2022 Japanese Super GT

[hvr777]

This is the thread about 2022 Japanese Super GT.

2021 champions :
GT500 : Yuhi Sekiguchi & Sho Tsuboi (#36 TGR Team au TOM'S. Also the GT500 champion team)
GT300 : Takuto Iguchi & Hideki Yamauchi (#61 Subaru BRZ R&D Sport. Also the GT300 champion team)

As per August 6, 2021, this is race schedule of 2022 season :
https://www.dailysportscar.com/2021/...-revealed.html

[hvr777]

Recently Bertrand Baguette also announced exit from Honda Super GT squad.

https://www.motorsport.com/supergt/n...t-fold/6838336

[hvr777]

Toyota will be also having announcement about 2022 racing programs including Super GT, Super Formula etc at Monday, December 6 2021, 13.00 JST.

https://toyotagazooracing.com/jp/event/nextseason/2022/

[TheNo1F1Fan]

And here's the 2022 Super GT season calendar.

Round 1: Okayama - April 17
Round 2: Fuji 500km - May 4
Round 3: Suzuka - May 29
Round 4: Fuji 500 Miles - August 7
Round 5: Suzuka Timed Event - August 28
Round 6: Sugo - September 18
Round 7: Autopolis - October 2
Round 8: Motegi - November 6

First three rounds are in April and May, followed by a 2 month break.
Round 5 is a timed event, probably an endurance race.
There is an one-month break between the last two rounds.

[hvr777]

After 13 seasons, Katsuyuki Hiranaka announced he departs from Team GAINER. So there are 2 empty seats at Gainer as the team will continue to race 2 cars.

https://www.motorsport.com/supergt/n...issan/6838765/

[hvr777]

There is a possibility Baguette will be racing at Super GT GT500 again next year, but this time with different manufacturer after ended his tenure as Honda driver (not just in Super GT). He still has the goal to be Super GT champion.

https://www.as-web.jp/supergt/765884?all

[helgi]

A new car (looks like GT300 Toyota 86) will replace #30 apr Prius PHV in 2022. #31 car is going to race again. https://www.as-web.jp/supergt/766146
Lots of Toyotas in GT300: apr-Supra, Tsuchiya-Supra, apr-Prius, apr-new model.

[TF110]

I think the APR new model is the GR 86. I really hope Subaru expand and make the BRZ available to customers. Itll be interesting to see if the GR 86/BRZ use like engines or if the GR will try the V8.

[hvr777]

Originally Posted by TF110

I think the APR new model is the GR 86. I really hope Subaru expand and make the BRZ available to customers. Itll be interesting to see if the GR 86/BRZ use like engines or if the GR will try the V8.

Yes #30 will be using GR86 on JAF-GT spec. For BRZ GT300, no any plans yet about expanding into small customer programs. Looks like Subaru focused on winning the title first.

2UR-based 5400cc V8 engine will be sensible for new GR86 GT300, just like on GR Supra, Prius & RC F GT3. No need to do R&D for new engine.

[hvr777]

Nissan Z GT500 revealed.


Here's the gallery of new Z GT500.
https://www.as-web.jp/supergt/766931

Also, Nissan decided to just use "Z" name for the GT500 car, not "Fairlady Z" like before, for the sake of global appeal instead of just being domestic "Fairlady Z".
https://www.as-web.jp/supergt/766981

[TheNo1F1Fan]

Nissan's next GT500 car for 2022 will be unveiled on Sunday with a live broadcast on YouTube.
https://www.as-web.jp/supergt/766489

Giuliano Alesi poised for shock TOM'S Toyota SUPER GT move (Includes a possible GT500 grid below)
https://www.motorsport.com/supergt/n...-sard/6844965/

[bentley speed 8]

Can't wait to see it in Motul/Calsonic colours

[canaglia]

it's just my personal taste but I always disliked Z bodyshape...
I've always had the suspect nissan wanted to release a japanese 911-like, which basically killed Z identity even before being introduced (speaking of models starting from early '00 350Z). But yeah at the end is just aesthetic bodywork, nissan main issues and deficit on pre-chamber ignition know how compared to honda and toyota will remain.

[helgi]

Originally Posted by canaglia

nissan main issues and deficit on pre-chamber ignition know how compared to honda and toyota will remain.

Instead of promoting useless FE they could have stepped into Super Formula to strengthen their racing constructors' department. Looks like dealing with Renault and European PR targeted onto dull advertising rather then on R&D suits them well, unfortunately.

[canaglia]

Originally Posted by helgi

Instead of promoting useless FE they could have stepped into Super Formula to strengthen their racing constructors' department. Looks like dealing with Renault and European PR targeted onto dull advertising rather then on R&D suits them well, unfortunately.

To race in SF won't help that much nissan since cars are powered by the same NRE engine used in GT500, the know how they could get from SF is basically nothing compared to what toyota and honda learned in last 5-6 years from lmp1-h and f1.
Am of the idea that renault doesn't share their f1 derivated technologies with nissan.
About FE, I'm not sure is that useless, considering that nissan was the only one to introduce an innovative twin electric engines as powertrain a couple of season ago before that concept was banned, but at the same time I'm not even 100% sure it was something really and actually done by nissan since FE team is always e-dams that just changed name and livery switching from yellow/blue renault to red/black nissan.

Recall last year japanese-samurai posted a technical sheet that revealed nissan GT500 cars had the longest refuel average time, basically meaning nissan NRE engine consumed more fuel and probably can't even match toyota and honda power due worse efficiency.

[helgi]

Originally Posted by canaglia

To race in SF won't help that much nissan since cars are powered by the same NRE engine used in GT500, the know how they could get from SF is basically nothing compared to what toyota and honda learned in last 5-6 years from lmp1-h and f1.

