2023.02.07

Exclusive test sessions organized by GT Entrants Association at Fuji Speedway

　Prior to the anticipated start of the 2023 AUTOBACS SUPER GT series, an exclusive test event was organized by the GT Entrants Association, made up of teams participating in SUPER GT, on February 7th (Tues.) at Fuji Speedway in Shizuoka Prefecture, and turning out to run their respective schedules of tests were 15 cars that will compete in the GT300 class of this season’s SUPER GT series.

　With a series of announcements starting from November of 2022 by the three carmakers participating in the GT500 class concerning their respective team makeups for the coming SUPER GT season, and further details announced since the Tokyo Auto Salon in January of this year concerning the GT300 class team makeups, anticipation is growing for the start of this year’s series. While the three makers participating in the GT500 class have already begun their respective machine tests, the two days of tests organized this time by the GT Entrants Association were the first for the GT300 class.

 

 

 

　In these tests, 15 cars took part. Among them were the 2022 season champions KONDO RACING team’s No. 56 GT-R NISMO GT3 car and the 2nd ranked R&D SPORT team’s No. 61 SUBARU BRZ. Also present was the new No. 31 apr LC500h GT machine that debuts this season. Another team that will enter with a new team makeup this year was the ANEST IWATA Racing team’s No. 50 RC F GT3. And, another entry was Porsche No. 125 car of the HOPPY team that competed in SUPER GT until the 2021 season.

 

   

 

 

　On the first day of tests on Feb. 7th (Tues) held under cloudy skies, two 1 hr. 55 min. test sessions were held, with a morning session beginning at 10:00 and the afternoon session starting from 2:00. In the morning session, the fastest lap time of 1’35.814 was recorded by the GOODSMILE RACING & Team UKYO team’s car No. 4. In the afternoon session, car No. 4 again showed its speed by recording the fastest lap time once again.

　For many of these teams it was their first tests of the season, with some teams having newly signed drivers taking the wheel of their machines for the first time, and tire tests also being run as part of each team’s own test schedule on the first day. The second day of tests is being run on Feb. 8th (Wed).

 

   

 

   

 

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