2017 Japanese Super GT

[AkioAsakura95]

Here is a new thread to discuss about the next Super GT season. As the calendar has the same circuits in order, it doesn't look too bad for me.

calendar: Rd.1 Okayama - April 9 , Rd.2 Fuji 500km - May 4 , Rd.3 Autopolis - May 21 , Rd.4 Sugo - July 23 , Rd 5 Fuji 300km - Aug 6 Rd.6 Suzuka 1000km - Aug 27 Rd.7 Buriram - Oct 8 and Rd.8 Motegi - Nov 12

As 1st GT500 championship win for SARD, Lexus Team SARD finally used number 1 for the next season . For GT300 champion, VivaC Team Tsuchiya , they used number 0 car for Toyota MC86 .

So far , Team Tsuchiya confirm Matsui and Kenta Yamashita (2016 F3 champion) to drive Vivac 86

https://supergtworld.wordpress.com/2...ivac-86-in-17/

[Japanese Samurai]

Twitter rumor.
GTA will introduce FCY (Full Course Yellow) from Okayama official test of next season.
https://twitter.com/Takanori_JJ/stat...21912517836800

[MagVanisher]

That'll be for the whole season, Japanese Samurai?

[Japanese Samurai]

Originally Posted by MagVanisher

That'll be for the whole season, Japanese Samurai?

Yes. He tweets that he heard it from GTA staff. So reliable source.

[Japanese Samurai]

Takeshi Tsuchiya says that they will use car number #25 not #0 for next season.
https://twitter.com/VivaCxTSUCHIYA/s...58224753520640

[AkioAsakura95]

Originally Posted by Japanese Samurai

Takeshi Tsuchiya says that they will use car number #25 not #0 for next season.
https://twitter.com/VivaCxTSUCHIYA/s...58224753520640

Then no #0 car in the future ???

They abolished the #0 car or they don't want to use it ???

Sent from my Lenovo A6000 using Tapatalk

[hvr777]

Originally Posted by Japanese Samurai

Takeshi Tsuchiya says that they will use car number #25 not #0 for next season.
https://twitter.com/VivaCxTSUCHIYA/s...58224753520640

#25 is too sacred to be replaced I think, that number has very long history..
At 1999, as the defending champion (#25 Momocorse Apex MR-2), they kept that number and got championship title again through Morio Nitta.
Also, #25 seems synonymous with Yokohama tyre. At Yokohama's first presentation for Super Formula, they used red/black livery and number 25.

It's interesting to see if Team SARD will keep their #39 or use #1 next year.

[J Jay]

Some tidbits on the 2017 LC500, courtesy of Sam Collins:

- Because of the gains made on the engine this year, the LC500's development has focused on the whole car. In particular, avoiding the cooling issues observed on the RC-F has been a priority.
- TRD's simulations suggested that the LC500 would run the same lap times as the RC-F at Suzuka. Given the actual times, we now know that things are looking good for Toyota at this early stage!
- Despite the sleeker look of the LC500, it retains the same frontal area as the RC-F as per the regulations. In fact, the current aero figures (adjusted for the mandated changes) are similar to the outgoing RC-F's.

[TF110]

Originally Posted by J Jay

Some tidbits on the 2017 LC500, courtesy of Sam Collins:

- Because of the gains made on the engine this year, the LC500's development has focused on the whole car. In particular, avoiding the cooling issues observed on the RC-F has been a priority.
- TRD's simulations suggested that the LC500 would run the same lap times as the RC-F at Suzuka. Given the actual times, we now know that things are looking good for Toyota at this early stage!
- Despite the sleeker look of the LC500, it retains the same frontal area as the RC-F as per the regulations. In fact, the current aero figures (adjusted for the mandated changes) are similar to the outgoing RC-F's.

Sounds good for the Lexus. So they haven't lost much aero performance? Looking good in testing too.

[J Jay]

Originally Posted by TF110

Sounds good for the Lexus. So they haven't lost much aero performance? Looking good in testing too.

The head of project at TRD (sorry, I've forgotten his name already) said that although the 25% downforce cut relative to this year's car had a negative impact, they expect to get a significant amount of that back from aero work in the off-season, so the deficit will be significantly lower than 25% by the start of the season. The focus has also shifted towards efficiency rather than outright downforce, particularly to avoid the cooling issues of the RC-F. TRD also have full use of the 50%-scale Furyusha wind tunnel (that was Dome's) whereas they could only use it 30% of the time for the RC-F.

With the LC500 already lapping Suzuka ~1s faster than predicted, the car's showing stronger pace than the TRD expected at this stage. If Nismo and HRC are making similar progress with the 2017 GT-R & NSX-GT, GT500 may not be slower even around the tighter circuits - the predicted time loss [for the LC500] around Okayama/Sugo is only ~0.8s/lap, and IIRC no car has tested there yet.

