1997 All Japan Grand Touring Car Championship Explained

The 1997 All Japan Grand Touring Car Championship was the fifth season of the All-Japan GT Championship, now known as the Super GT Series, and the 15th season of top-level Japanese sports car racing dating back to the formation of the previous All-Japan Endurance/Sports Prototype Championship.Michael Krumm and Pedro de la Rosa won the GT500 class championship for Toyota Castrol Team in the #36 Castrol TOM's Supra. Hideo Fukuyama and Manabu Orido won the GT300 class championship for Racing Project Bandoh in the #19 Nissan Silvia.

The GT500 Drivers' Championship was decided on a tiebreaker for the first time in JGTC/Super GT history. The duo of De la Rosa and Krumm, and Toyota Team SARD driver Masami Kageyama each scored 67 points, with two victories, and one second place finish. But a third-place finish for De la Rosa and Krumm broke the tie, giving them the championship for the Toyota Castrol Team. De la Rosa became the first driver to win both the GT500 Drivers' Championship, and the Japanese Top Formula Championship in Formula Nippon (now Super Formula), in the same calendar year.

For the second year in a row, the GT Association (GTA) held a non-championship all-star race at the end of the year. The race was held at the new Twin Ring Motegi circuit which had opened earlier in the year. Instead of using the 4.801-kilometre road course, the series raced around the 2.414 km superspeedway oval with cone chicanes installed around the banked corners. The circuit, now known as Mobility Resort Motegi, staged its first championship race the following year and has remained on the JGTC/Super GT schedule ever since.

Drivers and teams

GT500

EntrantTeam NameMakeCarEngineDriversTyreRounds
NISMOZEXEL SkylineNissanNissan Skyline GT-RNissan RB26DETT 2.6 L Twin Turbo I62 Aguri SuzukiAll
Érik Comas1, 3–6, NC
Marco Apicella2
KURE R33556 Masahiko KageyamaAll
Masahiko KondoAll
Hasemi MotorsportsUnisia JECS SkylineNissanNissan Skyline GT-RNissan RB26DETT 2.6 L Twin Turbo I63 Masahiro HasemiAll
Tetsuya TanakaAll
Suzuki BankinAdvan Porsche (1)
Alpha Computer Porsche (2, 4–5)
Dunlop Porsche (3, 6)
PorschePorsche 993 GT2Porsche M64/81 3.6 L Turbo F64 Tatsuhiko Kaneumi (1–2)
(3–6)
All
Mitsutake KomaAll
Team 5ZIGEN5ZIGEN SupraToyotaToyota SupraToyota 3S-GT 2.0 L Turbo I45 Eiichi TajimaAll
Marc Goossens1–6
Hiro MatsushitaNC
Power CraftPower Craft TRD SupraToyotaToyota SupraToyota 3S-GT 2.0 L Turbo I48 Bertrand Gachot1–2
Paul Belmondo1–2
Wayne Gardner3–4, 6, NC
Naoki Nagasaka3, 5, 6
Tom Kristensen4–5, NC
Team TMSChateraise Porsche GT2PorschePorsche 993 GT2Porsche M64/81 3.6 L Turbo F610 Kaoru IidaAll
Ralph FirmanAll
Hoshino RacingCalsonic SkylineNissanNissan Skyline GT-RNissan RB26DETT 2.6 L Twin Turbo I612 Satoshi Motoyama1–6
Kazuyoshi Hoshino1, 3–6, NC
Fuminori Mizuno2
Takeshi TsuchiyaNC
Endless SportsEndless Advan GT-RNissanNissan Skyline GT-RNissan RB26DETT 2.6 L Twin Turbo I613 Mitsuhiro KinoshitaAll
Yasushi Kikuchi1
Mitsuo Fujimura2–6
Mugen + Dome Projectavex Dome Mugen NSXHondaHonda NSXHonda C32B 3.5 L V618 Takuya Kurosawa2–6, NC
Katsumi Yamamoto2–6, NC
Team Take OneSOK PorschePorschePorsche 993 GT2Porsche M64/81 3.6 L Turbo F630 Yoji YamadaAll
Kazuo MogiAll
Team Taisan AdvanSTP Taisan Porsche GT2PorschePorsche 993 GT2Porsche M64/81 3.6 L Turbo F634 Keiichi Tsuchiya3–4
Hideshi Matsuda3–4
STP Taisan Advan ViperDodgeDodge Viper GTS-RDodge Viper 8.0 L V10 Keiichi Tsuchiya5–6, NC
Hideshi Matsuda5–6, NC
Toyota Castrol TeamCastrol TOM's SupraToyotaToyota SupraToyota 3S-GT 2.0 L Turbo I436 Michael Krumm1–6
Pedro de la Rosa1–6
Masanori SekiyaNC
Ukyo KatayamaNC
37 Toshio SuzukiAll
Masanori Sekiya1–6
Shingo TachiNC
Castrol Cerumo SupraToyotaToyota SupraToyota 3S-GT 2.0 L Turbo I438 Hironori TakeuchiAll
Katsutomo KaneishiAll
Toyota Team SARDDenso SARD SupraToyotaToyota SupraToyota 3S-GT 2.0 L Turbo I439 Masami KageyamaAll
Olivier Grouillard1
Tatsuya Tanigawa2–6, NC
Susuki Racing MechanicsAdvance Auto GT CamaroChevroletChevrolet CamaroChevrolet 6.0 L V847 Masato Yamamoto4
Katsuhiko Okamoto4
Team LeMansNissan 300ZX-GTSNissanNissan Fairlady Z LMNissan VH45DE 4.5 L V875 Yuji Tachikawa1–2
Tsuyoshi Takahashi1–2
JLOC CorsaJLOC Diablo GTRLamborghiniLamborghini Diablo GTRLamborghini L532 6.0 L V1288 Takao Wada2–6, NC
Hisashi Wada2–6, NC
Team Kunimitsu with MooncraftRaybrig NSXHondaHonda NSXHonda C32B 3.5 L V6100 Kunimitsu Takahashi2–6, NC
Akira Iida2–6, NC
Ryowa House Pacific Team CerumoRH Cerumo SupraToyotaToyota SupraToyota 3S-GT 2.0 L Turbo I4510 Bertrand Gachot3–6
Paul Belmondo3–6