At least they would have had more track time to get some data. Better than none at all.

[hvr777]

2022 Toyota Super GT GT500 drivers :

TGR Team Eneos Rookie : Kazuya Oshima & Kenta Yamashita
TGR Team WedsSport Bandoh : Yuji Kunimoto & Sena Sakaguchi
TGR Team au TOM'S : Sho Tsuboi & Giuliano Alesi
TGR Team KeePer TOM'S : Sacha Fenestraz & Ritomo Miyata
TGR Team ZENT Cerumo : Yuji Tachikawa & Hiroaki Ishiura
TGR Team SARD : Yuhi Sekiguchi & Yuichi Nakayama

[AkioAsakura95]

According to BOB Suzuki blog:

Team Studie are looking for the main sponsor for next season due to the request from them its to produced the good results.

In this case , they need to create the new structure for the next season.

https://note.com/studiebob/n/n3ea38f064145

[rjoconnell]

auto sport put up a GT300 stove league article. They've gotten onboard the premium subscription model, of course, but I wanted to share my thoughts on the highlights that it covers.

A tenured GT300 team, known for fielding mid-engined import GT3 machines, will withdraw from the series and attempt to enter another championship.

It's likely that this is Audi Team Hitotsuyama. JLOC confirmed via Facebook that they're coming back for '22. Anecdotally, Hitotsuyama Racing have a tendency to bounce in and out of Super GT to compete in other series.

A new team with experience in Super Taikyu, who entered last season in two separate categories (but not in ST-X), will enter the series with a new GT300 spec Toyota GR86 constructed by apr.

It's almost certain that this is Hayashi Telempu SHADE Racing, who ran a Supra GT4 in ST-Z and a first-gen 86 in ST-4 this past Super Taikyu season. This is almost certainly the landing spot for free agent Katsuyuki Hiranaka, who has been part of SHADE Racing since they began racing in Super Taikyu.

There is a waiting list of about five teams who want to enter GT300. Some of them are past GT300 teams hoping to secure a grid slot with very competitive packages that are ready to go at any time.

It could come at the expense of pro-am R'Qs Motor Sports, who crashed out of the season at Autopolis and admitted they face a difficult task to resume racing at all.

In addition to Hoppy Team Tsuchiya's new GT300 GR Supra, and BMW Team Studie x CSL launching the new M4 GT4, a total of three Toyota GR86 GT300s are under construction. One will be for apr's number 30 entry.

The other two comprise of the aforementioned SHADE Racing, and this prospective new entry:

There is a Malaysian team that wishes to enter GT300. They are currently in discussion with a leading Japanese team for vehicle maintenance. This is one of the teams from the two GT500 manufacturers who have not announced their 2022 lineups.

Meaning that, a Honda or Nissan GT500 team will be supporting a Toyota GT300 team in a technical capacity. Stranger collaborations have happened, I'm sure. B-Max feels like the most likely candidate. Kondo already have a GT300 team. Impul have an existing connection to Gainer's #10 car, though I'm not sure how Hoshino Jr's retirement impacts this.



It's also worth noting that international teams such as arto Team Thailand (and X Works Racing in years past) are able to enter unconditionally, even if the GT300 grid reaches its 30 car capacity.

Gainer have two vacancies to fill with the departure of Hiranaka and Hoshino. It seems that several young drivers have already tested their Nissan GT-R NISMO GT3, as this is a highly coveted team for young drivers.

Keep an eye on Atsushi Miyake as a potential candidate; he was recently at the Nissan GT500 open test and the Super Formula rookie test. Teppei Natori had been building some form of connection to Nissan, but now appears to be heading to F2 as an independent driver.

With Sena Sakaguchi going to GT500 full-time and the possibility that Ren Sato could be moving up to GT500, some of the top drivers from the Toyota Gazoo Racing Driver Challenge (TGR-DC) and Honda Formula Dream Project (HFDP) could graduate from FIA F4 to GT300. F4 champion Seita Nonaka is certain to make his debut with a Toyota affiliated team.

Nonaka at K-Tunes Racing to replace S. Sakaguchi feels like a sensible decision. Other names to watch for: Hibiki Taira, Rin Arakawa, Eijiro Shimizu, and Jiei Okazaki from TGR-DC; Iori Kimura, Kakunoshin Ohta, and Syun Koide from HFDP.

Depending on the state of immigration to Japan, a big name foreign driver with a brilliant track record in GT3 races around the world is set to enter GT300.

Christopher Mies, Nicki Thiim, and Dennis Lind were three accomplished GT300 drivers who attempted to race in 2020, but could not enter due to COVID-19.

[TheNo1F1Fan]

Redesigned Honda NSX-GT spotted testing at Motegi
https://www.dailysportscar.com/2021/...at-motegi.html

[MagVanisher]

Hi everyone, I have to say that the 2021 Super GT season finale is the most chaotic and memorable experience. Still, I'm hoping that JAF/GTA will find a suitable platform for streaming their races outside Japan.

Now then, Pacific Racing Team will be sponsored by Hololive Productions for 2022 Super GT season.

Pacific Racing Team: https://twitter.com/pacificracing/st...59058396958725

Hololive: https://twitter.com/hololivetv/statu...61685700935680

[Matador]

Really though, where is @japaneseSamurai ?

[rjoconnell]

Also, for the first time in series history, Porsche is not likely to be represented on the grid. Another car model is likely to disappear from the grid.

[TF110]

Anything on the Lotus MC? I liked that its a one of a kind but seeing another would be great.

[rjoconnell]

The Evora MC could be the other car that's being retired, based on the wishes of INGING's sponsors. And if I'm honest - if that car goes, the Team Mach MC86 can't be far behind.