2011 Japanese Super GT - Page 37

Japanese Samurai · 20 Dec 2011, 23:03 (Ref:3002474)

*Category A are not GT2/GTE category.
*No mention about new 2012 GT500 regulations.

Motorsport channel reports offseason rumours.

*Loic Duval will transfer to Nissan (team NISMO, #23). He will replace Treluyer.
*Instead, Koudai Tsukakoshi will step up to team Weider (#18).
*And Ralf Firman will return to team ARTA (#8).

rich07 · 21 Dec 2011, 06:53 (Ref:3002537)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Japanese Samurai

And Ralf Firman will return to team ARTA (#8).

He should've never been let go in the first place. Hope Honda have come to their senses and this rumour becomes reality.

Japanese Samurai · 21 Dec 2011, 10:02 (Ref:3002591)

According to Japanese AUTOSPORT,
Team TAISAN announced 2012 driver lineup of 997GT3R.
Naoki Yokomizo and Kyosuke Mineo.
Title sponsor is ENDLESS. Entry name will be "ENDLESS TAISAN PORSCHE".
We can see the ENDLESS blue livery.
They want old and modified 996GT3RSR to participate as the 2nd car, too.
http://as-web.jp/news/info.php?c_id=2&no=38317

BBSB · 21 Dec 2011, 12:59 (Ref:3002670)

Quote:

Originally Posted by rich07

He should've never been let go in the first place. Hope Honda have come to their senses and this rumour becomes reality.

Time will tell but I think both rumors are wide off the mark. Specially the Firman return with Honda. Of course I will be thrilled if it somehow comes true!

Japanese Samurai · 21 Dec 2011, 14:04 (Ref:3002701)

Tsutomu Tojo (Engineer of team Tom's) updated his blog today.
There is a photo of transporter of Bridgestone.
This is the photo taken at Fuji today.
It seems that there was a test which uses the Bridgestonen tires at Fuji.
That is, a secret test is not a LMP test.
Is this a new LFA test????
http://gazoo.com/G-BLOG/GazooRacing1...7/Article.aspx

TF110 · 21 Dec 2011, 20:06 (Ref:3002875)

So team Tom's was there and since it's not lmp test, it must be SuperGT, and if it were SC, it wouldn't be so secret! So it must be LFA SuperGT or something else secret?

Mt. Lynx · 21 Dec 2011, 20:13 (Ref:3002878)

I don´t understand. Please enlighten me. Why would they turn the LF-A into a SuperGT? I can´t see it having any marketing value at all. The LF-A is atleast by half it´s fenomenal V10 engine. Can´t use that is SGT. And how many LF-A´s do they assume to sell on the Japanese market? Where does Lexus have their biggest market or their presumed future biggest market?

TF110 · 21 Dec 2011, 21:00 (Ref:3002903)

Honda races the HSV- that car doesn't even exist. Relevance isn't much of a problem. The GTR has a TT V6, in SGT they use 3.4 liter V8's. Don't see the big deal. If theyre testing an LFA it may be a GTE version, or SGT version, maybe both, maybe neither.

DS" · 21 Dec 2011, 21:11 (Ref:3002906)

Quote:

Originally Posted by TF110

So team Tom's was there and since it's not lmp test, it must be SuperGT, and if it were SC, it wouldn't be so secret! So it must be LFA SuperGT or something else secret?

Or maybe, just maybe, Toyota is preparing a car in line with the new DTM/SGT500 regs.

Matador · 21 Dec 2011, 22:33 (Ref:3002937)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mt. Lynx

I don´t understand. Please enlighten me. Why would they turn the LF-A into a SuperGT? I can´t see it having any marketing value at all. The LF-A is atleast by half it´s fenomenal V10 engine. Can´t use that is SGT. And how many LF-A´s do they assume to sell on the Japanese market? Where does Lexus have their biggest market or their presumed future biggest market?

Agreed.

J.C. · 22 Dec 2011, 07:24 (Ref:3003030)

Benoit Treluyer Departs The NISMO Team

http://www.nismo.co.jp/en/news_list/...ews/11006.html

As a Nissan fan, im sad to see him go. But also I kinda did see this coming. He really does want to drive for Audi in the new ELMS. Nothing wrong with a change, just going to be hard to replace him. Hope to see him back in a Nissan again in the future.

Best of luck Benoit Treluyer in 2012, and beyond!

TF110 · 22 Dec 2011, 08:47 (Ref:3003048)

Anything new on this Fuji test? I'm eager to find out what is going around their (Toyota) track. The LFA doesn't need to have it's V10 in racing to be associated with Lexus/Toyota. It's like LeMans. Do they run production LMP's? No, yet they're the most popular. SGT runs cars that are based off production cars, but they're likeness is only in shape. I see no reason to believe racing an LFA in SGT would hurt. I think quite the opposite and hope it to be. And I'm hoping for an LFA in GTE.

Japanese Samurai · 22 Dec 2011, 08:51 (Ref:3003052)

Teams of Honda carried out the test at Okayama on Dec 21-22.
Participation teams are ARTA (#8), Dome (#18), Nakajima (#32) and Kunimitsu (#100).
Ralf Firman and Kosuke Matsuura drove ARTA HSV-010.
Kogure and "4 drivers (not Duval)" drove Dome HSV-010.
Driver of Nakajima and Kunimitsu are not different from this year.
http://as-web.jp/news/info.php?c_id=2&no=38341

TF110 · 22 Dec 2011, 10:36 (Ref:3003106)

Any times? Or photos? I assume no development work will be shown, but worth asking.