GT300

EntrantTeam NameMakeCarEngineDriversTyreRounds
KRAFTWise Sports Dunlop BP MR2ToyotaToyota MR2Toyota 3S-GE 2.0 L I46 Hiroki Katoh1–6
Takahiro Fujita1–6
Wise Sports Dunlop BP CavalierToyota Cavalier60 Kumi Sato4–6, NC
Minoru Tanaka4–6, NC
RE Amemiya RacingRE Amemiya SuperG RX-7MazdaMazda RX-7 (FD3S)Mazda RE20B 2.0 L 3-rotor7 Shinichi YamajiAll
Haruhiko MatsumotoAll
Team 5ZIGENPCJ 5ZIGEN RSRPorschePorsche 993 RSRPorsche M64/80 3.8 L F69 Tsunefumi Hioki1–2
Masaharu Kinoshita1–2
M Factory RacingMurauchi Kamei SkylineNissanNissan Skyline GTS-R (HR31)Nissan SR20DET 2.0 L Turbo I411 Hiromoto Ishimori2
Kinji Suzuki2
Kamco WorksKamco Workstation GT-RNissanNissan Skyline GT-R (R32)Nissan RB26DETT 2.6 L Twin Turbo I615 Takeshi Odagiri4
Takatoshi Onoda4
Team Power MagicYB BMW 318i CoupeBMWBMW 318i CoupeBMW M43B18 1.8L I416 Motoji SekineAll
Hiroyuki Iiri1–2
Toshiya Fujishima3–6
Kageisen Racing TeamTokyo College of Science and Arts RX-7 (1)MazdaMazda RX-7 (FC3S)Mazda RE13B 1.3 L 2-rotor17 Toshihiko Nogami1
Toshiaki Koshimizu1
Tokyo Polytechnic Institute Roadster (2–4, 6)Mazda Roadster (NA) Toshihiko Nogami2–4, 6, NC
Tomoyuki Hosono2–4, 6, NC
RS-R Racing with BandohRS-R SilviaNissanNissan Silvia (S14)Nissan SR20DET 2.0 L Turbo I419 Manabu OridoAll
Hideo FukuyamaAll
AI Auto RacingAI Auto GAB PorschePorschePorsche 993 RSPorsche M64/70 3.8 L F620 Kenji TakahashiAll
Hiroaki SugaAll
Hitotsuyama RacingDunlop BP BMWBMWBMW M3 (E36)BMW S14 2.2 L Turbo I421 Yasushi Hitotsuyama1–2, 6
Takayuki Kinoshita1
Kenji Yamamoto2–4
Mikio Hitotsuyama3–5
Mizuno Fuminori5–6
Hirano MotorsportHirano Motorsport R32MNissanNissan Skyline GTS-i (R32)Nissan RB20DET 2.0 L Turbo I624 Toshiyuki Hirano4
Hisanori Kuboyama4
Tsuchiya EngineeringAtlus Tsuchiya MR2 (1–2)
Tsuchiya MR2 (3–6)
ToyotaToyota MR2Toyota 3S-GTE 2.0 L Turbo I425 Masaoki NagashimaAll
Takeshi Tsuchiya1–6
Sakae ObataNC
Team Taisan Jr.Taisan Star Card RSRPorschePorsche 993 RSRPorsche M64/80 3.8 L F626 Keiichi SuzukiAll
Morio NittaAll
Team Ferrari Club of JapanTeam FCJ Ferrari (1–4)
Shell Ferrari F355 (5–6)
FerrariFerrari F355 GTFerrari F129B 3.5 L V827 Tetsuya Ota1–4, 6, NC
Anders Olofsson1–2, 4, NC
