Japanese GT championship

[ds.raikkonen]

Just got information on it yesterday on engineblock..its pretty decent...only tuned Japanese cars are allowed and they resemble the GT1 category cars from LeMans...also, two drivers race one after the other in the same car...change at pitstop, which is similar to A1 GP, with only 1 crew member at each wheel.

[Tom]

From what I've heard DTM cars are eligable for competition too aswell as V8 Supercars and variouse other international Touring Car classes.

[ds.raikkonen]

well...from what starsports said about it, the Japanese cars take part, but i cant remember the word 'only' maybe youre right

[West]

Are you talking about Super GT?

Any car is allowed pending the rules; McLaren F1s, Ferraris, and Lamborghinis have participated, with somewhat poor results. A Maserati MC12 was not competitive enough for 2006 so the team withdrew its entry.

The GT500 class composes of cars that rarely resemble their road-going counterpart - they're essentially factory-backed prototypes. That's a huge reason why many European cars don't even pose a threat.

[ds.raikkonen]

wow...i cant believe how wrong i was ... well thats what i call increment in knowledge...i cud only spopt NISMO in the video, all the racers were heavily laden with skirts and spoilers all round.

[pRo]

GT500

While we're on the topic, I'm a huge fan of GT300 myself...

Anyone know if these races are shown live online anywhere? Don't mind if I have to pay for it.

[West]

GT500

While we're on the topic, I'm a huge fan of GT300 myself...

Anyone know if these races are shown live online anywhere? Don't mind if I have to pay for it.

I think you're stuck searching on Youtube... maybe Google Video or dailymotion.com have some clips... but that's about it as far as I know. Is it that they show the races after the season is over, on MOTORS Tv or something, in Europe? Super GT is not even mentioned on SPEED TV at all.

I do have a DVD on the 2004 season... it's from Best Motoring. The testing and technical anaylyses on the cars themselves are more interesting than the races and onboards (way too long highlights). It's probably the closest thing you can get to a hard copy of anything Super GT, as far as I know, because I haven't found anything else.

That said, I think the DVD was made solely to promote Super GT in the US. In 2004, they came over, and it was pretty awesome to see those things up close. The Calsonic 350Z inspired me to buy my car. Unfortunately, they haven't been back since.

As an owner of a 350Z, I support NISMO myself, but I wish they'd actually use the original engine it came out with, so we can get that road car-race car connection. The NISMO Z's first started off with VQ30DETTs (most likely a production engine w/ another turbo attached); for this year they're using the VK45DE, a 4.5L V8.

[overdrayv]

Eligible cars

Cars running in the SUPER GT must conform to the following technical regulations of SUPER GT set by the GTA.

1. JAF-GT Cars :
Cars conforming to the "2006 JAF Grand Touring Car (JAF-GT) Technical Regulations".

2. Cars approved exceptionally by the GTA as follows (Specially approved cars):
(1) JAF-GT cars that participated in the 2005 JGTC,
(2) FIA GT homologated cars,
(3) Le Mans GT cars,
(4) SCCA GT cars,
(5) Grand-American GT cars,
(6) DTM 2000 cars,
(7) Other cars approved exceptionally by the GTA

http://supergt.net/en/

[ds.raikkonen]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_GT
http://www.supergt.net/en/

Mclaren F1 GTR & Porsche 964 Carrera RSR were champions only in '96 and then Porsche 996 GT3R in 2k, rest all the seasons were won by Jap cars, majority Nissan & Toyota ..pretty sad thing for the Euro giants

[andylaurel]

The Japanese cars are heavily modified in the chassis department and often use non standard engines to increase their torque as the classes are limited by power.

The GT300 is limited to 300ps
the GT 500 is limited to 500ps
but like WRC i beleive there is no torque limitations

Therefore the R34 Skyline GTR's ran V6's (VQ30dett i believe)
The JZA80 Supra's Run V8's (3UZFE i believe)

[pRo]

The Japanese cars are heavily modified in the chassis department and often use non standard engines to increase their torque as the classes are limited by power.

The GT300 is limited to 300ps
the GT 500 is limited to 500ps
but like WRC i beleive there is no torque limitations

Therefore the R34 Skyline GTR's ran V6's (VQ30dett i believe)
The JZA80 Supra's Run V8's (3UZFE i believe)

It's not that simple. JZA80 Supras also run 3S-GTE (2l I4). Because you can easily get 500ps out of it with plenty of torque too. And cause it's such a small engine, it weights less, can be mounted lower and more towards the middle.

That's probably one of the reasons I like these series. They allow a great variety of building cars.

[ds.raikkonen]

can anybody explain the 'Weight handicap' system in the Super GT?

[Ranald]

Regarding the engine regulations, a car can use any engine installed in any car across that manufacturers range.

[West]

can anybody explain the 'Weight handicap' system in the Super GT?

I don't know the exact numbers but people who qualify higher get heavier weight penalties than those who don't qualify as fast. Same with winning races; top finishers have more weight penalties, to keep the racing interesting.

You're allowed to use any production engine in the 500 series and even add turbos and stuff. It seems the current trend is to go move towards a 4.5 V8, as Toyota was champion last season has and Nissan did this season. I think it has something to do with getting better use out of the air restrictor.

As an aside, Nissan and Honda have made special homologation models to race in Super GT; the Nissan Fairlady Z Type-E and ans NSX-GT (something like that), respectively.

[ds.raikkonen]

I don't know the exact numbers but people who qualify higher get heavier weight penalties than those who don't qualify as fast. Same with winning races; top finishers have more weight penalties, to keep the racing interesting.

As an aside, Nissan and Honda have made special homologation models to race in Super GT; the Nissan Fairlady Z Type-E and ans NSX-GT (something like that), respectively.

ya i saw the NSX-GT in the race....so its like they want to pull the leading cars down by the penalties, i dont think this ll make the race more interesting...do you?