The current SUPER GT, which began in 1994 as the All-Japan Grand Touring Car Championship (JGTC) is now competed in two classes, GT500 and GT300, with a combined total of more than 40 “monster machine” cars that compete in nose-to-tail and side-by-side battles at points all around the courses. For example, at Fuji Speedway the GT500 machines can reach a maximum speed of 300 km/hr. It is such breathtaking high-speed battles that are one of the great appeals of SUPER GT, but they are also ones that can expose the drivers to high levels of danger.
This is what led SUPER GT during its JGTC era in 2002 to establish a rescue organization named “FRO = First Rescue Operation”. In the cases of crashes or accidents that occur during the races or track running sessions, 3-man units consisting of specialists for handling “drivers,” “fires & rescue” and a “doctor” are mobilized to perform immediate fire extinguishing and rescue activities and lifesaving.
Now, in the 25th year since its initiation, the role and activity contents of “FRO”, in addition to the menu of items adopted by FRO this season, the current medical delegate (medical representative = MD) Mizuki Watanabe will introduce his thoughts as the team doctor in three presentations.
SUPER GT medical delegate doctor Mizuki Watanabe (2nd from the left), born in 1972. Neurosurgeon and Director of the Spine and Spinal Cord Surgery Department at Seirei Hamamatsu General Hospital. In addition to serving as a SUPER GT Medical Delegate, who is also involved in medical assignments for WEC and WRC, etc., and Takeshi Tsuchiya, Director of Tsuchiya Engineering was a high school classmate. From the left of the photo are the FRO Fire and ＆ Rescue Chief Kazuyuki Matsumoto, Deputy Safety Delegate, doctor Yuya Kaida and FRO driver Chief Daisuke Yamawaki.
During the era of SUPER GT’s predecessor, JGTC, the cars were getting increasingly faster, and as a result there was an increase in serious accidents and crashes and resulting fires, etc. As a result, from 2001 consideration was given to strengthening the rescue organization, which resulted in the launch of “FRO = First Rescue Operation” in 2002. This was a race rescue system unique to SUPER GT, and the vehicles involved (currently 3 vehicles) were outfitted with fire extinguishing equipment, and equipment for driver rescue and lifesaving medical equipment and three doctors aboard the vehicles to perform medical treatment, and these vehicles stood ready at trackside during running sessions ready to go into action. At such times, the Race Control was in contact with the vehicles by wireless radio to give instructions that appeared on a video screen in the each of the vehicles.
In addition, the vehicles lined up at the very end of the starting grid behind the SUPER GT cars and ran the same formation lap, which meant that they were running on the most dangerous first lap of the races where the most accidents occurred. And if all went well, they would then go to their assigned waiting spots at trackside.
Currently there are 3 FRO vehicles in use, and shown here is the “Nissan Patrol NISMO” in use since the 1st Round of the 2026 season. In addition to the flashlights that were added on the roof and the front and rear grills, hooks have been added at the front and rear of the car for attaching lines to tow cars that have come to a stop on the course.
In addition to the fire extinguishers, oil absorbent, brooms, barrels, and anti-heat blankets, etc., for putting out fires and performing rescues, they are also equipped with medical equipment including cervical collars, BOA devices (*1), oxygen cylinders, etc.
When an accident occurs during the competition, directions go out from the Race Control room to send the FRO team quickly to the site of the accident. In cases where there may be driver injury due to a collision or crash, first of all the doctor uses a G (shock) sensor (*2) to verify the state of the driver. At the same time, the member in charge of Fire & Rescue checks the machine and the surrounding track area for leaks of fuel or fire to ensure the safety of the rescue operation. What’s more, the circuit Rescue Officials (4 to 6 persons) rush to the scene in the Extrication Car to carry out the actual rescue procedures.
As we think many people already know, the SUPER GT car has an opening specifically for rescue work in the roof called the “rescue hatch” through which the driver’s helmet and HANS device (a collar for supporting the weight of the helmet) can be removed. What’s more, before each SUPER GT event rescue training is held using actual SUPER GT cars, and done in collaboration with the Rescue Officials at each circuit continuing efforts are being made to improve the accuracy of the rescue work.
*2 “G sensor”: This is a magnet with a red mark that serves as an injector that moves in the direction of a shock. In the case of the current SUPER GT model, it reacts with a force of over 15G.
In addition to the rescue and initial medical treatment performed when a crash occurs, when there are cars that come to a stop at trackside as the result of running off the track or suffering a collision, another role of the FRO cars is to tow such cars to a safe place. * the photo is from Round 8 of the 2025 season at Motegi.
A scene of rescue training (at Round 1 of the 2026 season at Okayama). The men beside the car in dark blue + white antifire suits are FRO doctors, and the ones in orange and white suits are Fire & Rescue personnel. It is clear that all of them are seriously participating in the training.
In the same way that the SUPER GT Medical Delegate Mizuki Watanabe MD operates according to “Sporting Regulations” and “Technical regulations” during races, there is also the “INTERNATIONAL SPORTING CODE Appendix H” applied basically in FIA（Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile）events that FRO complies to in its rescue operations. Since there are such clearly stated “rules” that are explained to the teams prior to the season opening in a “Regulation Explanation Meeting”, thus giving the drivers instruction in “safety measures to be abided by”. What’s more, the FIA regulations include requirements for the establishment of medical centers, qualifications that the doctors must meet, placement of helicopters and ambulances, rescue training, and more.
Also, an announcement has been made just recently (dated June 25th) saying that “From this season formula cars must be fitted with a “BOA (*1). Because the cars competing in SUPER GT are touring cars, it has been announced that they are not required to be fitted with one, but since it is such an outstanding item, our FRO has decided to also adopt it. What’s more, there are also some cases in which FIA-F4 held alongside SUPER GT have already adopted it. Also, use has begun of a “Digital Shock Sensor” in order to increase the speed and accuracy of response when crashes occur and to increase the accuracy of the shock G measurement. Since this is still in the testing stage,” Watanabe MD says, “However this is being used in addition to the magnet-fitted G Sensor (*2).” Regarding the two “new items”, they will be introduced next time (the following 2nd session).
