2023.05.08

GT Entrant Association holds a GT300 class-specific test event

　May 8th saw the start of a GT300 class-specific test event at Suzuka Circuit in Mie Prefecture, to which 21 cars participating in the SUPER GT GT300 class were present. Plans call for this test event to be held over the two days of May 8th and 9th for the purpose the participating GT300 cars to run tests using the carbon-neutral fuel “GTA R100.” This test event was organized by the GT Entrant Association and 21 of the 27 GT300 class cars in the GT300 class participated. And gathering to conduct the test runs were a full line-up of the regular participating team drivers.

 

　Based on its belief that there should continue to be a future for racing with real, strong engine sound, SUPER GT announced its SUPER GT Green Project 2030 roadmap in November of 2022, with the aim of cutting total series CO2 emissions in half by the year 2030. An important part of this program is adopting the use the “GTA R100” carbon-neutral fuel manufactured by the Haltermann Carless company by all cars participating in the 2023 series.

　However, following the Official Test sessions held in March at the Okayama International Circuit and Fuji Speedway, due to the variety of car and engine types, etc., among the GT300 class cars, some required more time to adapt to the new “GTA R100” fuel, so it was decided to extend the deadline for its use by all cars until Round 3 of the series at Suzuka.

 

 

 

 

　On May 8th (Mon.), the event was blessed with clear skies from morning, and the morning test Session 1 began at 10:00. Recording the top lap time in this session was the No. 61 SUBARU BRZ R&D SPORT. There was one incident when the team’s driver, Hideki Yamauchi, ran off the track at the Degner Curve, but after that he succeeded in recording the top time of 1’57.556. The second fastest time went to the No. 6 DOBOT Audi R8 LMS, while the third fastest time was recorded by the No. 88 JLOC Lamborghini GT3.

　The afternoon test Session 2 that started at 2:00 also began under clear skies, but just after 10 minutes into the session the No. 61 SUBARU BRZ R&D SPORT that had been fastest in the morning session suddenly came to a stop in the hairpin turn, which brought out the Red Flag. After that, Session 2 could not be continued. And as a result, the No. 30 apr GR86 GT was also only able to run nine laps.

 

 

 

 

 

　During Session 2, most of the cars actively conducted long-run tests and the like, and the fastest lap time went to the winner of the previous Round 2, the No. 56 REALIZE NISSAN MECHANIC CHALLENGE GT-R, with a time of 1’57.977. The second fastest lap was run by the No. 2 muta Racing GR86 GT with a time of 1’57.994, and the third fastest was the No. 6 DOBOT Audi R8 LMS with a lap of 1’58.035.

 

 

 

 

 

　It should be noted, however, that not all of the cars used the GTA R100 fuel in both of the sessions, and it was mostly the teams that had required more time testing with it at the previous tests in the Okayama official tests that spent more time using it again here. Meanwhile, there were other teams that did not use the new fuel today and will only use it in tomorrow’s tests. So there is a difference in the use by the various teams.

 

　Tomorrow, on the 9th of May (Tue.), there will again be two 2-hour sessions held from 10:00 in the morning and 2:00 in the afternoon.

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