Japanese Samurai · 22 Dec 2011, 11:10 (Ref:3003128)

Test photos

According to Motorsports channel,
Team SHIFT (#52) will make a comeback to SGT (GT300 class) by FIA-GT3 car.
*SHIFT are the maintenance garages of Mercedes SLS GT3 of Team Petronas (Super Taikyu series). Therefore, they will buy their own SLS GT3.

Articus · 22 Dec 2011, 16:17 (Ref:3003248)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Japanese Samurai

Tsutomu Tojo (Engineer of team Tom's) updated his blog today.
There is a photo of transporter of Bridgestone.
This is the photo taken at Fuji today.
It seems that there was a test which uses the Bridgestonen tires at Fuji.
That is, a secret test is not a LMP test.
Is this a new LFA test????
http://gazoo.com/G-BLOG/GazooRacing1...7/Article.aspx

Hmm. This confirms my suspicions. Is is possible that Toyota could just use the same 3.4litre V8 that they have been using in the SC430 and just port that into the LFA. I assume that Toyota's goal with the LFA is to improve the aerodynamics and chassis dynamics with lesser focus on the engine which has proven to be pretty strong already in Le Mans, Nippon, SGT.

BBSB · 22 Dec 2011, 18:47 (Ref:3003293)

Quote:

Originally Posted by J.C.

Benoit Treluyer Departs The NISMO Team

http://www.nismo.co.jp/en/news_list/...ews/11006.html

...going to be hard to replace him.

Indeed. He was one of the best in SGT. It's NISMO's loss for sure. I don't think the other frenchman - Duval, is as sharp as him (if he's going to be his replacement).

PS: Treluyer debut in JGTC wasn't in 2002 with GTR as is written in the nismo site, but in 2001 with Dome NSX from round 5, also to replace another driver.

BBSB · 22 Dec 2011, 19:13 (Ref:3003302)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Japanese Samurai

Teams of Honda carried out the test at Okayama on Dec 21-22.
Ralf Firman and Kosuke Matsuura drove ARTA HSV-010.

bf...

pff....

buh....

WHOA!

Japanese Samurai · 22 Dec 2011, 23:42 (Ref:3003404)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Japanese Samurai

Motorsport channel reports offseason rumours.

*Loic Duval will transfer to Nissan (team NISMO, #23). He will replace Treluyer.
*Instead, Koudai Tsukakoshi will step up to team Weider (#18).
*And Ralf Firman will return to team ARTA (#8).

It seems that Duval transfers to Lexus (Team Tom's, #36) instead of Nissan (NISMO, #23).

Japanese Samurai · 23 Dec 2011, 08:56 (Ref:3003474)

AUTOSPORT reports TRD Fuji test on Dec 20-23.
http://as-web.jp/news/info.php?c_id=2&no=38347
*20-21 was "circuit-closed" test. "Development work for 2012" was carried out. (No mention about LFA)
*22-23 was open test. KRAFT (#35) SC430, apr (#31) Corolla Axio GT and F3 machine run.
It seems that the driver audition of GT500 was carried out.
Kazuki Nakajima, Takuto Iguchi, Yuji Kunimoto, Tomonobu Fujii, Richard Lyons and Andrea Caldarelli drove KRAFT SC430.
Test photos
http://as-web.jp/photo/pnews/201112/25191/01.jpg
http://as-web.jp/photo/pnews/201112/25192/01.jpg

Matador · 23 Dec 2011, 13:12 (Ref:3003547)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Japanese Samurai

AUTOSPORT reports TRD Fuji test on Dec 20-23.
http://as-web.jp/news/info.php?c_id=2&no=38347
*20-21 was "circuit-closed" test. "Development work for 2012" was carried out. (No mention about LFA)
*22-23 was open test. KRAFT (#35) SC430, apr (#31) Corolla Axio GT and F3 machine run.
It seems that the driver audition of GT500 was carried out.
Kazuki Nakajima, Takuto Iguchi, Yuji Kunimoto, Tomonobu Fujii, Richard Lyons and Andrea Caldarelli drove KRAFT SC430.
Test photos
http://as-web.jp/photo/pnews/201112/25191/01.jpg
http://as-web.jp/photo/pnews/201112/25192/01.jpg

Be still my beating heart, that's almost castrol-like livery

BBSB · 23 Dec 2011, 15:53 (Ref:3003594)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Japanese Samurai

It seems that Duval transfers to Lexus (Team Tom's, #36) instead of Nissan (NISMO, #23).

Please don't tell me super Lotterer is out!

...Well, then again if it means a straight swap (Duval to #36; Lotterer to #18)... bring it on!

I know, that's me dreaming again. lol

gwyllion · 23 Dec 2011, 16:20 (Ref:3003601)

Quote:

Originally Posted by BBSB

Please don't tell me super Lotterer is out!

I am afraid he is. Lotterer and Treluyer probably signed a deal with Audi.

kurski · 23 Dec 2011, 19:02 (Ref:3003652)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Japanese Samurai

It seems that Duval transfers to Lexus (Team Tom's, #36) instead of Nissan (NISMO, #23).

I'd rather I would see Duval driving Team Tom's.

rich07 · 23 Dec 2011, 21:48 (Ref:3003711)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Japanese Samurai

Teams of Honda carried out the test at Okayama on Dec 21-22.
Participation teams are ARTA (#8), Dome (#18), Nakajima (#32) and Kunimitsu (#100).
Ralf Firman and Kosuke Matsuura drove ARTA HSV-010.
Kogure and "4 drivers (not Duval)" drove Dome HSV-010.
Driver of Nakajima and Kunimitsu are not different from this year.
http://as-web.jp/news/info.php?c_id=2&no=38341

This could lead somewhere good.....

Fingers crossed that Honda see the error of their ways.

Great to hear of an SLS in GT300 btw.

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