2021 Super GT Series explained
The 2021 Autobacs Super GT Series was a motor racing championship based in Japan for grand touring cars. The series is sanctioned by the Japan Automobile Federation (JAF) and run by the GT Association (GTA). It was the twenty-ninth season of the Japan Automobile Federation Super GT Championship which includes the All Japan Grand Touring Car Championship (JGTC) era, and the seventeenth season under the Super GT name. It was the thirty-ninth overall season of a national JAF sportscar championship, dating back to the All Japan Sports Prototype Championship.
TGR Team au TOM'S and drivers Yuhi Sekiguchi and Sho Tsuboi won the GT500 class championships, driving the Toyota Supra, after overcoming a 16-point deficit in the final round of the season.[1] The titles were secured in controversial circumstances as championship leader Naoki Yamamoto of Team Kunimitsu was taken out from a title-clinching position by GT300 class driver Ren Sato with 15 laps remaining in the final race of the season.[2] Driving the new Subaru BRZ, Takuto Iguchi and Hideki Yamauchi won the GT300 class championships for R&D Sport, giving Subaru their first-ever title in Super GT competition. It was also the first drivers' title for both Iguchi and Yamauchi, and the first for the R&D Sport team.
Calendar
A provisional eight-round 2021 calendar was announced on 7 August 2020.[3] Autopolis, Okayama International Circuit, and Sportsland Sugo returned to the calendar after a year's absence. The Fuji GT 500km Race also returned to its traditional calendar slot on the Golden Week holiday of 3-4 May.
On 9 February 2021, the planned rounds at Chang International Circuit in Thailand and Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia were cancelled due to travel restrictions. A revised schedule was released on the same day with all eight rounds being held in Japan, and with the addition of an additional round at Fuji Speedway in November and Twin Ring Motegi in July.[4] On 11 May 2021, the third round at Suzuka International Racing Course, which had been set to take place on 30 May as the third round of the championship, was postponed indefinitely due to a renewed wave of COVID-19 cases in Japan.[5] The race was subsequently rescheduled to 22 August.[6]
Circuits and dates
Teams and drivers
GT500
GT300
Team | Make | Car | Engine | | Drivers | Tyre | Rounds[19] |
---|
muta Racing INGING[20] | Lotus | Lotus Evora MC GT300 | GTA V8 4.5 L V8 | 2 | Hiroki Katoh | | All |
---|
Ryohei Sakaguchi |
Kazuto Kotaka | 2 |
Goodsmile Racing & Team UKYO[21] | Mercedes-AMG | Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo | Mercedes-AMG M159 6.2 L V8 | 4 | Nobuteru Taniguchi | | All |
---|
Tatsuya Kataoka |
Team Mach[22] | Toyota | Toyota 86 MC GT300 | GTA V8 4.5 L V8 | 5 | Yuya Hiraki | | All |
---|
Reiji Hiraki |
Team LeMans with Motoyama Racing[23] | Audi | Audi R8 LMS Evo | Audi DAR 5.2 L V10 | 6 | Satoshi Motoyama | | All |
---|
Yoshiaki Katayama |
BMW Team Studie × CSL
Team UpGarage
ARTA | BMW | BMW M6 GT3 | BMW S63B44 4.4 L Twin Turbo V8 | 7 | Seiji Ara | | All |
---|
Tomohide Yamaguchi |
Honda | Honda NSX GT3 Evo | Honda JNC1 3.5 L Twin Turbo V6 | 18 | Takashi Kobayashi | | All |
---|
Teppei Natori |
55 | Shinichi Takagi | | All |
Ren Sato |
Pacific - Car Guy Racing[24] | Ferrari | Ferrari 488 GT3 Evo 2020 | Ferrari F154CB 3.9 L Twin Turbo V8 | 9 | Kei Cozzolino | | All |
---|
Takeshi Kimura | 1–2, 5–6, 8 |
