At the season opener of 2014, GTA held its regular press conference around noon on the race day where the Chairman Masaaki Bandoh answered questions from the press.
Chairman Bandoh first touched on that all of new model cars of GT500 class were able to show up at the season opener, “All fifteen cars got together at the manufacturers’ test at Fuji Speedway held at the end of March and made it to the season opener, and that were all made possible by each team’s hard work.” Chairman rewarded all people involved for their effort. He continued to answer a question about some small issues found in the common parts during the test, “New cars have more downforce and are faster around the corners. When you look at the style of racing, DTM is a sprint, but SUPER GT is semi-endurance, so going forward we need to pay attention on the durability of parts by collecting data.”
With regards to the event in Thailand scheduled in October, “Pavement work on the track surface has started from April 1st. I think they can invite FIA for an inspection in July. Since the circuit is in a distance away from (the capital) Bangkok, I will make sure the logistics (transportation of equipment as well as people) are sufficiently planned out. Everybody is working hard so that the event will be held as scheduled.” Bandoh expressed his confidence in realizing the inaugural event in the country.

After GTA’s press conference, Hans Werner Aufrecht, the Chairman of ITR that organizes the DTM (German Touring Car Series), a racing series that is in a partnership in the GT500 class new technical regulation, who was visiting the season opener, was invited in front of the media.
Chairman Aufrecht opened his address by saying “It’s a beautiful season with cherry blossoms blooming all over” in Japanese. “This weekend will be a special weekend for our friends from SUPER GT which will mark the beginning of a new era. And it is the same for myself too. That is because our initiative, “to create a joint general conditions (a joint technical regulations) for car races on different continent,” which we embarked on from four years ago, has made a progress. This will lead to assuring the future of what all of us put passions in, the motorsports. Cost reduction is an important issue in the motorsports as well as the automakers, and at the same time manufacturers would want to utilize the highest standard development effort they put in in the motorsports in their significant markets. Realization of this integrated regulations will make all that possible. Though it is only at a planning stage in the US, the vision is turned into reality in Japan. I definitely will enjoy witnessing the new vehicles of Honda, Lexus and Nissan out there on the track – and I’m convinced that the fans will feel the same. Already now I’m looking forward to travelling to Suzuka in August to once again enjoy the Japanese hospitality. Then, we will be here for the next Steering Committee meeting (a joint conference between respective organizations from Japan, Germany, and US) to keep on honing the regulations and talk about the first joint appearances of DTM and SUPER GT. I hope this weekend will be a fruitful for all SUPER GT race members and a full of fun for the fans.” He and Chairman Bandoh shook hands tightly.

Afterward, Chairman Aufrecht visited the starting grid just before the start of race and watched the GT500 cars, starting from No.6 ENEOS SUSTINA RC F on pole (photo at top). It gave the chairman opportunity to get firsthand experience of the enthusiasm of SUPER GT.