The 2025 AUTOBACS SUPER GT season will begin in less than one month.
The other day, this year’s first SUPER GT Official Tests were held at the Okayama International Circuit, where the opening round of the season will be held (April 12th, 13th), and at the tests we interviewed seven drivers who are the focus of particular attention in the GT500 class. Here we introduce their comments, as they look forward to the opening round.

The fourth driver we interviewed was Syun Koide, who won two races in his debut year 2023 in the GT300 class. This season he has stepped up to become a regular driver with the GT500 class No. 17 Astemo CIVIC TYPE R-GT team.

“Since I have been given this chance to step up to the GT500 class, I will be expected to deliver results from the outset. I want to do my best in the races to repay the team for their kind support.”

Shun Koide
No. 17 Astemo CIVIC TYPE R-GT

−−This has been your first Official Tests in the GT500 class, hasn’t it? Could you tell us your impression of the team atmosphere and you own expectations?

I have experienced several tests since moving up to the GT500 class. The tests this time were different from those previous tests in that the track surface conditions were a bit difficult. The temperature of the tires was lower and after the rain quit there were parts of the track that were wet and other parts that weren’t, which I found to be difficult. Then, at the end of the class-specific run in the afternoon I suffered a lock-up and ran off the track (having the wheels lock when braking, causing the car to slip and run off the track).

When that happened, I was really trying out a lot of different things. And the team gave me the kind of environment where I could take on the challenges I wanted to try, and I was very grateful for that.

Still, I really regretted making that kind of mistake and want to make sure it doesn’t happen again. I want to quickly reduce the number of mistakes like that I make so I can become a competitive asset for the team. Next, since there will be more tests at Fuji Speedway, I hope that will provide another opportunity for me to improve my skills in adjusting to the car.

This will be my rookie year, and since I have been given the chance to move up and drive on a team that has a good chance to go for the title, I believe that I am in a position where I will be expected to deliver results from the outset. But I won’t let that make me overly anxious. I will do my best to perform up to 100% of my potential so I can be an asset that contributes to the team.

−−What kind of car is this first GT500 machine you are driving? And what are your expectations for the opening round?

Although the GT500 class machines (unlike GT300 class machines) are not equipped with ABS or traction control, the machines themselves are constructed with such high-level technologies that they are very easy to drive.
However, when you are attacking hard, the wheels can lock during braking, or when exiting a corner, if your step on the accelerator is a bit too rough, that can cause the car to spin out, so the driver’s ability to adjust is really tested to the very end. In that sense, it is more difficult to drive than a GT300 car, but it also makes it fun to drive.
 
I think that the GT500 class of SUPER GT is the top category in Japanese motorsports and the drivers in this top class have tremendous technique. So, I have to catch up to their level, which means I have to reach the same level of skills. Since I am competing in both the GT500 class and Super Formula, I hope that there will be a good synergistic effect that will be good for me in both categories.

My senior on the team, Tsukakoshi, is so supportive, and he teaches me a lot. That really helps me, and that sense of familiarity makes him a great senior for me. He is concerned about me feeling at ease and fitting into the team. The team is also making kind efforts to make me feel at ease. About my mistake on the first day, he and the engineer looked at the problems with me from both perspectives of what might be wrong with the machine and what I as the driver might be doing wrong to find solutions, so I am really grateful for that. And this fills me with the feeling that I want to pay them back with my performance in the race.

Of course I want to get a good result in the opening round, and since Okayama has not been a bad track for me until now, I want to do my best in the coming tests at Fuji Speedway so that I can give a performance in the opening round that will make the team say, “We were able to achieve this result because you are with us.”

In the next interview, we will talk with Mitsunori Takaboshi, who has changed teams as an important presence for NISSAN. We hope you will look forward to it.