-GT is the cornering speed. Vehicle height regulations will kill this strong point. Therefore a performance adjustment should depend on the cancellation of the weight difference.
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?sto...&ref=bookmarks

[AkioAsakura95]

Originally Posted by Japanese Samurai

Yosuke Fukuda says on the facebook that there is a rumor that the regulations revise which raises the vehicle height of the too fast JAF-GT300 car is accomplished. But a fundamental problem is the weight difference between GT300 and GT3. Tire load and influence to the fuel consumption are big. The feature of JAF-GT is the cornering speed. Vehicle height regulations will kill this strong point. Therefore a performance adjustment should depend on the cancellation of the weight difference.
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?sto...&ref=bookmarks

So It mean that, he hoped the slow down the JAF-GT300 car include Mother Chassis car????

[Japanese Samurai]

There seems to be a rumor that GTA restrains the speed of JAF-GT300 (including MC car) apart from Fukuda's will.

[Japanese Samurai]

According to the Autosport web,
GTA might introduce pre-qualifying session next season (at SUGO round?).
The reason that Dijon racing use Takaboshi at Fuji round is because there is a possibility that pre-qualifying session might be introduced next season.
Dr. Takamori says that they want to earn many points at Fuji to be seeded at pre-qualifying in the next season.
http://www.as-web.jp/supergt/33393/

[AkioAsakura95]

Originally Posted by Japanese Samurai

According to the Autosport web,
GTA might introduce pre-qualifying session next season (at SUGO round?).
The reason that Dijon racing use Takaboshi at Fuji round is because there is a possibility that pre-qualifying session might be introduced next season.
Dr. Takamori says that they want to earn many points at Fuji to be seeded at pre-qualifying in the next season.
http://www.as-web.jp/supergt/33393/

Excuse me, do you know what is pre-qualifying session?????

[Japanese Samurai]

It's a session to get the right to participate in the qualifying session.

[AkioAsakura95]

Originally Posted by Japanese Samurai

It's a session to get the right to participate in the qualifying session.

Just like Q1 and Q2 qualifying session??

[Japanese Samurai]

Yes. But pre-qualifying session seems to be held on Thursday of race week.

[AkioAsakura95]

Originally Posted by Japanese Samurai

Yes. But pre-qualifying session seems to be held on Thursday of race week.

By the way, this session is used for next year season , but not this year seasion right?

[Japanese Samurai]

Yes.
And this is a rumour at this moment.

[rjoconnell]

I would wager that in order to be exempt from a potential pre-qualifying system, they'd need to crack the top 15 in points (while also running all eight races) in order to be a "Seeded" team for 2017. With a lineup of Takaboshi and Aoki, that's very feasible.

[Matt]

Originally Posted by AkioAsakura95

Excuse me, do you know what is pre-qualifying session?????

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Formul...Pre-qualifying

[hvr777]

Originally Posted by Japanese Samurai

According to the Autosport web,
GTA might introduce pre-qualifying session next season (at SUGO round?).
The reason that Dijon racing use Takaboshi at Fuji round is because there is a possibility that pre-qualifying session might be introduced next season.
Dr. Takamori says that they want to earn many points at Fuji to be seeded at pre-qualifying in the next season.
http://www.as-web.jp/supergt/33393/

I had a little research on seeded teams at https://www.reddit.com/r/super_gt/co...500_and_gt300/, so is the regulation still same that a team should be placed at least at 15th in the standings to be the seeded team next year?

[Japanese Samurai]

No.
Present "seeded" system is for the right to participate in the final race.
Therefore pre-qualifying exemption would be different grouping.

[MagVanisher]

Um, why does the series needed "seeding" anyway? It's not like all the teams are permanent fixtures. Honestly, there's no need for such things or Super GT might become a NASCAR series!

[Matt]

I mean SGT explicitly states that the entertainment aspect of the series comes before the actual competition portion sooooooooo

[hvr777]

Originally Posted by MagVanisher

Um, why does the series needed "seeding" anyway? It's not like all the teams are permanent fixtures. Honestly, there's no need for such things or Super GT might become a NASCAR series!

Probably, too much cars on the grid (from GT300) & some of those slowest cars were too slow in the race?

[carbsmith]

Do you really want to see a championship contending team pack up Friday afternoon because they crashed in practice and couldn't pre-qualify over some slow part time backmarker?

F1 pre-qualifying didn't apply to the reasonably ranked teams either, it's only meant to decide what minor teams get to fill limited space.

[Matt]

Originally Posted by carbsmith

Do you really want to see a championship contending team pack up Friday afternoon because they crashed in practice and couldn't pre-qualify over some slow part time backmarker?

F1 pre-qualifying didn't apply to the reasonably ranked teams either, it's only meant to decide what minor teams get to fill limited space.

Championship contending teams won
t be subject to pre-qualifications.

[Tedracing]

Originally Posted by J Jay

Who would be dropped though? Matsuda is still driving well (and not just for his age), and to be fair Yasuda has probably been let down more by Oliveira/the car than vice versa.

Nismo may want to think about a 3rd "works" car, because if all things go well Chiyo should soon be in the mix for a top-tier drive. With no Nissan involvement in Super Formula they could probably fund it, gentleman's agreements notwithstanding.

Agreed on Sasaki, he needs to be promoted. I disagree with you on "Yasuda has probably been let down more by Oliveira/the car..."

Or I guess maybe you haven't watched last year's run for the title...

[rjoconnell]

Yes, Yasuda didn't have the best two races to end 2015 - getting muscled out by Matsuda at Autopolis, and then not being able to get past at Motegi - but there's no way he's not good enough to remain in GT500. Not as a multi-time GT500 race winner and former GT300 champ. He did what he could to try and give the Calsonic GT-R a win at Fuji in May.

I don't think he'll be long at Impul, though, if Sekiguchi (who drives for Impul in SF and has been aligned with Nissan before) keeps impressing, if Mardenborough keeps doing his thing this year (he's also impressed Hoshino-san in Super Formula tests). But there isn't a single driver that doesn't deserve to be in GT500.

[J Jay]

Originally Posted by Tedracing

Agreed on Sasaki, he needs to be promoted. I disagree with you on "Yasuda has probably been let down more by Oliveira/the car..."

Or I guess maybe you haven't watched last year's run for the title...

Actually I did. I also watched the 2014/2013 seasons where Oliveira was by far the bigger culprit in scuppering the #12's title chances. But he definitely is quicker than Yasuda, and I doubt Nissan would drop him anytime soon unless they want to give their rivals a very accomplished driver who will happily do the SF/SGT double.

Have Nissan more or less given up on getting Mardenborough into GP2/F1 (sorry, I haven't been paying attention there)? If so then he would be a great shout to eventually find his way to a top seat once either Quintarelli/Oliveira move on, but I'd back Sasaki to be the next promoted driver whenever it happens.

[Japanese Samurai]

GTA announces 2017 Super GT provisional schedule.
http://supergt.net/news/single/16280?ln=en

Round 1, Apr. 8-9 Okayama
Round 2, May. 3-4 Fuji
Round 3, May. 20-21 Autopolis
Round 4, Jul. 22-23 SUGO
Round 5, Aug. 5-6 Fuji
Round 6, Aug. 26-27 Suzuka
Round 7, Oct. 7-8 Chang (Thailand)
Round 8, Nov. 11-12 Motegi