For the first time in two years, Super GT returned to Kyushu on the beautiful Autopolis Circuit. A few hours before the start of the 6th round of the season, GTA chairman Masaaki Bandoh held a press conference to confirm longer races for 2022, announce the introduction of carbon-neutral fuel in 2023 and more.
It was a wild comeback for the Autobacs Super GT Series at the Oita Prefecture based Autopolis Circuit that saw Honda’s first victory at the track since 2007 at the hands of the ARTA NSX-GT (Tomoki Nojiri / Nirei Fukuzumi). In the GT300 class, apr Racing’s Koki Saga and Yuhki Nakayama ended their winless draught since the 2016 Sportsland SUGO by taking a commanding first pole-to-win victory for the FR model of the #31 Toyota GR Sport Prius PHV apr GT that got introduced in 2019. The race was overshadowed by two heavy accidents, resulting in two Safety Car interruptions. First it was Hisashi Wada (R’Qs AMG GT3) who got pushed by Yudai Uchida (Shokumou Ks Frontier GT-R) into the barrier of Turn 11. A few laps later, the latter got was turned sideways into the barrier at almost the same location. Thankfully, both drivers left their cars uninjured, although Wada at first complained about a sore arm. Since both cars sustained heavy damage with both of their frames being broken, it puts the remainder of their season into jeopardy.
Introduction of carbon-neutral fuel confirmed for 2023
GTA chairman Masaaki Bandoh opened the press conference by expressing how happy he is to be back at Autopolis Circuit for the first time in two years. Thankfully, the recent eruption of Mt. Aso had little impact on Super GT and he’s glad they were able to hold the race. In previous press conferences, Bandoh talked about the plans to introduce carbon-neutral fuel in the future. He has now confirmed that Super GT is planning to introduce it in 2023, with the first tests by the GT500 manufacturers scheduled for 2022. Bandoh said he met with all three manufacturers on Saturday to discuss further plans. Since there are various names and interpretations of so called “e-fuel” or “biofuel”, they decided that it would be more appropriate to use the name “carbon-neutral fuel” instead. It’ll be ethanol-based fuel, which emits less CO2 than gasoline on all stages from production to consumption. The GTA’s goal is to reduce the CO2 emission. Masaaki Bandoh revealed that Toyota and Honda have already conducted bench tests using carbon-neutral fuel. The results were positive and the GTA thinks that it will be possible to use it within the correction range for the ignition system and power output.
From now on, the GTA wants to conduct various test together with the manufacturers so that it’s possible that even GT300 class vehicles (including the FIA-GT3 cars) can use carbon-neutral fuel in the future. Thus, the GTA will be informing the foreign manufacturers about their plans. The test by Toyota and Honda revealed that they need to review the rubber inside the engine among other things, but the results have shown that they can manage within the scope of such adjustments. Masaaki Bandoh revealed that they need about 200,000 liters of fuel for all 8 rounds with the Thailand round needing about 25,000. He also confirmed that Super Formula, which uses the same engines as GT500, is planning to use carbon-neutral fuel as well. The fuel consumption of Japan’s top formula series is about 50,000 liters per season, requiring a total of about 250,000 liters of fuel to be imported and stored for both series. The GTA hopes to find a supplier by the end of December this year.
Regular race distance confirmed to be extended from 300km to 350km
As the GTA chairman explained, it isn’t Super GT’s goal just to say that they’re making the championship eco-friendlier. Instead, they’re also asking the participating (tyre) manufacturers to develop technologies that take the environment into consideration. This includes the development of fuel-efficient engines that can be used for a long time as well as more durable tyres for a longer distance. In order to achieve these goals, Masaaki Bandoh confirmed that the GTA will increase the distance of the regular 300km rounds by 50km to 350km starting 2022. Said plans have been discussed several times this year, but it hasn’t been officially confirmed until now. Despite the change, the number of available dry tyre sets (editor’s note: it looks like the number of wet tyre sets will be reduced) as well as the limitation of two engines per season won’t change.
Masaaki Bandoh admits that while the carbon dioxide emissions will temporarily increase by extending the race distance next year, said emissions will ultimately be reduced once the carbon-neutral fuel has been introduced in 2023. They’re currently discussing if the longer distances will affect the wear and durability of the engines and other components. If so, the GTA is considering to reduce the Free Practice distance to lessen the burden on the teams and to match the total distance of this year. As Masaaki Bandoh explained, the reason for said changes is to make Super GT more interesting for the fans to watch, giving the teams various strategy options as well as promote more fuel-efficient engines and longer-lasting tyres, thus creating an environment where the developed innovations can be transferred back to production vehicles.
Relaxed COVID-19 restrictions for the final two rounds?
Since many events in Japan are seeing relaxed restrictions while some others even consider completely removing them, a journalist asked the GTA chairman if Super GT is considering the same for the final two rounds of the season. Masaaki Bandoh explained that they’ll allow up to 10,000 fans at Motegi as planned (editor’s note: it seems that the Mobilityland-owned circuits have higher restrictions than the other tracks). Additionally, admission to the paddock won’t yet be granted, so that the teams and other involved staff members won’t intersect with the public. The same goes for the required PCR and antigen tests for everyone working in the pits and paddock. However, the GTA has received a request by the Japan Sports Agency to prepare an area for the fans who have undergone a PCR test and they’re actually planning to demonstrate this. Whether said fans will be allowed in the paddock will first have to be discussed with Motegi’s organizers, though. As for the season finale at Fuji Speedway, the GTA is planning to require the same PCR and antigen tests for the people working in the pits and paddock. However, they’ll review the situation between now and the final race to see if it’s possible to open up again.
Masaaki Bandoh is proud of the original measures they have developed to safely conduct events during the pandemic. In cooperation with the Japan Sports Agency, they worked on holding F1, WEC and WRC in Japan this year, but unfortunately it wasn’t possible. Bandoh is aware of a statement by the Super Taikyu Organization (STO) asking if the Olympics why motorsports wasn’t possible while the Olympics were ok. He can’t deny this sentiment, but at the same time he thinks that the entire motorsports industry must first work together to improve the situation and fulfill its obligations before stating its rights – and they will make every effort to do so. No matter the restrictions, the GTA wants the remaining two races to be as memorable as ever. The Self-Defense Force is planning a flyover before the start of the Motegi round and aerobatics pilot Yoshihide Muroya is scheduled for another demonstration flight at the Fuji finale. Masaaki Bandoh would love to see him fly underneath the bridge on the main straight. While Muroya said he could do it, it looks like Bandoh has its doubts if it’s really a safe idea to do so.
Masaaki Bandoh reconfirms plans for a winter series in Thailand and Malaysia in early 2023
While the infection situation is under control in Japan, the same can’t be said for other countries, so the GTA can’t talk with promoters of foreign countries for potential Super GT races in the future, Masaaki Bandoh explained. In addition, the transportation costs have risen two or even three times in the current situation, so the GTA would have to discuss with the local promoters how to cover said costs if they would hold oversea races. Depending on the infection situation in Thailand and Malaysia, Masaaki Bandoh reconfirmed the GTA’s plans to hold a winter series between January and March in said countries before returning to Japan in April to hold the opening round in Okayama. However, no decision has been made yet. The GTA wants to be as transparent as possible, because if they would announce such plans out of the blue, the teams could be in trouble, that’s why they informed everyone involved about this plan in advance.
Copyright Photos: GTA