2014 Japanese Super GT

[TheNo1F1Fan]

Originally Posted by Japanese Samurai

Masaaki Bandoh's comment about SGT & DTM collaborations at Sunday press conference.

-I met with ITR about the collaboration of SGT and DTM in Stuttgart.
-About regulations integration of 2017, it does not become 100% of regulations integration. It is because tire competition exists, engine is multi-make and hybrid will be also multi-make in SGT. This is the stance of SGT.
-We would like to realize collaboration of SGT and DTM as a joint test first in 2015. We would like to carry SGT vehicles into the Zuhai round of DTM, and to do a joint test. And we would like to carry DTM vehicles into Japan and to carry out a joint test after that.
http://as-web.jp/news/info.php?c_id=2&no=58589

thx

[MagVanisher]

A joint test next year will be fine, but I hope that both series won't be restrictive.

Better yet, just run what they currently have instead (V8 engines and DRS for DTM, Inline-4 hybrids and tire competition for Super GT).

[TheNo1F1Fan]

Is this the Nissan GT-R NISMO GT3 for the next season?

http://as-web.jp/news/info.php?c_id=9&no=58639

[Dimension]

imo the regs between DTM and SGT don't need to be 100% identical. It would already be awesome if you could make the cars legal in the other series just by switching out a few parts and/or BoP. Man that would be cool

Now if only there would be regular english-subbed/commented vids of SGT races on youtube

[banzailap]

Originally Posted by rich07

In which part of the weekend are those buses on track?

I knew they did this at the Nismo festival but that's a bit different as it's not a race weekend

It is called Circuit Safari. This is a common feature at the Japanese races, Super GT and Super Formula, for a number of years. This is usually done after the end of the morning free session on race day, on most circuits (I am not sure about Sugo). Three or four coaches do two laps of the circuit at slow speed while the racing cars are on the track. Usually, one of the drivers or a team principal is on duty standing at the front of the bus with a mike, commenting the circuit features and cracking jokes at the expense of his team mate when they pass along, while the drivers slow and wave to the people inside the bus before taking off again. It is great fun.

Drivers are logically expected to behave. Someone late on their setup program might be tempted to use this as a bonus 15 minutes of track time, but this would be a very bad idea. An off-track excursion, spin or (god forbid) contact with a bus and the race director would come down hard on them with a batch of the dreaded "moral hazard" penalty points.

Amusing factoid : at Fuji, the circuit PA usually plays the theme song of the Fuji Safari Park, the famous drive-thru park zoo not far from the circuit. You can easily see the analogy.

I fail to understand why this has not been widely adopted at races outside Japan. It is easy to implement and very good for the fans.

[rich07]

Originally Posted by banzailap

It is called Circuit Safari. This is a common feature at the Japanese races, Super GT and Super Formula, for a number of years. This is usually done after the end of the morning free session on race day, on most circuits (I am not sure about Sugo). Three or four coaches do two laps of the circuit at slow speed while the racing cars are on the track. Usually, one of the drivers or a team principal is on duty standing at the front of the bus with a mike, commenting the circuit features and cracking jokes at the expense of his team mate when they pass along, while the drivers slow and wave to the people inside the bus before taking off again. It is great fun.

Drivers are logically expected to behave. Someone late on their setup program might be tempted to use this as a bonus 15 minutes of track time, but this would be a very bad idea. An off-track excursion, spin or (god forbid) contact with a bus and the race director would come down hard on them with a batch of the dreaded "moral hazard" penalty points.

Amusing factoid : at Fuji, the circuit PA usually plays the theme song of the Fuji Safari Park, the famous drive-thru park zoo not far from the circuit. You can easily see the analogy.

I fail to understand why this has not been widely adopted at races outside Japan. It is easy to implement and very good for the fans.

Thanks for explaining that, that's a pretty cool thing for the fans to enjoy, how much does a bus ticket cost? I'm guessing a seat on one of those buses would be highly sought after.

[banzailap]

Originally Posted by rich07

Thanks for explaining that, that's a pretty cool thing for the fans to enjoy, how much does a bus ticket cost? I'm guessing a seat on one of those buses would be highly sought after.

Here is the price sheet for Fuji Round 2 in last April as a reference.
http://www.fsw.tv/2ch/2_5ticket/info_gt2/#ticket14

It's 3100 yens for two names (tickets are sold in pairs). You can buy in advance through the ticket reservation systems like the entry tickets.