Naoki Yokomizo | 3–4, 7 |
GAINER[25] | Nissan | Nissan GT-R Nismo GT3 | Nissan VR38DETT 3.8 L Twin Turbo V6 | 10 | Kazuki Hoshino | | All |
---|
Keishi Ishikawa |
11 | Katsuyuki Hiranaka | | All |
Hironobu Yasuda |
Audi Team Hitotsuyama | Audi | Audi R8 LMS Evo | Audi DAR 5.2 L V10 | 21 | Shintaro Kawabata | | All |
---|
Takuro Shinohara |
R'Qs Motor Sports | Mercedes-AMG | Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo | Mercedes-AMG M159 6.2 L V8 | 22 | Hisashi Wada | | 1–4, 6 |
---|
Masaki Jyonai |
Ryosei Yamashita | 2 |
Hoppy Team Tsuchiya[26]
Max Racing | Porsche | Porsche 911 GT3 R | Porsche M98/80 4.2 L F6 | 25 | Takamitsu Matsui | | All |
---|
Kimiya Sato |
Toyota | Toyota GR Supra GT300 | Toyota 2UR-GSE 5.4 L V8 | 244 | Atsushi Miyake | | All |
---|
Yuui Tsutsumi |
apr | Toyota | Toyota GR Sport Prius PHV apr GT | Toyota 2UR-GSE 5.4 L V8 | 30 | Hiroaki Nagai | | All |
---|
Manabu Orido |
Yuta Kamimura | 2 |
Toyota 2UR-GSE 5.4 L Hybrid V8 | 31 | Koki Saga | | All |
Yuhki Nakayama |
Yogibo Drago Corse[27] | Honda | Honda NSX GT3 Evo | Honda JNC1 3.5 L Twin Turbo V6 | 34 | Ryo Michigami | | All |
---|
Shogo Mitsuyama |
| Lexus | Lexus RC F GT3 | Lexus 2UR-GSE 5.4 L V8 | 35 | Sean Walkinshaw | | All |
---|
Giuliano Alesi |
NILZZ Racing | Nissan | Nissan GT-R Nismo GT3 | Nissan VR38DETT 3.8 L Twin Turbo V6 | 48 | Yuki Tanaka | | All |
---|
Ryuichiro Tomita | 1, 3 |
Taiyou Iida | 2, 4–5, 7–8 |
Yudai Uchida | 6 |
Arnage Racing[29] | Mercedes-AMG | Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo | Mercedes-AMG M159 6.2 L V8 | 50 | Masaki Kano | | All |
---|
Masataka Yanagida |
Saitama Toyopet GreenBrave[30] | Toyota | Toyota GR Supra GT300 | Toyota 2UR-GSE 5.4 L V8 | 52 | Hiroki Yoshida | | All |
---|
Kohta Kawaai | 1–2, 4–8 |
Taku Bamba | 3 |
Kondo Racing | Nissan | Nissan GT-R Nismo GT3 | Nissan VR38DETT 3.8 L Twin Turbo V6 | 56 | Kiyoto Fujinami | | All |
---|
João Paulo de Oliveira |
LM Corsa[31] | Toyota | Toyota GR Supra GT300 | Toyota 2UR-GSE 5.4 L V8 | 60 | Hiroki Yoshimoto | | All |
---|
Shunsuke Kohno |
R&D Sport | Subaru | Subaru BRZ GT300 (ZD8) | Subaru EJ20 2.0 L Turbo F4 | 61 | Takuto Iguchi | | All |
---|
Hideki Yamauchi |
K2 R&D LEON Racing | Mercedes-AMG | Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo | Mercedes-AMG M159 6.2 L V8 | 65 | Naoya Gamou | | All |
---|
Togo Suganami |
JLOC | Lamborghini | Lamborghini Huracán GT3 Evo | Lamborghini DGF 5.2 L V10 | 87 | Kosuke Matsuura[32] | | All |
---|
Natsu Sakaguchi |
88 | Takashi Kogure | | All |
Yuya Motojima |
K-tunes Racing | Lexus | Lexus RC F GT3 | Lexus 2UR-GSE 5.4 L V8 | 96 | Morio Nitta | | All |
---|
Hibiki Taira | 1–2, 4 |
Kazuto Kotaka | 3, 5 |
Sena Sakaguchi | 6–8 |
Tomei Sports | Nissan | Nissan GT-R Nismo GT3 | Nissan VR38DETT 3.8 L Twin Turbo V6 | 360 | Takayuki Aoki | | All |
---|
Yudai Uchida | 1–5 |
Atsushi Tanaka | 2, 6, 8 |
Takuya Otaki | 7 | |
Vehicle changes
GT300 Class
- INGING Motorsport and Cars Tokai Dream28 merged into a collaborative entry in 2021, known as muta Racing INGING. The team retained the Lotus Evora MC GT300 vehicle, driver Hiroki Katoh, chief engineer Shintaro Watanabe, and the number 2 plate of Cars Tokai Dream28's entry. INGING brought on their Bridgestone tyre contract, title sponsor muta, and driver Ryohei Sakaguchi.[20]
- Both LM Corsa and Max Racing switched from the FIA-GT3 specification Lexus RC F GT3 to the GT300 specification fifth-generation Toyota GR Supra for the 2021 season.