[Baliwa]

so next year, no info about Acura NSX GT3 race on Japan? and any prediction about both M6 GT3 will they have better year next time? Even I as Studie fans can say this is not their good year.

[AkioAsakura95]

Originally Posted by Baliwa

so next year, no info about Acura NSX GT3 race on Japan? and any prediction about both M6 GT3 will they have better year next time? Even I as Studie fans can say this is not their good year.

@Baliwa

I think no Acura NSX GT3 race on Japan next year because they still think that it's a work-in-progress or the car is still on development stage and therefore won't invest on the GT3 program until they see results and they stated that NSX GT3 for customer team need to wait at least 2018

https://www.racer.com/imsa/item/1363...-s-nsx-testing

As BMW M6 GT3 , I hoped there have big update for the next season especially bodyshell for M6 GT3 as there is many issue of BMW M6 GT3 like engine trouble , cooling issues and so on.

@TF110

Do you agree this status as shown as above ????

[hvr777]

Originally Posted by Baliwa

so next year, no info about Acura NSX GT3 race on Japan? and any prediction about both M6 GT3 will they have better year next time? Even I as Studie fans can say this is not their good year.

Not yet, so far only 4 Acura NSX GT3 in US for next year, 2 cars for Pirelli World Challenge and another 2 cars for IMSA at GTD class.

[TF110]

The drivers were saying the low speed turns is where they were losing out. But with these guys may be making up for most of the downforce it should be about even with this year's times. And they'll be faster on the straights, so Fuji should have really high top speeds.

[TF110]

They usually update the GT3's each year, so I would guess BMW will do the same.

[carbsmith]

So since the 2014 championship in GT300 being decided on points tie between the Goodsmile Racing Z4 and Gainer SLS, neither the #4 nor #11 team's Mercedes' have won a race or finished higher than 5th in the standings (and that's only from ARTA losing out on the doubleheader format). Leon Racing's win at Okayama this season is Mercedes' only one in two seasons either.

I'll be curious to see if either considers a car change.

[Matt]

My prediction is that there will be some drivers in some cars.



I really wish this series had like, sixteen rounds instead of 8. 8 just seems so little.

[FormulaFox]

Originally Posted by Matt

I really wish this series had like, sixteen rounds instead of 8. 8 just seems so little.

I think it's fair to say that keeping the number of rounds down keeps the costs down - GT500 in particular has tended to generate had a lot of complaints from teams about running costs over the years.

[J Jay]

Originally Posted by FormulaFox

I think it's fair to say that keeping the number of rounds down keeps the costs down - GT500 in particular has tended to generate had a lot of complaints from teams about running costs over the years.

Yeah, let's not forget this. After all, the main reason the DTM regs were adopted was because all three manufacturers wanted to stem the spiralling costs without losing face to each other. The double-header was great to watch, but it was due to extraordinary circumstances and all the teams had plenty of notice to make any extra preparations. I seriously doubt that it would run as smoothly if it were to become the norm.

Hopefully the push for international recognition (for which Bandoh deserves great praise) frees up the purses a bit and the series can be expanded to 10 rounds, which should be within the means of most of the regular GT300 teams as well.

Originally Posted by chunder

My question has always been in this series.

How on earth do you restrict something like a Lambo or AMG Merc down to 300hp!!!

Or are they silhouette cars with normal Japanese engines in them? It's been going on for years in the 300 class, and I have never quite understood the rules of that class! Using V8 engines and engines that produce 600HP in the big cars or in GT racing, yet here are somehow restricted to 300!

To add to the previous explanations, maybe in the first few seasons the plan was to try and keep the two classes at 500hp and 300hp respectively, but if that was the case then it was quickly abandoned. The class names are just a holdover from that time. Even the JAF/MC cars make closer to 400hp now, so clearly for them to be balanced against much heavier cars, the GT3's BoP must be similar to VLN/Blancpain (i.e. 500+hp).

For instance, if you were going to rename the top class more accurately then it would be called GT700...

[rjoconnell]

What a season 2016 was. I really can't wait for 2017.

[TF110]

I agree with the low race count being a bummer. 10 rounds would be a lot better. Maybe other parts of eastern Asia could host a round in the future.

[MagVanisher]

Originally Posted by TF110

I agree with the low race count being a bummer. 10 rounds would be a lot better. Maybe other parts of eastern Asia could host a round in the future.

To be fair, 10 rounds would be a fair number so I agree with you there.

[Matt]

Originally Posted by TF110

I agree with the low race count being a bummer. 10 rounds would be a lot better. Maybe other parts of eastern Asia could host a round in the future.

10 rounds with two races a weekend.

200km race Saturday, whatever the normal distance is on Sunday.

[MagVanisher]

I think a 250km or 300km race for Saturday and Sunday will work well. I mean, the double-header race at Motegi was successful.

[bentley speed 8]

Racing overseas though might be too expensive for some of the smaller teams. Many do not make the trip the Thailand already