2020 Japanese Super GT

[S griffin]

Great news, so if we are needing some early morning entertainment, we know where to look

[TheNo1F1Fan]

Brilliant!

[hvr777]

https://www.as-web.jp/supergt/601320?all

Kei Cozzolino will be substituting Nicki Thiim (#9 Pacific D'Station Racing) for this weekend.

[Japanese Samurai]

Goodsmile racing (#4) introduced new transporter.
https://ameblo.jp/nob-taniguchi/entry-12611596439.html

[uesugi kenshin]

Originally Posted by S griffin

Great news, so if we are needing some early morning entertainment, we know where to look

Do you struggle for early morning entertainment?

[S griffin]

Do you struggle for any entertainment?

[Japanese Samurai]

Car Watch is reporting HRD Sakura LPL cheif engineer Masahiro Saiki interview.
https://car.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/news/1266328.html

What are the advantages and disadvantages of changing from MR to FR?

In the case of FR monocoque equipped with an engine in the midship, it is a rear heavy, so understeer is strong, and it was initially a car with no front load.
Therefore, we made the target value closer to the FR vehicle.
For example, the oil tank was initially installed in the rear, but was finally installed in the front.
Therefore, the driver's impression was that nothing changed, although MR changed to FR.
That's how we were approaching FR weight distribution.

The biggest advantage of FR is braking.
Especially, the braking performance from the high speed range is improved.

Is there any change in the engine due to the change from MR to FR?

Although the basic specifications of the engine have not changed, engine accessories, gear train, and intake/exhaust system have been nearly new designed.

What do you think about today's practice results?
Toyota was doing a long run test during the mixed run time with GT300.
They have enough potential. We were 5km/h inferior at straight top speeds.

[Japanese Samurai]

Race day press conference by GTA (Masaaki Bandoh) Part.1
https://www.as-web.jp/supergt/602229?all

About next race
*August race will become two days events.
*Fuji round to be held in the future may have medium to long-distance races over 300km.

About support events.
*FIA-F4 is scheduled for 12 rounds, with 3 races each in 5-8 rounds.
We are requesting FIA to receive super license points through JAF.

About Class one regulations future
*Due to issues such as the coronavirus and Audi's withdrawal from DTM, we are not possible to talk to ITR about future joint events.
*However, the Class One regulation is a technical regulation, so we will use it.
*The implementation of joint events has become difficult, but the technical regulations will continue.

About this year's SGT events
*To be honest, GTA's profits will be in the red when we hold eight races this year.
*However, we are looking to the medium and long term of the Japanese motorsport business.

[Japanese Samurai]

Race day press conference by GTA Part.2
https://car.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/news/1266337.html
https://supergt.net/news/single/20046

About Class one regulations
*There is a license agreement with ITR later this year.

About Fuji round
*We have not yet announced the four race distance for Fuji.

Show us your business continuity plan.
*It's very difficult question to answer.
*Even if all 8 races are held, the profit of GTA is in the red.
*Actually, it is still in the red even if we include ticket income in the current situation.
*It is different whether the profit as GTA company will be in the red.
*We aim to build a motorsport business with a view to the medium and long term.

[hvr777]

GR Supra GT500 were significantly stronger than NSX & GT-R especially on the second half of the race. Looks like NSX ran out of steam in the process & GT-R are still lagged behind.

[Japanese Samurai]

Autosport web is reporting car development status during coronavirus postponement 4 months.
https://www.as-web.jp/supergt/601977?all
https://www.as-web.jp/supergt/601977/2

Honda
*The four month increase until the race helped the development a lot.
*With four months extension, we were able to introduce a lighter weight engine.

Toyota
*We couldn't do a real run test, but we kept the wind tunnel and engine bench running during 4 months.
*Since we had time to spare, we also put aerodynamic parts installation, maintenancability, and surface strength into the development area.

Nissan
*The introduction of remote work under the influence of coronavirus hindered development.
*For engine development, we couldn't even do a bench test, constantly.

[TF110]

The comments from the 3 makes about the delay is really telling. Nissan is lagging and it seems there's a reason.

[Japanese Samurai]

According to the winning driver press conference,
Green Brave (#52) had hired outsourced pro mechanic last year, but this year switched to in-house mechanic.
As we all know, Green Brave is a Toyota car dealership.

[Japanese Samurai]

Autosport web GT500 post race analisys.
https://www.as-web.jp/supergt/602815?all

*GR Supra dominated top speed and long run race pace.
*According to Masahiro Saiki (Honda GT project leader), pre season test was mainly focused on short runs because the development period was very short. But long run pace of NSX is worse than expected.

*This year's feature is that there is a large disparity between teams even with the same car and tire brands. It seems that the trouble due to the regulations change appeared as a difference in running time and car set-up between the teams.

*Matsumura NISMO general director says that the maximum speed difference with Supra is large, they have to move to set-up that emphasizes max speed and acceleration rather than downforce.

[uesugi kenshin]

Fresh from their historic victory yesterday, Saitama Toyopet were out testing their new Toyota Crown today.

[S griffin]

Let's hope they get enough mileage in. The car has a lot of potential for the season ahead

[uesugi kenshin]

Originally Posted by S griffin

Let's hope they get enough mileage in. The car has a lot of potential for the season ahead

How can you tell how much potential the car has from its first shakedown? the first Super Taikyu race is not until september.

[Japanese Samurai]

Autosport web is reporting GR Supra GT300.
https://www.as-web.jp/supergt/602917/2

GR Supra GT300 was designed by apr.
And it was produced by apr and Green Brave staff at apr factory.

[bentley speed 8]

Interesting, I thought it was totally built in-house by the Saitama Toyopet Team and Greenbrave.

So, if the Supra is deemed to be more competitive, will that be the end of the current Prius in GT300, with apr switching to the Supra as well?

[Japanese Samurai]

This year, Prius GT has reduced its weight by 50kg to 1200kg (excluding HY). Since the air restrictor diameter of the 1200kg table has expanded from last year by regulations, it will be more competitive than last year.


Tsutomu Tojo (Team Tom's engineer) thanks development drivers of GR Supra (Yuji Tachikawa, Hiroaki Ishiura and Ryo Hirakawa) for the perfect weekend.
https://ameblo.jp/tsutomutojo/entry-12612252507.html

[S griffin]

That's good, hopefully the Prius will be up there more often. Will be nice once this season gets started, big hopes for a closely fought season. I really hope all the development pays off for a lot of teams

[bentley speed 8]

Thought I saw the #31 car in the top 6 at the beginning, but it dropped back and disappeared after a few laps.

[hvr777]

Originally Posted by bentley speed 8

Interesting, I thought it was totally built in-house by the Saitama Toyopet Team and Greenbrave.

So, if the Supra is deemed to be more competitive, will that be the end of the current Prius in GT300, with apr switching to the Supra as well?

As long as Toyota decides to continue the R&D on hybrid system at motorsport, I think Prius GT300 will be still racing. Development of Prius GT300 is also funded by Toyota.

[hvr777]

For the #30 Toyota Prius, any reasons why the car is still not equipped with the hybrid system?

[Japanese Samurai]

The cause of the retire of Subaru BRZ GT300 was a malfunction of the exhaust pressure sensor.
What seemed to be the engine fire was due to the fuel being over-injected into the exhaust.
https://twitter.com/SUBARU_STI_MS/st...33936741945344