Super GT - The Potential Revitalization of Road Racing the World Over

Forty years ago the world was enjoying the heightthe Ishiura/Oshima number 35 SC430, with third going
of heavy weight sports car action with such famousto team His Advan Kondo in their Nissan GTR being
series as the SCCA Can Am Challenge, and thepiloted by Brazilian Joao Paulo Lima De Oliveira and Le
European counter-part to the Can Am, theMans veteran Seiji Ara of Japan. Honda NSX teams
Interseries. Both of these road racing venues broughtdominated positions 4 through 7.
out the best in technological developments running inThe following day's race however saw steady rain
accord with FIA Group 7 rules, which initially statedand a crowd of some 23,000 fans on strength to
that a car need only have four wheels, two seats,witness the first showdown of 2009. Exciting first lap
and full body work in order to compete. Since 1974,action saw the Nismo GTR of Benoit Treluyer come
when a number of issues conspired to end theinto contact with the Petronas SC430 of French
golden era of the Can Am, road racing enthusiastsdriver Andre Lotterer. The pole sitting Zent Cerumo
have had to search long and hard the world over toSC430 began to drop back quickly as the tire choice
find a series that offered anything similar to thosemade by the team to run an intermediate tire in the
wonderful days of the late 1960s and early 1970s.wet conditions proved to be the tragic downfall for
One series that offers such potential, and is currentlydrivers Yuji Tachikawa and Richard Lyons of Ireland.
being expanded, is the Super GT series based inThe team would end up finishing in 6th position in a
Japan.race dominated by the Team His Advan Kondo
Super GT has been around for over a decade, initiallyNissan GTR. The de Oliveira/Ara GTR shod with
known as the Japanese Grand Touring ChampionshipYokohama Advan wet weather rubber proved
or JGTC. The JGTC was an officially recognized GTunstoppable over the course of the 82 lap event.
Series by the FIA; however when the Japanese autoHonda NSX teams would stand on the 2nd and 3rd
makers that dominate the series pushed for itspodium positions.
expansion beyond Japan's borders, the title wasRound two was held at the historic Suzuka Circuit in
changed to Super GT. The Super GT is alate April, and the weather seemed more cooperative
semi-endurance series with two drivers sharing a carthis time, with sunny and dry conditions. Qualifying
and is divided into two categories, the GT500 classsaw the mighty 4.5 liter V-8 Nismo GTR take top slot
and the GT300 class. The "500" in "GT500" is used towith a 1.53 in the Super Lap session around the 5.8
indicate cars of up to 500 horsepower, the "300"kilometer circuit. Super Lap is a special session held
indicating cars with up to 300 horsepower. Theafter the initial qualifying session to allow the top
GT500 class is made up of cars that merely resembleteams from the earlier session one lap to better their
the production cars that they are based on. More oftimes. The Super Lap session is also a great way to
a "silhouette" formula, the GT500 formula offersbreak any ties in the earlier qualifying session. Round
constructors more free reign in the design of theirone's pole sitter, the Zent Cerumo SC430, was able
race car, where as the GT300 class is tied muchto secure P2 even with the 10 kilogram weight
more to production car origins. This article will focuspenalty they carried from their achievements in round
on the GT500 class, as it is the class that has beenone. Position three was awarded to the Hasemi
gaining world wide notoriety in recent years.Tomica Ebbro Nissan GTR of Italian Ronnie Quintarelli
As mentioned above, the GT500 class is more of aand Hironobu Yasuda.
silhouette-type of racing formula. Cars are expectedWhen the red lights went out to start the race, the
to loosely resemble the production cars whosemighty GT500 cars roared into corner one with
badges they bear. Ultimately; the GTA, or GrandSatoshi Motoyama's Nismo GTR in the lead to start
Touring Association, governs the Super GT seriesthe 52 lap main event. Despite being hotly pursued by
and decides on all rules in regards to the series. Overthe Zent SC430, Motoyama maintained control of the
the last decade or so, the rules set by the GTA forrace early on. The first round of pit stops saw
the Super GT series have attracted factory entriesfeverish levels of intense action in which the Zent
from all of Japan's largest auto makers. Engines areSC430 was passed by the Petronas SC430 and the
always an area of contention in any form of motorbright blue GTR of Team Impul. With Tachikawa at
sport, and in Super GT, the rules state that a carthe wheel, he raised the level of race intensity a bit
built to compete in the series can run any engine thatby rifling his Zent SC430 past the Impul GTR of
is in production with that car's manufacturer. ForSebastien Philippe at Suzuka's famous Spoon Curve.