Steven Andskär3, 6
Team FCJ Ferrari28 Masami SugiyamaAll
Masahiro Yamazaki1–4, 6
Tetsuya Ota5
SignalFriends Nito Seaside SilviaNissanNissan Silvia (S13)Nissan FJ20DET 2.0 L Turbo I445 Takeshi Yuasa1–2
Kiyoaki Hanai1–2
Cobra Racing TeamCobra PorschePorschePorsche 993 RSRPorsche M64/80 3.8 L F651 Katsunori IketaniAll
Masamitsu Ishihara1–2, 4–6
Masami Sugiyama3
S.D.R.Che'Nelle Porsche SDRPorschePorsche 993 RSRPorsche M64/80 3.8 L F654 Nobuyuki Tanaka6
Kazushige Saito6
Sports Factory RacingCastrol RX-7 (1–3)
Castrol FS RX-7 (4, 6)
MazdaMazda RX-7 (FD3S)Mazda RE13B 1.3 L 2-rotor55 Toshihiro Fukazawa1–3, 4, 6
Masaaki Nagashima1–3, 4, 6
ecurie SiFoSiFo Spider Version GTRenaultRenault Sport SpiderRenault F7R 2.0 L I457 Hideyuki Tamamoto2
Michiko Okuyama2
Tomohiko Sunako6
Akira Yoshitomi6
Team GaikokuyaGaikokuya Dunlop PorschePorschePorsche 993 RSRPorsche M64/80 3.8 L F670 Yoshimi IshibashiAll
Nobuo KomiyaAll
SigmaTec Racing TeamSigmaTec 911PorschePorsche 993 RSRPorsche M64/80 3.8 L F671 Kaoru HoshinoAll
Masaki JyonaiAll
Makiguchi EngineeringWAKO'S BMW M3BMWBMW M3 (E36)BMW S14 2.5 L I472 Norio MakiguchiAll
Takeshi AsamiAll
Cusco RacingCusco Subaru ImprezaSubaruSubaru Impreza WRX STISubaru EJ20 2.0 L Turbo F477 Katsuo Kobayashi6
Naohiro Furuya6
NAC WestNAC West SilviaNissanNissan Silvia (S13)Nissan FJ20DET 2.0 L Turbo I479 Masanori Sugiyama2, 4
Hiroyasu Aoyagi2, 4
Team DaishinDaishin SilviaNissanNissan Silvia (S14)Nissan SR20DET 2.0 L Turbo I481 Nobuyuki Ohyagi (1–2)
(3–6)
All
Tsuneaki Mankumo1
Takayuki Kinoshita2–6
First Racing TeamBuddy Club MR2ToyotaToyota MR2Toyota 3S-GTE 2.0 L Turbo I491 Masahiro MatsunagaAll
Junko MiharaAll
Shimizu Racing EnterpriseCastrol Porsche (1–3)
Porsche (4, 6)
PorschePorsche 993 RSRPorsche M64/80 3.8 L F6333 Masatomo Shimizu1–2, 4, 6
Yoshimi Katayama1–2
Shigekazu Saeki4
Fumihito Sakamoto6
Tackle & RS MatsumotoPCJ Shiomi Clinic RSRPorschePorsche 993 RSRPorsche M64/80 3.8 L F6777 Katsuya Makita1
Katsuharu Shiomi1
910 Racing910 PorschePorschePorsche 993 RSRPorsche M64/80 3.8 L F6910 Seiichi SodeyamaAll
Kiyoshi Misaki1
Tomohiko Sunako2–3
Hideyuki Tamamoto4–6
910 TIB Porsche911 Shigemitsu Haga6
Kiichi Takahashi6

