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News
2023.01.13
TOKYO AUTO SALON displays SUPER GT machines and numerous other models, plus a surprise unveiling of the 2024 Honda GT500 Concept Machine

TOKYO AUTO SALON displays SUPER GT machines and numerous other models, plus a surprise unveiling of the 2024 Honda GT500 Concept Machineの画像

The TOKYO AUTO SALON 2023, this year’s edition of one of Japan’s largest scale custom car events known and loved by car fans across Japan and overseas, was held at the Makuhari Messe International Exhibition Hall in Chiba Prefecture. Friday the 13th was Press and special presentation day, after which the event opened to the general public on the 14th (Sat) and 15th (Sun).
Again this year, the carmakers involved in SUPER GT, including Toyota, Honda, Nissan, and Subaru, and other related companies and race teams, mounted booths full of SUPER GT machine displays, talk shows and more.
 

→ TOKYO AUTO SALON 2023 official website

 

 

 

 

SUPER GT booths display three GT500 machines!

On display were the No. 3 CRAFTSPORTS MOTUL Z that won two races in the 2022 season and the No. 39 DENSO KOBELCO SARD GR Supra, while for Honda, on display was the Honda NSX-GT test car used for machine development.

 

 

The SUPER GT (GTA) booth

 


No. 39 DENSO KOBELCO SARD GR Supra

 


No. 99 Honda NSX-GT test car

 


No. 3 CRAFTSPORTS MOTUL Z

 

 

 

 

Honda unveils the GT500 Concept Machine planned for entry in 2024!

At this Tokyo Auto Salon 2023, much excitement centered on the Honda/Honda Access/Mugen booth. The Honda press conference held on Press Day on the 13th, was the site of a surprise unveiling of a Concept Model of the new GT500 class machine planned for entry in the 2024 SUPER GT series.
In his address at the press conference, Honda Racing Corporation’s President Koji Watanabe said: “Today, we are proud to present a Concept Model of the new machine that we plan to enter in the GT500 class in the 2024 SUPER GT series as the successor to the (currently competing) NSX-GT! Let us present the CIVIC TYPE R GT-CONCEPT!”, and the machine was unveiled.

 

 

The CIVIC TYPE R GT-CONCEPT, planned GT500 class entry for 2024

 

 

President Watanabe went on to say: “We have decided to enter the SUPER GT GT500 class with a car that carries the Type R name of our ‘pure sports models’ that symbolize Honda’s commitment to building ‘Cars with speed comparable to a race car and uncompromising driving pleasure’. Although this model is still in the development stage and can mostly show the direction the design will pursue, we want to give the Tokyo Auto Salon visitors and fans far and wide (going forward) opportunities to see it with their own eyes.” And although President Watanabe pointed out that the model is still in the early stages of development, the unveiled model had an aura that surely gave many viewers the impression that it was ready to take to the track for SUPER GT testing.
Furthermore, President Watanabe talked about this season’s SUPER GT, saying: “This will be the final year that we compete with the NSX. And in order to bring its record to a triumphant finish, we will make winning this year’s title an absolute goal that the entire Honda camp will be working together as one to achieve. We ask that everyone continues to cheer us on this season.” Voicing this strong commitment, he brought the surprise presentation to an end.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Presentation of apr’s new model LEXUS LC500h and the new team makeup! Subaru and BMW also outline team and organization changes for this season

 

 


The new model No. 31 “LEXUS LC500h GT300” debuting this season

 

 

At the Rays booth, popular for wheels not only for racing but also for production models, an introduction of the new makeup of the apr team that will compete in the GT300 class in 2023 was held. For about a decade, the team has competed with Toyota Prius machines, but on display this time was the newly developed LEXUS LC500h GT300, which will debut this season. As indicated by the “h” in the model’s name, the car that the team will race with this season is again a hybrid machine. Also announced was a change in the team’s driver lineup. While Koki Saga will remain the first driver, joining the team as the second driver will be the winner of last season’s Japanese Super Formula Lights Championship, Kazuto Kotaka. Also, chosen to join the team as the third driver is former Super Taikyu champion Yuki Nemoto, who is also an experienced performer on the European race scene.
Talking about the new driver lineup, Saga said: “I have driven together with Kotaka-san in Super Taikyu before for several years, so he is a partner I know well. And as for Nemoto-san, he has shown his speed in Super Taikyu, so I am looking forward with great expectations to having him on our team. Although this will be our first time in years competing in a car other than the Prius, we will be striving to perform at our best this season.
As for Kotaka, he stated his goal for this season, saying: “I am returning to a regular seat in SUPER GT to compete full-season for the first time in two years, and I have set my sights on winning the title and will work hard toward that aim, so I hope everyone will be cheering for us.” Then Nemoto, who will be competing in SUPER GT for the first time, commented: Since I will be a rookie, I will try to learn as much as I can from my two teammates, and since it is a new car, I want to try to do what I can to contribute to the development side as well.”
Talking about the new machine, which has already gone through a complete shakedown, the apr team Manager, Hiroto Kaneso, commented: “As for myself, I like this car a lot, and I also have an LC500 of my own, which I really love. This will be the first year of competion for this car, and I think that so much will come down to what these three drivers and we as a team can do.”