example; the stunning, new Nissan GT-R street car isNearing the end of the event, the Nismo/Motul GTR
powered by a 3.7 liter bi-turbo V-6. The Nismo GT-Rappeared to have things wrapped up, when suddenly
that was run in the 2009 Super GT Series sported athe red car began to slow on track and was
4.5 liter naturally aspirated V-8 similar to the oneimmediately overtaken by the Petronas SC430.
found in some Infiniti models here in the States. OnceTachikawa then overtakes the slowing Nismo GTR in
an engine is selected to run, the modifications arean exciting pass at the 130R Curve, the wheels of his
virtually limitless as the door is open to turbo andV-8 Lexus SC430 half off the track throughout the
supercharging the drive trains, as well as just aboutmaneuver, finally completing the pass on Nismo's
anything else the team can conceive to bring theTreluyer in the following chicane. Tachikawa then
power plant up to the 500 horsepower maximum.began to fight for first place, trying, and finally
Intake restrictors are used in some cases to achievecompleting the pass for P1 on the Petronas SC430
a level playing field, and fuel is market grade unleadedpiloted by Wakisaka. With four laps to go, the Arta
that is strictly monitored by the sanctioning body.NSX and Hasemi Nissan GTR collide; neutralizing the
The chassis of a Super GT car is a heavily modifiedrace and resulting in a safety car finish that handed
structure, bearing little in common to the car'sthe race win to Team Zent Cerumo and the Lexus
showroom sibling. Tube frame "clips" are allowed, andSC430 piloted by Richard Lyons and Yuji Tachikawa.
used by most teams, ahead of the cockpit and toWith today's global economic crisis causing problems
the rear of the car, with tube structures offering afor many race series the world over, it is with little
chance for constructors to save money and stillwonder that sanctioning bodies in other countries are
retain a great amount of safety within theturning towards Japan's Super GT Series to examine
construction of the race car. Brake systems are forand explore the potential of such a series in their
the most part open, though the use of Formulaown homeland. As recently as late 2009, the ITR
One-style carbon brakes is not allowed.organization which oversees the running of
Super GT rules also do not allow any type of driverGermany's DTM Series, has sent a delegation to
aids like traction control or yaw control.Japan to meet with members of the GTA and
Aerodynamics is the only aid available to the driver,explore the possibility of uniting the two series in
though no moving aerodynamic devices are allowed;some way or form. With the GTA having already
fixed wings and fences are fully open to thehaving laid out new rules to carry Super GT into the
constructor. Teams make great use of carbon fibernext decade and to welcome Honda's new Super GT
and the freedom the rules that Super GT providescontender to the scene, it is unlikely that the
them to experiment in this realm.Japanese-based series will be willing to compromise
One other interesting aspect of the Super GT is ahaving already received commitments from the
weight penalty program. When a team wins a Superteams that run in the Super GT to build cars to the
GT, they are then required to add a certain amountlatest specifications. However, the possibility that the
of weight in kilograms to their car. This aspect of theITR may adopt the rules of the GTA is a promising
rules is performed to keep the field robust and toone indeed, as the DTM Series has seen a decline in
assist the Series in maintaining a competitive fieldspectators in recent years and the pull out of Opel,
throughout the season. With a mild understanding ofwhich left only Audi and Mercedes to contend for the
the few rules that govern this wild series from theDTM crown in recent seasons. Super GT may
other side of the world, a look back at the first fewbecome the savior to not just GT racing, but road
rounds of the 2009 Super GT can offer a betterracing the world over; much the way North America's
understanding of the racing itself within the GT500Can Am series once did by sparking the Interseries in
class.Europe and the special late season races held in Japan
The first Super GT race for 2009 was held in latein the late 1960s. We potentially could be standing on
March at the 3.7 kilometer Okayama Circuit. Weatherthe brink of a new "golden era" in road racing, one
was clear and the track dry for qualifying. The Zentthat just may rival those glorious days of the late
Cerumo Team snatched pole position in the number1960s.
38 Lexus SC430. Second place on the grid went to