They'll be playin' hardball, because the title's already been decided!

No.8 R.Firman & D.Ito
As mentioned earlier, the GT500 Driver's Title has already gone to the ARTA NSX, earned at the previous round at Autopolis.
But, just because the crown has been won (for the first time in the series' 14-year history), does this mean that SUPER GT's swansong of the season will be a lame race?
No, definitely not - because every team is going for the win. Taking victory in the 100th SUPER GT event is surely something memorable.
This is why every driver gives exactly the same response when asked about the final race... "No team orders to be concerned about", "I can break the machine and it'll be alright", "Just gotta win!" are common answers.
The super high-speed course that is Fuji means the layout has many good overtaking spots - so not doing too well in qualifying isn't such a big setback. At the third race of the season, also held at Fuji, the No.23 XANAVI NISMO Z was 11th in qualifying - but still managed to win the race.
Also, the Lexus SC430s must want to get revenge after a Z-car victory at Toyota's home course earlier this year... Going all-out for the win will be the No.38 ZENT CERUMO SC430, which has suffered misfortune in the latter half of the season; and also the reigning champions in the No.1 Houzan TOM'S SC430 - both entries with a lot to prove and nothing to lose. Also, the No.32 car, winner of last year's final round - sure to be fighting for victory as well.

Given the fact that they're both in a good position, the No.35 BANDAI 00 DUNLOP SC430 (Masataka Yanagida/Peter Dumbreck) and the No.24 WOODONE ADVAN Clarion Z of J.P. de Oliveira/Seiji Ara - last year's 2nd and 3rd finishers in the event - these competitors are serious candidates for top results.

Another record for the ARTA NSX

No.8 ARTA NSX
As the title has already been decided, is the final race merely a throwaway event for the ARTA NSX? No, definitely not. The team prepared for the final race as if it were to be the season's deciding showdown, so their tactics for Fuji were already set.
In addition, there is still the Team's Title. If ARTA's only serious rival, NISMO wins, but the ARTA car finishes - even a lap behind - the Team's Title will go to the Aguri squad.
Apparently, Daisuke Ito has decided to focus on the offensive in every race, and they still need to achieve their 1 season-4 win goal.
Are they going to achieve something nobody's accomplished before in GT500 history?

Will it be the Shiden or the MR-S? The exciting GT300 final looms...

The GT300 class is, in a sense, even more exciting than the GT500 class - as the Driver's Title and Team's Title are both yet to be decided. Presently ranked top in the category, the No.2 Privée KENZO ASSET Shiden of Kazuoh Takahashi/Haruki Katoh lies a mere four points ahead of the No.101 TOY STORY Racing apr MR-S (Kazuya Oshima/Hiroaki Ishiura), and 10 points in front of the No. 62 WILLCOM ADVAN VEMAC 408R of Shinsuke Shibahara and Haruki Kurosawa, which itself is just 16 points in front of the No. 43 ARTA Garaiya of Morio Nitta/Shinichi Takagi - clearly showing that all four teams have a chance at the driver's title.
The No. 2 is presently ranked top in the category, with the No.101 a mere 4 points behind and the No.62 10 points further back. The No.43 ARTA Garaiya is 16 points off the lead, so has the slimmest chance, however all four teams are in with a fight at the crown in this, the final round. If the Garaiya is to claim the title, not only does it have to take victory on Sunday, all of the other three title candidates must also do badly! The No.43 crew has won already at Fuji of course, in the Round 3 event held at the same location - with Mr. GT300 - Morio Nitta, triple category title-holder, crossing the line.

A miracle could happen
Similarly, the No.62 Willcom Advan VEMAC408R must at least get onto the podium, though their title victory would depend on the results of the other teams in contention also - but Shinohara and Kurosawa have both experienced title battles before, so they definitely have a chance in this fight.
Considering the current GT300 class as a whole, a low starting position is difficult to overcome; so these 2 leading machines have to effectively manage their weight handicap (No.62 - 65kg, No.43 - 55kg) in order to finish in the top 4.
The main contestants for the title this season are the Privée KENZO Asset Shiden and the TOY STORY Racing apr MR-S.
They are only 4 points apart, so will get significantly closer to winning the title as long as they finish ahead of their rivals
Last year, the Shiden came into the final round ranked top, but ended up losing out to the RX7 on the final lap. They must be putting a lot into this race. Their biggest setback is the 70kg weight handi (success ballast), but they don't necessarily have to win - as long as they finish with a lot of points. The biggest rival to the Shiden is the No.101 TOY STORY Racing apr MR-S.
The pair of young drivers Oshima and Ishiura, despite their age, battled for the title in this year's All-Japan F3 championship, with Oshima coming back in the last race to take the F3 title. This experience and flow is definitely a plus for the young charger.
Their weight handi (success ballast) is 40kg, significantly lighter than their rivals, so they will probably try to put pressure on the Shiden by being aggressive in the race.

We can try to guess the outcome based on each of the team's prior records, but GT300 is the most unpredictable class in the already unpredictable SUPER GT series.
Maybe there will be even more drama than last year...