[rich07]

So that's about $33 AUD for two people. That's a bargain!

[Japanese Samurai]

Autosport web/magazine reports the rumour that Jenson Button is interested in Super GT and Super Formula.
He might finish the career of F1 and participate in Super GT/Super Formula.
http://as-web.jp/news/info.php?c_id=1&no=58821

[Articus]

Well that is awfully convenient for a certain Mrs. Michibata

[MagVanisher]

Originally Posted by Japanese Samurai

Autosport web/magazine reports the rumour that Jenson Button is interested in Super GT and Super Formula.
He might finish the career of F1 and participate in Super GT/Super Formula.
http://as-web.jp/news/info.php?c_id=1&no=58821

If the rumors were true, I expect him landing a seat at Honda since McLaren is being supplied with their engines for next year.

On the other hand, is Super GT becoming an alternative to DTM for former F1 drivers?

[TheNo1F1Fan]

Originally Posted by Japanese Samurai

Autosport web/magazine reports the rumour that Jenson Button is interested in Super GT and Super Formula.
He might finish the career of F1 and participate in Super GT/Super Formula.
http://as-web.jp/news/info.php?c_id=1&no=58821

I'll guess he'll go for Dome Racing Team at Super GT and Team Mugen at Super Formula.

[Japanese Samurai]

GT86 GT300 under construction.

[rich07]

What engine is that?

[Japanese Samurai]

VK45DE

[Japanese Samurai]

Sporting regulations of Suzuka 1000km is announced.
http://as-web.jp/news/info.php?c_id=2&no=58958

-The number of tire set which can be used: Dry 11 sets/ Wet 13 sets.
(The tire manufacturer who is inexperienced in winning the race can add one set of dry tires.)
-3rd driver can be registered.
-Duty of 4 pit stops (including driver changes) is imposed.

[TheNo1F1Fan]

Originally Posted by Japanese Samurai

VK45DE

I don't know why they're using a Nissan engine

[MagVanisher]

Maybe the engineers are trying to fit various kinds of engines so it's not like the chassis tub will only fit to one type (and brand) of engine. That's my thought.

[ohmkung-ix]

About Buriram International Circuit construction progress
Update on 31 July 2014
Source : Racingweb.net

See to Link : http://racingweb.net/content/491-%E0...8%B5%E0%B9%89?

[TF110]

Wow, a Nissan V8 being fitted. Must be for sizing applications.

[MagVanisher]

Originally Posted by TF110

Wow, a Nissan V8 being fitted. Must be for sizing applications.

Exactly!

On the other hand, I wonder if Dome are making a GT300 mid-engined race car other than FR? If the GTA wants to bring niche Japanese marques like Vemac and Mooncraft back to GT300 class (which I doubt it'll happen), the chassis tub can bolt the engine in either front or back.

[Japanese Samurai]

In GT500, the update during a season is forbidden except for the following cases.
1) Fuji spec low-drag aero parts
2) Evolution of Technology (ET) =NSX-GT
3) Correction of clerical error (ER)

However, the aero parts update named "joker application" is possible in 2014 only.
Nissan GTR made a joker application to GTA this time. (flick box, front wheel house and rear wheel house.)

*The aero parts update of NSX is not by a joker application but by ET.
http://as-web.jp/news/info.php?c_id=2&no=58975

[TF110]

So this "joker" can be considered like a 'wild card', that is, a special one-time deal? Interesting to see Nissan be the first to use it.

[Deleted]

What local time does the Suzuka 1000km start? Can't find from their official site. Looking at last years race I thought there seemed to be more daylight left at the end than previously (?) so I wondered if they had maybe moved the start time. Or maybe I was imagining.

[Japanese Samurai]

2015 Super GT schedule (tentative)
Rd1 Apr.4-5 Okayama
Rd2 May.2-3 Fuji
Rd3 May.30-31 Autopolis
Rd4 Sep.25-26 SUGO
Rd5 Aug.8-9 Fuji
Rd6 Aug.29-30 Suzuka
Rd7 Oct.3-4 Buriram (Thailand)
Rd8 Nov.14-15 Motegi
http://as-web.jp/news/info.php?c_id=2&no=59005