- Team LeMans returned to Super GT after a one-year absence, fielding an Audi R8 LMS Evo under the 'Team LeMans with Motoyama Racing' banner while also transfer from the GT500 to GT300 class.
- R&D Sport changed from the first-generation Subaru BRZ (ZC6) to the new second-generation BRZ (ZD8) for the 2021 season.[33]
- Car Guy Racing returned to Super GT after a two-year absence, partnering with Pacific Racing Team to field a Ferrari 488 GT3 under the Pacific CarGuy Racing banner.
Entrant changes
GT500 Class
- Honda: Honda announced their Super GT driver line-up on On 15 January 2020.
- Toshiki Oyu will be stepping up to GT500 to join Team Red Bull Mugen, replacing Hideki Mutoh. Team Red Bull Mugen changed tyre suppliers from Yokohama to Dunlop. Dunlop will supply multiple GT500 teams for the first time since 2010.[34] Hirokatsu Tanaka replaced Shinji Nakano as team director.
- Stanley Electric replaced the defunct Raybrig brand as the title sponsor for Team Kunimitsu.[35] [36]
- Hitachi Astemo, a joint venture between Hitachi and Honda, replaced the defunct Keihin brand as title sponsor for Astemo Real Racing.[37]
- Nissan: Nissan's GT500 line-up was announced on 18 January 2020.
- Nobuharu Matsushita, who made his series debut as a replacement driver for the injured Shinichi Takagi last year, signed with Nissan to compete for Team Impul alongside Kazuki Hiramine.
- Daiki Sasaki joined Kondo Racing for the first time since 2016, partnering with Mitsunori Takaboshi.
- Jann Mardenborough was not retained by Nissan for the 2021 season.
- Toyota: Toyota Gazoo Racing announced their Super GT driver line-up on 22 January 2020.
GT300 Class
- Three-time GT500 champion Satoshi Motoyama returned to the series after retiring from GT500 at the end of 2018, driving for the newly incorporated Team LeMans with Motoyama Racing (see Team Changes below).
- Two-time GT500 and GT300 champion Masataka Yanagida joined pro-am Mercedes-AMG customer team Arnage Racing, racing alongside amateur driver Masaki Kano.
- Former Ferrari Driver Academy prospect and Formula 2 driver Giuliano Alesi made his GT300 debut with arto Team Thailand.[39] Alesi was initially signed as the team's third driver, but competed in all eight rounds after Nattapong Hortongkum was unable to enter Japan for a second consecutive year.[40]
- 2019 F4 Japanese champion and 2020 French F4 Championship runner-up Ren Sato made his GT300 debut with Autobacs Racing Team Aguri, replacing Toshiki Oyu.
- Super Formula Lights driver Teppei Natori made his GT300 debut, replacing Kosuke Matsuura at Honda customer Team UPGarage.
- Yuui Tsutsumi, signed with Max Racing to compete full-time in 2021, after driving for three different teams (including Max Racing) as a substitute driver throughout 2020.
- 2020 TCR Japan Series champion Takuro Shinohara made his full-time GT300 debut with Audi Team Hitotsuyama, after competing part-time in 2020 for two different teams.[41]
- JLOC signed GT500 veteran Kosuke Matsuura and GT300 podium finisher Natsu Sakaguchi to drive their number 87 Lamborghini Huracán GT3.
- Misato Haga, former team principal of Direxiv and the first woman to win a GT300 Championship as a team director, became the new team director of Drago Corse. Yogibo became the team's new title sponsor. Veteran GT300 driver Shogo Mitsuyama joined Yogibo Drago Corse, alongside owner/driver Ryo Michigami.
- Japanese F4 graduate Reiji Hiraki made his GT300 debut with Team Mach, driving alongside his older brother Yuya.[42]
- Super Formula Lights graduate Yoshiaki Katayama made his GT300 debut with Team LeMans with Motoyama Racing.
- D'Station Racing withdrew from Super GT at the end of the 2020 season, as the team concentrate on FIA World Endurance Championship campaign. While the Pacific team linked up with CarGuy Racing, the owner Takeshi Kimura race with Kei Cozzolino.[24]
Mid-season changes
GT500 Class
- Sacha Fenestraz missed the first five races of the season due to difficulties acquiring a Japanese visa. Sena Sakaguchi replaced him at TGR Team KeePer TOM's for these five races, before Fenestraz returned for the sixth round at Autopolis.[43] [44]
- Tadasuke Makino missed the first race of the season due to meningitis. Hideki Mutoh replaced him at Team Kunimitsu for the first race at Okayama. Makino returned for the Fuji 500km in May, entered as a third driver alongside Yamamoto and Mutoh.[45] From the following round at Motegi, Makino returned to the cockpit on a full-time basis.
