2014 Japanese Super GT

[Deleted]

I digged up and JGTC used to get steady 50,000+ crowds for Okayama ten years ago, so not all can be explained by faraway locations. Meanwhile Sepang used to be in the 20-30,000 around that time, yet last year up to over 100,000 so clearly the international demand has risen.

Anyway it's only for good that Okayama, Sugo, Autopolis and even Motegi are used fairly less and primarily for domestic series, keeps them pure and out of harm's way.

[The IC]

Heh...just curious, did you find any numbers for the single round they held at Tokachi in 2004?

[Deleted]

31,300 which for that year was the second lowest after Sepang (how times change) and miles away from everything else except Suzuka 300km. But obviously those ain't bad numbers in itself and very well comparable with Okayama/Sugo/Autopolis/Motegi today.

Wish they still used that circuit, I'd axe the second 300km Fuji meeting over it anyday if 9th slot wasn't possible. Same for the 24h too, would be nice if it was revided

[Japanese Samurai]

Team LEON (#62) appoints Naoya Gamoh as the 2nd driver in the Motegi round.
http://as-web.jp/news/info.php?c_id=2&no=61033

[Matt]

Originally Posted by The IC

Okayama (T1 Aida) is out in the middle of nowhere, which leads to the lower numbers...F1 stopped holding the Pacific GP there after only 2 years for that reason

2 hours from Osaka isnt "in the middle of nowhere" though...

[Deleted]

Entry list for the final race is out
http://supergt.net/tandds/entry/2014/Round8/gt500
http://supergt.net/tandds/entry/2014/Round8/gt300

Taisan will return after Chang & Fuji 6h absence, as will couple of other teams. Very limited success ballast.

Meanwhile the new GT86 mother chassis has already clinched two victories in the Thailand Super Series, although against lesser opposition...

[Deleted]

Originally Posted by Chiana

Chang 2014 RD7 122,768
Suzuka 2014 RD6 61,000
Fuji II 2014 RD5 45,000
Sugo 2014 R4 37,000
Autopolis 2014 RD3 38,200
Fuji I 2014 RD2 89,400
Okayama 2014 RD1 27,000

Dang, those figures are otherwise in synch with this here, but 3 people difference in the Thai numbers - so close 765 it is

So 420,365 for 7xSat+Sun

[Japanese Samurai]

Stephane Ratel comes to Motegi.
GTA and SRO sign a contract about original BoP of GT300.
http://as-web.jp/news/info.php?c_id=2&no=61212

[Deleted]

Love how they need to make contracts for such things as BoP...

Also, we have 'Stefan Rateru' according to Google translate

[J Jay]

Well forgive me for stating the obvious, but JAF want more GT300 cars on their grids, and not just the semi-factory efforts we have now.

What's interesting is another mention of the "World Cup" that features heavily in this month's RCE feature on DTM500. Love him or loathe him Ratel is influential and it's wise to keep him on side, even if you want his cars slowed down a fair bit

[Bobby_status]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cpp2TRv1fXs

GT500 vs Moto GP kinda haha

[Deleted]

Well, that was pointless

[TF110]

Kinda related, Kazuki Nakajima has just won the Super Formula drivers title. He beat the Audi wec duo of Lotterer (his teammate in SF) and Duval in todays race.

[TheNo1F1Fan]

Originally Posted by TF110

Kinda related, Kazuki Nakajima has just won the Super Formula drivers title. He beat the Audi wec duo of Lotterer (his teammate in SF) and Duval in todays race.

Now I expect his SGT teammate to win the Championship.

[The IC]

heh...the TOMS guys would have to be a bit tense with their cars only one point apart in 1st and 2nd place...will be a bit nailbiting if/when they race each other for positon next weekend

[divxx]

Originally Posted by TheNo1F1Fan

Now I expect his SGT teammate to win the Championship.

This is what's been confusing about Nakajima's schedule this season. He's a frontrunner in 3 series at the same time, but first he skips a round of SGT to do WEC, then later skips WEC rounds for SGT commitments; why rule yourself out of both of those series? Just pick one over the other. At least he managed to get one of the 3 thanks to Lotterer's F1 adventure.

[Deleted]

Think the only reason he skipped Fuji and even more so Autopolis was as they were both essential Le Mans prepping up weekends for Toyota. In the post LM season it's less important to show up for WEC so it's understandable why Super GT was chosen as priority

Next year Suzuka 1000km clashes with Nurburgring in addition to Spa and Test Day.

Really hope Radio Le Mans does Suzuka again, but seeing as it clashes with that WEC one it's probably not gonna happen as additional broadcast (see Bathurst 1000 this year)

[MagVanisher]

Originally Posted by Chiana

Really hope Radio Le Mans does Suzuka again, but seeing as it clashes with that WEC one it's probably not gonna happen as additional broadcast (see Bathurst 1000 this year)

Agreed to that. If the RLM is bigger, they could cover both events.

[ss_collins]

Really hope Radio Le Mans does Suzuka again

Me too... or something a bit sooner (wink)

[Beryl]

Originally Posted by Chiana

Really hope Radio Le Mans does Suzuka again, but seeing as it clashes with that WEC one it's probably not gonna happen as additional broadcast (see Bathurst 1000 this year)

I like that they did commentary in english, but RLM were terribly unprepared (how they reacted to slow cars after pitstops was embarrassing, it took them a long time to pick up that Super GT doesn't use tire warmers) and lacked knowledge on the drivers. I like almost everything RLM does, but it's not really a loss if they don't do Suzuka commentary again..

[divxx]

Originally Posted by Beryl

I like that they did commentary in english, but RLM were terribly unprepared (how they reacted to slow cars after pitstops was embarrassing, it took them a long time to pick up that Super GT doesn't use tire warmers) and lacked knowledge on the drivers. I like almost everything RLM does, but it's not really a loss if they don't do Suzuka commentary again..

Agreed, I noticed it too. Found it kind of painful to listen to after a while. I'm sure this year's edition was an unexpected gig.

[divxx]

Originally Posted by Chiana

Think the only reason he skipped Fuji and even more so Autopolis was as they were both essential Le Mans prepping up weekends for Toyota.

Ah, that makes sense, I keep forgetting how important LM testing is.

[Deleted]

Agree that it wasn't RLM's greatest broadcast they ever put together, on bar with Daytona couple of years ago when they kinda messed it up towards the end with confusion, but for unexpected bonus coverage and for their preparation level on short notice, it was fairly fine. And the banter between H/G/C was enjoyable as usual

'Something a bit sooner', Sam? What, like full season of SGT?

[TF110]

A touch up on the Class 1/ American DTM http://www.racer.com/imsa/item/11078...-make-progress
Hopefully it goes forward but with some technical freedom.

[MagVanisher]

Agreed, technical freedom is needed for Class One. Of course, the problem for DTM USA is how to market those 2-liter 4-cylinder engined cars running at 600 HP.

They can't place it either Trans-Am, the Pirelli World Challenge, or even the NASCAR Nationwide series. Heck, they can't even put in TUSC for obvious reasons.