Schedule

RoundRaceCircuitDates
1Suzuka GT 300 km Suzuka Circuit29–30 March
2All Japan Fuji GT Race Fuji Speedway3–4 May
3Hi-Land GT Championship Sendai Hi-Land Raceway28–29 June
4Japan Special GT Cup Fuji Speedway9–10 August
5CP Mine GT Race Miné Circuit4–5 October
6Sugo GT Championship Sportsland SUGO25–26 October
NCNicos Cup GT Allstar Race Twin Ring Motegi15–16 November

Season results

Drivers credited with winning Pole Position for their respective teams are indicated in bold text.

RoundCircuitDateClassPole PositionRace Winner
1Suzuka Circuit[1] [2] 30 MarchGT500No. 37 Toyota Castrol TeamNo. 2 NISMO
Masanori Sekiya
Toshio Suzuki
Aguri Suzuki
Érik Comas
GT300No. 26 Team Taisan Jr.No. 19 Racing Project Bandoh
Keiichi Suzuki
Morio Nitta
Hideo Fukuyama
Manabu Orido
2Fuji Speedway[3] [4] 4 MayGT500No. 36 Toyota Castrol TeamNo. 39 Toyota Team SARD
Michael Krumm
Pedro de la Rosa
Masami Kageyama
Tatsuya Tanigawa
GT300No. 19 Racing Project BandohNo. 26 Team Taisan Jr.
Hideo Fukuyama
Manabu Orido
Keiichi Suzuki
Morio Nitta
3Sendai Hi-Land Raceway[5] [6] 29 JuneGT500No. 37 Toyota Castrol TeamNo. 36 Toyota Castrol Team
Masanori Sekiya
Toshio Suzuki
Michael Krumm
Pedro de la Rosa
GT300No. 21 Hitotsuyama RacingNo. 25 Tsuchiya Engineering
Yasushi Hitotsuyama
Kenji Yamamoto
Takeshi Tsuchiya
Masaoki Nagashima
4Fuji Speedway[7] [8] 10 AugustGT500No. 36 Toyota Castrol TeamNo. 39 Toyota Team SARD
Michael Krumm
Pedro de la Rosa
Masami Kageyama
Tatsuya Tanigawa
GT300No. 25 Tsuchiya EngineeringNo. 26 Team Taisan Jr.
Takeshi Tsuchiya
Masaoki Nagashima
Keiichi Suzuki
Morio Nitta
5Miné Circuit[9] [10] 5 OctoberGT500No. 18 Mugen + Dome ProjectNo. 36 Toyota Castrol Team
Takuya Kurosawa
Katsumi Yamamoto
Michael Krumm
Pedro de la Rosa
GT300No. 6 KraftNo. 19 Racing Project Bandoh
Hiroki Katoh
Takahiro Fujita
Hideo Fukuyama
Manabu Orido
6Sportsland SUGO[11] [12] 26 OctoberGT500No. 100 Team Kunimitsu with MooncraftNo. 5 Team 5Zigen
Kunimitsu Takahashi
Akira Iida
Eiichi Tajima
Marc Goossens
GT300No. 25 Tsuchiya EngineeringNo. 71 Sigmatech Racing Team
Takeshi Tsuchiya
Masaoki Nagashima
Kaoru Hoshino
Masaki Jyonai
NCTwin Ring MotegiRace 1–16 November[13] GT500No. 2 NISMO[14] No. 2 NISMO
Aguri Suzuki
Érik Comas
Aguri Suzuki
Érik Comas
GT300No. 910 910 RacingNo. 27 Ferrari Club of Japan
Seiichi Sodeyama
Hideyuki Tamamoto
Tetsuya Ota
Anders Olofsson
Race 2–16 November[15] GT500No. 2 NISMONo. 2 NISMO
Aguri Suzuki
Érik Comas
Aguri Suzuki
Érik Comas
GT300No. 27 Ferrari Club of JapanNo. 27 Ferrari Club of Japan
