Japanese
OFF SEASON SPECIAL -1-
2013 season showcased exciting races one after the other, but now it’s over. Since this is a good opportunity, we would like to look back at the season from car’s perspective. Especially, the GT500 class will undergo a significant change in its technical regulation in 2014 season. Considering that the 2013-model cars will not appear in racing scenes anymore, it would be meaningful to review some of the technical achievements. In a series of six editions, we will look back at the 2013 SUPER GT racing cars.
First edition will take up the NISSAN GT-R. It was a disappointing season for a defending champion, one win out of eight races and with the sixth place in the drivers ranking (No.23 MOTUL AUTECH GT-R) being the highest rank among the model. However, the manufacturer had implemented many new ideas in terms of car development in an effort to overcome the chain of struggles. Let’s have a look at the changes seen this season.
Front grill
Rd.5 SUZUKA No.12 CALSONIC IMPUL GT-R
Rd.8 MOTEGI No.12 CALSONIC IMPUL GT-R
There were two types of front-grill with a GT-R emblem. At the Round 5 Suzuka, a mesh front grill was installed on the car which drew air into the engine. In the races in the later part of season, the grill was covered with a flat panel (picture is from Round 8 Motegi) and an intake vent was created just underneath. Contrastingly, the vent was covered up at the Round 5.
Front fender & mirror
Rd.2 FUJI No.23 MOTUL AUTECH GT-R
Rd.5 SUZUKA No.12 CALSONIC IMPUL GT-R
Not only GT-R but all manufacturers had come up with various new ideas for the back part of front fender. GT-R’s mirror had a unique shape. At the Round 2 Fuji, the front edge of mirror and the upper back part of the fender were separated, but they were connected closely and the mirror was added with fins on top and bottom at the Round 5 Suzuka.
Front spoiler
Rd.1 OKAYAMA No.23 MOTUL AUTECH GT-R
Rd.7 AUTOPOLIS No.23 MOTUL AUTECH GT-R
Evolutions as well as circuit-specific aerodynamics changes happened at granular level. The bottom edge of front spoiler (below the MICHELIN sticker) was linear at the season opener in Okayama, but it was a curvature at the Round 7 Autopolis. Front corners of the car at the end of the bumper that curved around to the side (below YOKOMO sticker) was flat and had multiple slits on it at the season opener, but it was simplified to two large slits at Round 7.
Rear fender
Rd.2 FUJI No.1 REITO MOLA GT-R
Rd.6 FUJI No.1 REITO MOLA GT-R
Rd.7 AUTOPOLIS No.23 MOTUL AUTECH GT-R
Top part of rear fender also changed its shape at each round. It was rather boxy at the opening round in Okayama, but at Round 6 Fuji the top end of vertical edge stuck up over the horizontal edge. At Round 7 Autopolis, it was changed once again to a wing-like shape with curvature on the side part.
Rear wing & diffuser
Rd.2 FUJI No.23 MOTUL AUTECH GT-R
One of the unique characteristics of 2013-model GT-R was the sawtooth edge (as NISMO called “Shark tooth”) at the bottom back part of rear wing endplate (back end of the drawing of a fish in the picture) and the back edge of the box on the diffuser (to the right of GENOVA sticker). This is intended to maximize downforce with minimal air resistance by on purposely distracting the air flow with this zigzag shape.
Side view
Rd.1 OKAYAMA No.24 D'station ADVAN GT-R
Rd.8 MOTEGI No.24 D'station ADVAN GT-R
Pictures show the difference of side-views between the season opener in Okayama and the final round in Motegi. Can you find what was changed and what was not changed?
| 4/13-14 | Round1 OKAYAMA | |
| 5/03-04 | Round2 FUJI | |
| 6/01-02 | Round3 SUZUKA | |
| 8/03-04 | Round4 FUJI | |
| 9/21-22 | Round6 SUGO | |
| 10/19-20 | Round7 AUTOPOLIS | |
| 11/02-03 | Round8 MOTEGI | |
| 12/07-08 | Round5 SUZUKA |