Lexus SC430 Attention will focus first and foremost on the new array of models from the makers. For Toyota teams, last season's winning Supra machines will be replaced by the LEXUS SC430. Despite being a first-year machine, it inherits a wealth of know-how from its Supra predecessor and is sure to be a top contender. Looking to drive the SC430 to a debut win will be the reigning champs Yuji Tachikawa and Toranosuke Takagi(No.1 ZENT Cerumo SC)and the new Tom's drivers Juichi Wakisaka and Andre Lotterer(No.36 OPEN INTERFACE TOM'S SC).

Maserati MC12 Another sure contender will be the Maserati MC12 (No.51) entered by Stile Corse, a satellite team of Team Goh, winners of 2004 Le Mans 24 hours. The drivers will be Seiji Ara and ex-Formula 1 driver Jan Magnussen. And you can be sure that the Xanavi NISMO Z (drivers Satoshi Motoyama and Tsugio Matsuda) team that came so close to winning last year's title, and No.8 ARTA NSX (drivers Daisuke Ito and Ralph Firman) will be back with higher performance machines to heat up the GT500 like they did last year. The test times they have turned in during the off-season are proof that they will be forces to contend with.

Nissan Z

Honda NSX

In the GT300 class, eyes will be on Shiden MC(No.2 Privée Zurich APPLE Shiden), the small-volume production GT machine by Mooncraft. Also in the spotlight will be the Ford GT(No.55 DHG ADVAN FORD GT, a state-of-the-art remake of the perennial Le Mans contender Ford GT40. And, although it is not a new model, last year's GT300 championship machine, the MR-S, will be back prove that its natural aspirated V6 engine is still the power unit to beat. Driving this super-advanced MR-S is "Mr. GT300" himself, Morio Nitta and his teammate Shinichi Takagi(No.101 MR-S). It is unfortunate that Garaiya and M-TEC NSX will not be competing this season, but that only brings more attention to bear on how Vemac, Ferrari, Celica and the RX-7 will compete against the new machines.

N.Yokomizo / De Oliveira As for the drivers, attention will focus on the pair of 23-year-old rookies who have just arrived on the GT500 scene. Known for discovering hot young driver talent, team NAKAJIMA RACING (No.32 EPSON NSX) has chosen Hideki Muto and Loic Duval, and it will be exciting to see what kind of an impact they can make on this year's circuit. Two more fresh races are Naoki Yokomizo and Joao Paulo de Oliveira (No.3 Yellow Hat YMS Tomica Z), who are also coming to the SUPER GT after making their marks in F3 racing.

With all these changes in the machines and teams competing in the 2006 SUPER GT, the opening round at Suzuka is sure to be full of excitement and surprises.