2012 Japanese Super GT

[Japanese Samurai]

SGT Sepang test Day1-3 best time (unofficial)
#230--GTR----BS--1:55.8
#24---GTR----YH--1:55.9
#39---SC430--MI--1:56.1
#38---SC430--BS--1:56.2
#18---HSV----BS--1:56.2
#100--HSV----BS--1:56.3
#19---SC430--YH--1:56.3
#1----GTR----MI--1:56.5
#33---PorGT3-HK--2:05.0
#??---GTRGT3-YH--2:06.7
http://gazoo.com/G-BLOG/GazooRacing1...0/Article.aspx

[TF110]

Are these 2012 spec cars setting these times, Samurai? Or are they a mix of 2011 with this year's cars? Looks like the Kondo GTR is pretty well up there. Maybe tires from Yokohama will be getting better this year!

[banzailap]

In the same post mentioned by JS, the following pic shows Loic Duval who took turns in the #38 SC430. His name does not appear, but there is no doubt about his identity, neither is the team where he will drive mentioned. Although it's said that he was wearing a Petronas shirt (wink wink).

[Articus]

That would suggest he's going to replace Andre Lotterer?(who could be off to campaign the full WEC). I can't imagine Petronas Team Tom's dropping Kazuki Nakajima and therefore having no Japanese or driver of Asian descent in it's lineup? Kaz is only doing selected rounds of WEC.

[TF110]

I think they've scheduled their season around the WEC events.

[Articus]

That would be convenient. But if the Duval Petronas shirt sighting has any truth to it, someone is getting a new ride. And its not Kazuki Nakajima.

[TF110]

I think Loterrer is going to Audi full time. This may be what this picture confirms.

[banzailap]

Originally Posted by Articus

That would be convenient. But if the Duval Petronas shirt sighting has any truth to it, someone is getting a new ride. And its not Kazuki Nakajima.

André cannot be driving for Audi *and* Toyota given that they are now direct competitors, even if the calendar would allow it. He will be in WEC with Ben in the Audi and say sayonara for the time being to Super GT and most probably Formula Nippon as well. I guess with the tests and all that the Audi drive is pretty much a full time job.

[tbz]

it seems like, that Takashi Kogure & Ryo Michigami will driving for a "new Team #18" or just a new No. for the Epson HSV 010?
http://yfrog.com/odmm5ndj

[Japanese Samurai]

That is old NSX-GT photo (Rockstar livery).

Loic Duval drove SC430 for the first time in Day3 @Daisuke Ito's official blog.
http://www.diamondblog.jp/daisuke-ito/?p=2212

[tbz]

ok, thanks
Btw any new references about the replacement of the SC430? Right now, it seems so, he will not be replaced this season.

[BBSB]

Originally Posted by Japanese Samurai

SGT Sepang test Day1-3 best time (unofficial)
#230--GTR----BS--1:55.8
#24---GTR----YH--1:55.9
#39---SC430--MI--1:56.1
#38---SC430--BS--1:56.2
#18---HSV----BS--1:56.2
#100--HSV----BS--1:56.3
#19---SC430--YH--1:56.3
#1----GTR----MI--1:56.5
#33---PorGT3-HK--2:05.0
#??---GTRGT3-YH--2:06.7
http://gazoo.com/G-BLOG/GazooRacing1...0/Article.aspx

THANK YOU!

PS: I hope the full 2012 spec GT500 are at least 3 seconds faster that this. In 2007 (old regs) the GT500 were 2 seconds faster that this.

[DeathOrGlory]

We need a frickin' tire war in Super GT. All the ingredients are there.

[TF110]

Hope these are just times for 2011 spec regs. They should be faster. What were last years times at this track?

[tbz]

#46 S Road MOLA GT-R (MI) 1:57.701 (fastest in practice)

#1 Weider HSV-010 (BS) 1:55.984 (fastest in Qualy)
#46 Road MOLA GT-R (MI) 1:56.371

[TF110]

So they're already 2 seconds faster than last years times. With the season yet to begin they may find another second?

edit- I guess I spoke too soon. They're only a tenth faster going by times from the last report. 1:55.8 for the GTR.

[BBSB]

Yeah. They are still 2 seconds SLOWER than the records set on this track with the old regs (pre 2009). The new cars better get a big boost in power and be lighter...


... or just bring the good old regs back

[TF110]

The old regs had different aero parts right? Front winglets was a big difference? Perhaps they'll bring that back? Maybe there are no changes this year. I sure hope that's not the case.

[tbz]

*As for the 2012 regulation of GT500, restrictor is expanded by 2 ranks.

could be explaining

[Japanese Samurai]

Team MACH (#5) carried out the shakedown test of 458GT3.
http://ameblo.jp/team-mach/entry-11147849811.html

[alexkiller8]

with old regulations cars were equipped with more torque powerfull engines, from 2009 aero hasn't change a lot, the actual bodykit are just an evolution of that.

[MitchZ06]

Turbos were allowed weren't they?

[alexkiller8]

a lot of years ago supra used a 2.0 turbo engine (the same engine that were used in corolla WRC) before to switch for the NA 3UZ-FE engines until 2008.
Honda too was using a turbo engine C30A since 2003, coming back to a NA v6 3.4 some year later.
However the last car in sgt to have used a turbo engine should be the 350z that used the VQ30DETT like the previous skyline gt-r.

[BBSB]

Originally Posted by TF110

The old regs had different aero parts right? Front winglets was a big difference? Perhaps they'll bring that back? Maybe there are no changes this year. I sure hope that's not the case.

Yes, the big difference was the aero. Honestly I don't know exactly what the differences were between new and old regs (I can't find any info, maybe Samurai can help) but the old regs were more downforce focused. They had a bigger rear wing (more angle), obviously the front winglets, and probably differences in the underbody, diffuser etc, though I'm not sure on this.

What I know is that there was a big difference in lap time and the cars seemed to be on rails. I remember watching the first videos of the 2009 cars, I thought "huh? the new cars look so slow in the corners". You can check for yourself on SGT site, with the new regs in 2009 they were 3.6 seconds slower at the Suzuka track (a good measure of performance with it's track characteristics) in qualifying from the record of 2007, with similar track conditions (dry). That's massive.

[BBSB]

Originally Posted by alexkiller8

with old regulations cars were equipped with more torque powerfull engines, from 2009 aero hasn't change a lot, the actual bodykit are just an evolution of that.

LOL

I'm sure the NA 3.5 V6 on the NSX in 2007 (which holds most records) does not have more torque than a 3.4 V8. And even if the engines produced more torque back then that wouldn't make a difference of seconds in lap time. And lets not forget the tires weren't as evolved.

This is only what I could find:

From 2009 pre season...

Michigami: "The (technical) regulation has been revised this year, so the performance of the car has gone down compared to last year with less downforce..."

Nissan: The key point for development of this season's [2009] GT-R was to recover the loss in downforce after a regulation change for the season.

Firman: "With the regulation changes, we lost 40% of downforce."