 

 


Drivers Koki Saga, Kazuto Kotaka, Yuki Nemoto and apr team Manager, Hiroto Kaneso with the No. 31 LC500h GT300 (from left to right)

 

 


No.61 SUBARU BRZ R&D SPORT

 

 

Furthermore, at the SUBARU/STI booth, the No. 61 car and this season’s team makeup were introduced. It was there that President Yasuo Hiraoka of SUBARU TECNICA INTERNATIONAL INC. (STI) commented: “As with last season, we will be competing in the GT300 class of SUPER GT. Last season we failed to take consecutive titles, but I think we showed performances worthy of defending champions. As for our team makeup, R&D SPORT and STI will continue to work together and compete with the BRZ GT300 as our machine. Masahiro Ozawa will continue as General Manager and Minoru Sawada of R&D SPORT will serve as Manager. Our drivers will be Takuto Iguchi and Hideki Yamauchi.” In short, the team makeup remains basically the same as last year. President Hiraoka went on to say that the team’s aim is to take back the title, saying: “In 2023 we will be racing with the new carbon-neutral fuel. In this new era of motor sports, we are determined to work with all our strength to prove that the BRZ has the right combination of environmental and racing performance, and to use it to take back the title.”

 

 


No.7 Studie BMW M4

 

 

At the BMW booth, an announcement was made introducing the 2023 makeup of the BMW Team Studie×CSL that took a perfect win from pole position in one round last season. The team’s race machine will of course be the BMW M4 GT3 again this year with Michelin tires. The leader of Studie, Yasuaki Suzuki, will also remain as team manager this year, and the team’s A Driver will once again be Seiji Ara.
Ara commented: “We have this strong team makeup, and among the cars I have driven, the M4 GT3 stands out for me as one with good speed and a great feeling to its ride. This year I want to see us take the lead throughout the season.” As for the B Driver this season, the team has brought in Bruno Spengler. Although the 39-year-old Canadian driver Spengler will be new to SUPER GT, he is currently active as a BMW works team driver, and being a former DTM series champion, there are great expectations for the contribution he will make to this team. It was also announced that the team’s C Driver this season will be the veteran Masataka Yanagida, who has previously won class championships in both the GT500 and GT300 classes. Yanagida and Ara become teammates again after having driven the GT500 class No. 24 Z machine from the fifth to the final round of the 2006 season.

 

 


The team for car No. 7 this season. The three men in the center (from left) are team manager Yasuaki Suzuki, Seiji Ara and Masataka Yanagida. Spengler was absent.

 

 

 

 

Full list of the SUPER GT machines at Tokyo Auto Salon 2023
*Car names and booth names shown below the photos, except for those introduced in the text above

 

 

 


No.18 UPGARAGE NSX GT3
UP Garage Co., Ltd.

 


No.23 MOTUL AUTECH Z
Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.

 


No.12 Calsonic IMPUL Z
Bridgestone

 


No.8 ARTA NSX (2007 model)
Bridgestone

 


No.6 Esso Ultraflo Supra (2002 model)
Bridgestone

 


No.25 HOPPY Porsche (2021 model)
ENKEI Corporation

 


No.19 WedsSport ADVAN GR Supra
WedsSport

 


No.100 STANLEY NSX-GT
Honda/Honda Access/Mugen

 


No.100 STANLEY NSX-GT (Test car)
STANLEY ELECTRIC CO., LTD.

 


No.56 REALIZE NISSAN MECHANIC CHALLENGE GT-R
ÖHLINS

 


No.14 ENEOS X PRIME GR Supra
TOYOTA GAZOO Racing

 


No.24 Realize corporation ADVAN Z
NGK SPARK PLUGS


No.4 GOODSMILE HATSUNE MIKU AMG
Saitama Institute of Automotive Technology

 

 

 

→ TOKYO AUTO SALON 2023 Official site

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