- From the third race of the season at Motegi, TGR Team ZENT Cerumo chief engineer Kotaro Tanaka had taken over as team director from ace driver Yuji Tachikawa.[46]
GT300 Class
- With Sena Sakaguchi driving in GT500, reigning FIA F4 Japanese Champion Hibiki Taira was called up to replace Sakaguchi at K-Tunes Racing. Taira drove in the first three races of the season.
- Before the fourth race at Suzuka, Taira was replaced at K-tunes Racing by Kazuto Kotaka, due to an undisclosed illness, which was later revealed to be a COVID-19 infection. Kotaka also drove in the fifth race at Sugo.[47]
- Kohta Kawaai missed the fourth race of the season at Suzuka due to a positive COVID-19 test. 2011 GT300 champion Taku Bamba replaced Kawaai at Saitama Toyopet GreenBrave.[48]
- 2012 GT300 champion Naoki Yokomizo replaced Takeshi Kimura at Pacific CarGuy Racing for rounds three, four, and seven due to Kimura's driving commitments in the FIA World Endurance Championship.[49]
- arto Ping An Team Thailand changed its entry name back to arto Team Thailand after the first two races of the season, after Ping An Insurance abruptly ended its sponsorship of the team.
- R'Qs Motor Sports withdrew from the final two rounds after their car was heavily damaged in an accident during the sixth round at Autopolis.[50]
Results
The race at Suzuka Circuit was still promoted as the third round of the season, despite taking place after the July race at Twin Ring Motegi and being the fourth race of the season chronologically. Likewise, the July race at Motegi was still promoted as the fourth round of the championship, even though it was now the third race of the season chronologically.Drivers credited with winning Pole Position for their respective teams are indicated in bold text.
Championship standings
Drivers' championships
- Scoring system
GT500
GT300
External links
Notes and References
- Web site: Victory And GT500 Championship Glory For TGR Team au TOM's at Fuji dailysportscar.com. 2022-02-04. www.dailysportscar.com.
- Web site: Ren Sato: Honda's disgraced junior gets chance at redemption. 2022-02-23. www.motorsport.com. en.
- Web site: 7 August 2020. 2021 Super GT Provisional Calendar Announced. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20200930000937/http://www.dailysportscar.com/2020/08/07/2021-super-gt-provisional-calendar-announced.html . 2020-09-30 . 7 August 2020. dailysportscar.com. en.
- News: Super GT cancels Thailand, Malaysia races for 2021. Motorsport Network. 9 February 2021. 11 February 2021.
- Web site: Klein. Jamie. 1 May 2021. Super GT postpones Suzuka race amid COVID-19 surge. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20210511091355/https://www.autosport.com/supergt/news/super-gt-postpones-suzuka-race-amid-covid-19-surge/6506599/ . 2021-05-11 . 29 May 2021. Autosport. en.
- Web site: 4 June 2021. Alternative schedule of 2021 SUPER GT Round 3 Suzuka. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20210604060828/https://supergt.net/news/single/20933 . 2021-06-04 . 14 June 2021. Super GT. en.
- Web site: Races SUPER GT OFFICIAL WEBSITE. 2021-12-21. supergt.net.
- Web site: Races SUPER GT OFFICIAL WEBSITE. 2021-12-21. supergt.net.
- Web site: Races SUPER GT OFFICIAL WEBSITE. 2021-12-21. supergt.net.
- Web site: Races SUPER GT OFFICIAL WEBSITE. 2021-12-21. supergt.net.
- Web site: Races SUPER GT OFFICIAL WEBSITE. 2021-12-21. supergt.net.
- Web site: Races SUPER GT OFFICIAL WEBSITE. 2021-12-21. supergt.net.
- Web site: Races SUPER GT OFFICIAL WEBSITE. 2021-12-21. supergt.net.
- Web site: Races SUPER GT OFFICIAL WEBSITE. 2021-12-21. supergt.net.
- News: Honda Announces 2021 Super GT Teams & Drivers. 15 January 2021. dailysportscar.com. 15 January 2021.
- News: Fenestraz, Makino forced to miss Super GT opener. 29 March 2021. motorsport.com. 5 April 2021.
- News: Nissan Confirms 2021 GT500 Driver Lineups. 13 January 2021. dailysportscar.com. 13 January 2021.