Tetsuya Ota
Anders Olofsson
Tetsuya Ota
Anders Olofsson

Point ranking

GT500 class

Drivers

Rank[16] DriverNo.data-sort-type="number" SUZdata-sort-type="number" FUJdata-sort-type="number" SENdata-sort-type="number" FUJdata-sort-type="number" MINdata-sort-type="number" SUGdata-sort-type="number" MOTdata-sort-type="number" MOTdata-sort-type="number" Points
1 Pedro de la Rosa
Michael Krumm
No. 36 Toyota Castrol Team1331211567
2 Masami KageyamaNo. 39 Toyota Team SARD2151137Ret12Ret67
3 Toshio SuzukiNo. 37 Toyota Castrol Team3633343264
3 Masanori SekiyaNo. 37 Toyota Castrol Team36333464
No. 36 Toyota Castrol TeamRet5
4 Aguri SuzukiNo. 2 NISMO14210931160
5 Tatsuya TanigawaNo. 39 Toyota Team SARD151137Ret12Ret52
6 Érik ComasNo. 2 NISMO1210931150
7 Masahiro Hasemi
Tetsuya Tanaka
No. 3 Hasemi Motorsports4296717Ret4337
8 Eiichi TajimaNo. 5 Team 5Zigen612Ret619Ret12171032
8 Marc GoossensNo. 5 Team 5Zigen612Ret619Ret12132
9 Kunimitsu Takahashi
Akira Iida
No. 100 Team Kunimitsu with Mooncraft16Ret161122101130
10 Hironori Takeuchi
Katsutomo Kaneishi
No. 38 Toyota Castrol Team79485102428
11 Satoshi MotoyamaNo. 12 Hoshino Racing14Ret515461424
12 Naoki NagasakaNo. 8 Power Craft74620
13 Kazuyoshi HoshinoNo. 12 Hoshino Racing14Ret154614Ret616
14 Olivier GrouillardNo. 39 Toyota Team SARD215
15 Bertrand Gachot
Paul Belmondo
No. 8 Power Craft1014Ret12
No. 510 Ryowa House Pacific Team Cerumo8511
16 Takuya Kurosawa
Katsumi Yamamoto
No. 18 Mugen + Dome Project17Ret18Ret17Ret858911
17 Marco ApicellaNo. 2 NISMO410
17 Tom KristensenNo. 8 Power Craft15410
19 Masahiko Kageyama
Masahiko Kondo
No. 556 NISMO511Ret14915Ret16Ret14Ret710
20 Wayne GardnerNo. 8 Power Craft715610
21 Fuminori MizunoNo. 12 Hoshino Racing58
22 Mitsuhiro KinoshitaNo. 13 Endless Sports813Ret11710128
23 Mitsuo FujimuraNo. 13 Endless Sports13Ret11710125
24 Kaoru Iida
Ralph Firman
No. 10 Team TMS127131319DNQ4
25 Keiichi Tsuchiya
Hideshi Matsuda
No. 34 Team Taisan with Advan1020Ret148612Ret4
26 Yoji Yamada
Kazuo Mogi
No. 30 Team Take One910Ret1212119584
27 Tatsuhiko Kanaumi
Mitsutake Koma
No. 4 Suzuki Bankin11819DNQ1618DNQ3
27 Yasushi KikuchiNo. 13 Endless Sports83
28 Takao Wada
Hisashi Wada
No. 88 JLOC Corsa15Ret17Ret1417Ret13913Ret0
29 Masato Yamamoto
Katsuhiko Okamoto
No. 47 Susuki Racing Mechanics18Ret0
30 Shingo TachiNo. 37 Toyota Castrol Team320
31 Ukyo KatayamaNo. 36 Toyota Castrol Team11Ret50
32 Takeshi TsuchiyaNo. 12 Hoshino Racing13Ret60
33 Hiro MatsushitaNo. 5 Team 5Zigen7100

