A massive surprise from Japan: The popular SUPER GT series is planning to hold its first ever 24 hours race at Sportsland SUGO next year. We have the first exclusive details.
Update (April 1, 2021, 18:00) Some of you fell for it, others realized it after reaching the end of the article: Of course, this article is just an April Fools‘ Day joke. There are currently no plans for a SUGO 24 Hours race. We still hope you enjoyed our little „what if story“, though. Happy April Fools‘ Day, everyone!
A SUPER GT race twice around the clock? That dream could become a reality in 2022. According to GTA chairman Masaaki Bandoh, Japan’s premiere championship is planning to hold such an event at Sportsland SUGO next year – as long as the pandemic allows for it. In 2017, SUPER GT held its final edition of the Suzuka 1000km, which has been an official championship round since 2006. A year later, the traditional Suzuka Summer Endurance Race got transmorphed into a 10-hour race for GT3 cars in collaboration with the SRO, becoming part of the Intercontinental GT Challenge (IGTC). Ever since, the GT Association (GTA) was looking for a replacement. Born was the Fuji 500 Miles race, a revival of the classic and most popular round of the former All-Japan Sports Prototype Championship (JSPC).
However, the fans were longing for something different. After all, SUPER GT already has an endurance round at Fuji Speedway with the traditional Fuji 500km during Japan’s Golden Week. Thus, the series may hold its first ever 24 hours race in 2022. The huge surprise: Instead of going to one of the venues owned by the three in GT500 participating manufacturers – Suzuka Circuit, Fuji Speedway and Twin Ring Motegi – the GTA is planning to create a new tradition at Sportsland SUGO. The 3.737km long track, located about 30km away from Sendai in the Miyagi prefecture, is one, if not the most challenging circuit in Japan. Its old-school character is loved by the drivers and fans alike and created some of the most memorable moments in SUPER GT history. Moments like the closest GT500 finish between Koudai Tsukakoshi and Takashi Kogure in 2010, the legendary three-wide duel between Juichi Wakisaka, Ryo Michigami and Daisuke Ito in 2007 or Juichi Wakisaka’s bump-and-run pass against Érik Comas at the final meters of the 2003 JGTC round. The races at Sportsland SUGO are best described as “wild” and “challenging”. Maybe too challenging for a 24 hours race?
“It’s our goal to create one of the most challenging endurance races”, said GTA chairman Masaaki Bandoh in an exclusive interview. Not only does that goal require a lot of planning. The SUPER GT governing body is also faced with a lot of challenges. One of the biggest problems is the safety aspect, since the Yamaha-owned circuit is known for its short runoff areas as well as its narrow pit lane, which already caused multiple dangerous traffic jams in the past. For that reason, the circuit started a vast renovation project last winter. Split into two phases, it involves expanding the pit lane by two meters, renovating the west pit and relocating the medical center and vehicle inspection area. The second phase of the construction work is planned for November 2021 and scheduled to be finished in March 2022 and involves, among other things, a renovation of the east pit area near the first corner. In the future, the track owners are thinking about potentially relocating the control tower as well. The wider pit lane should guarantee a safer work environment for the mechanics and engineers.
Another challenge is night-time itself. Unlike Fuji Speedway, where Super Taikyu is holding the Fuji Super TEC 24 Hours, the currently sole 24 hours race in Japan, Sportsland SUGO doesn’t have any lights. “We’re thinking about installing temporary lights on the main straight as well as the areas with stands, to illuminate the track and make the cars visible for the fans”, says Bandoh. For that purpose, the GTA is looking into using environmentally friendly low consumption LED technology. Despite not having enough room in the infield, the GTA is also looking into giving the overnight staying fans the opportunity to camp at or near the track. It wouldn’t be the first SUPER GT race in the darkness, as earlier editions of the Suzuka 1000km finished long after the sun went down. Additionally, the series is planning to hold a race under the lights for its comeback in Malaysia, which got pushed back from 2020 to 2022 due to the pandemic.
Another issue could be the reliability of the cars itself. While the GT3 cars that make up the majority of the GT300 class are proven with events such as the Spa 24 Hours, the Class-1-based GT500 machines have never raced for longer than 1000km before. Bandoh: “We’re looking into supporting the teams, for example with minimum pit stop times.” That way, the crews should have plenty of time to check on the cars as well as replace worn parts like the brake pads. “From a safety perspective, we’re also having the idea of maybe implementing a mandatory tyre change rule, but we first have to talk with the responsible manufacturers.” For Masaaki Bandoh, the SUGO 24 Hours are supposed to be a competition between the drivers, teams, manufacturers and tyre suppliers alike. SUPER GT’s fierce tyre war means that the manufacturers don’t necessarily have long tyre wear in mind. If multiple stints on the same set of rubber can’t be guaranteed, the GTA could introduce the compulsory tyre change rule. Additionally, a minimum of three and a maximum of four drivers will be required per car with maximum stint lengths to ensure rest periods for all individual pilots. It seems likely that the three GT500 manufacturers will use some talent from their wider roster or even invite some international guest drivers.
To realize the SUGO 24 Hours, the GTA is facing a lot of challenges, which they’re tackling one by one. One of those challenges couldn’t be as easy to overcome, however. An urban legend says that a devil is living at the track – here cosplayed by apr driver Koki Saga –, who was the cause for all sorts of shenanigans in the past, resulting in lots of chaotic races, sudden weather changes and more. Unfortunately, Mamono wasn’t available for an interview at the time. However, through his manager he told us: “They better not disturb my beauty sleep, or else…”
The GTA’s dreams and ambitions seem big. A 24 hours race would certainly be a great addition and … checks today’s calendar date … oh! Well, happy April Fools’ Day everyone. I hope you enjoyed this harmless little joke. Alternatively, a 1000km race at Sportsland SUGO wouldn’t be such a bad idea, wouldn’t it? 😉
Copyright Photos: GT Association (GTA)