- News: Toyota reveals 2021 Super GT drivers, GT500 grid complete. 22 January 2021. dailysportscar.com. 22 January 2021.
- Web site: Results . SUPER GT OFFICIAL WEBSITE . 6 May 2021.
- News: INGING & Cars Tokai Dream28 Collaborate For 2021 GT300 Entry. 15 January 2021. dailysportscar.com. 15 January 2021.
- News: Goodsmile Racing & Team UKYO Announce Unchanged 2021 Lineup. 18 December 2020. dailysportscar.com. 18 December 2020.
- Web site: Tandds SUPER GT OFFICIAL WEBSITE. 2021-02-18. supergt.net.
- Web site: Satoshi Motoyama Returning To Super GT With Team LeMans dailysportscar.com. 2021-01-29. www.dailysportscar.com.
- News: Pacific Racing and CarGuy Partner Up For 2021 GT300 Entry. 18 February 2021. dailysportscar.com. 18 February 2021.
- News: Nissan Confirms 2021 Sports Car Racing Activities. 13 February 2021. dailysportscar.com. 13 February 2021.
- News: Japan Sports Car Notebook, 8 February 2021. 8 February 2021. dailysportscar.com. 8 February 2021.
- News: Drago Corse Confirms GT300 Participation With New Title Sponsor Yogibo. 15 February 2021. dailysportscar.com. 15 February 2021.
- Web site: CORPORATION. TOYOTA MOTOR. TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Outlines 2021 Motorsports Activities. 2021-02-12. TOYOTA GAZOO Racing. en.
- Web site: Arnage Racing Signs Two-Time GT500 Champion Masataka Yanagida dailysportscar.com. 2021-02-12. www.dailysportscar.com.
- News: Saitama Toyopet GreenBrave Announces 2021 Racing Activities. 17 January 2021. dailysportscar.com. 17 January 2021.
- News: LM Corsa ditches Lexus for GT300 Toyota Supra. 20 January 2021. motorsport.com. 21 January 2021.
- News: JLOC Confirms 2021 Driver Lineups. 5 March 2021. dailysportscar.com. 5 March 2021.
- Web site: Subaru officially uncovers new BRZ Super GT challenger. 22 February 2021. www.motorsport.com. en.
- Web site: Super GT: Mugen Honda set for switch to Dunlop tyres. 2021-02-03. www.motorsport.com. en.
- News: 18 January 2021. Team Kunimitsu Announces Stanley Electric as New Title Sponsor. dailysportscar.com. 29 January 2021.
- News: 26 November 2020. Raybrig Sponsorship of Team Kunimitsu To End After 2020. dailysportscar.com. 29 January 2021.
- News: Real Racing gets new look as sponsor Keihin exits. 15 January 2021. motorsport.com. 29 January 2021.
- Web site: Super GT: Toyota's 'new' team facing same old problems. 2021-12-21. motorsport.com. en.
- Web site: Entry List Confirmed For Super GT Preseason Test at Okayama dailysportscar.com. 2021-12-21. www.dailysportscar.com.
- Web site: Super GT: Team Thailand clarifies Giuliano Alesi situation. 2021-12-21. www.motorsport.com. en.
- Web site: 44-Car 2021 Super GT Series Entry List Published dailysportscar.com. 2021-12-21. www.dailysportscar.com.
- Web site: 2021 Okayama Super GT Entry List Published dailysportscar.com. 2021-12-21. www.dailysportscar.com.
- Web site: Sacha Fenestraz Secures Japanese Visa; Expected to Make Super GT Return at Autopolis dailysportscar.com. 2021-12-21. www.dailysportscar.com.
- Web site: Super GT Autopolis 300km Entry List Published dailysportscar.com. 2021-12-21. www.dailysportscar.com.
- Web site: Fuji 500km Entry List Published dailysportscar.com. 2021-12-21. www.dailysportscar.com.
- Web site: SUPER GT: How Cerumo is adopting a more 'European' mindset. 2021-12-21. us.motorsport.com. en.
- Web site: 2021 Sugo GT 300km Preview: Summer's End dailysportscar.com. 2021-12-21. www.dailysportscar.com.
- Web site: SUPER GT: Saitama Toyopet's Kohta Kawaai to miss Suzuka race. 2021-12-21. www.motorsport.com. en.
- Web site: GT300 Champion Yokomizo at Pacific CarGuy Racing For Motegi & Suzuka dailysportscar.com. 2021-12-21. www.dailysportscar.com.
- Web site: R'Qs Motor Sports Out Of Motegi After Autopolis Accident dailysportscar.com. 2021-12-21. www.dailysportscar.com.