GT300 Class (Top 5)

Drivers

Rankwidth=160Driverswidth=240Number/TeamPointsWins
1 Hideo Fukuyama
Manabu Orido
  1. 19 Racing Project Bandoh Nissan Silvia
902
2 Keiichi Suzuki
Morio Nitta
  1. 26 Team Taisan Jr Porsche 964
892
3 Masaoki Nagashima
  1. 25 Tsuchiya Engineering Toyota MR-2
521
4 Takeshi Tsuchiya
  1. 25 Tsuchiya Engineering Toyota MR-2
521
5 Kaoru Hoshino
Masaki Jyonai
511

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: GT Championship 1997 - Round 1 Qualify . 2023-08-25 . supergt.net.
  2. Web site: GT Championship 1997 - Round 1 Race Result . 2023-08-25 . supergt.net.
  3. Web site: GT Championship 1997 Round 2 - Qualify . 2023-08-25 . supergt.net.
  4. Web site: GT Championship 1997 Round 2 - Race Result . 2023-08-25 . supergt.net.
  5. Web site: GT Championship 1997 Round 3 - Qualify . 2023-08-25 . supergt.net.
  6. Web site: GT Championship 1997 Round 3 - Race Result . 2023-08-25 . supergt.net.
  7. Web site: GT Championship 1997 Round 4 - Qualify . 2023-08-25 . supergt.net.
  8. Web site: GT Championship 1997 Round 4 - Race Result . 2023-08-25 . supergt.net.
  9. Web site: GT Championship 1997 Round 5 - Qualify . 2023-08-25 . supergt.net.
  10. Web site: GT Championship 1997 Round 5 - Race Result . 2023-08-25 . supergt.net.
  11. Web site: GT Championship 1997 Round 6 - Qualify . 2023-08-25 . supergt.net.
  12. Web site: GT Championship 1997 Round 6 - Race Result . 2023-08-25 . supergt.net.
  13. Web site: GT Championship 1997 Allstar Race - 1st Race Result . 2023-08-25 . supergt.net.
  14. Web site: GT Championship 1997 Allstar Race - Qualify . 2023-08-25 . supergt.net.
  15. Web site: GT Championship 1997 Allstar Race - 1st Race Result . 2023-08-25 . supergt.net.
  16. Web site: GT Championship 1997 - Series Ranking . 2023-07-24 . supergt.net.