Direxiv Co. Ltd. was a motorsports company that competed in Super GT and Formula Nippon . The company had links to the GP2 Series , then the feeder series for Formula One , and had submitted an entry to run a Formula One team in 2008 .
70-610: Direxiv Co. Ltd. was started in July 2004. The company operated a motorsport team, Direxiv Motorsports, that competed in Super GT and Formula Nippon , the top echelons of Japanese motorsport, with no results in lower categories. Direxiv also acted as a title sponsor for David Price Racing in the GP2 and GP3 Series . The company appointed former race queen Misato Haga as the manager for their race team, giving them increased attention within
140-551: A Formula One seat, with Alesi as team principal and Haga in some sort of advisory role. Direxiv and DPR would apply for a grid slot in 2008 in March 2006, facing other prospective entries such as Carlin , Eddie Jordan , Paul Stoddart and Racing Engineering ; in April 2006, the FIA announced that the final grid slot had been given to Prodrive F1 . A specific reason for Direxiv's rejection
210-562: A couple of rounds when Calderón was unable to enter Japan during the pandemic border restrictions. In 2022, 2021 Super Formula Championship runner-up Nirei Fukuzumi moved to the team, replacing Calderón, who departed the series after making nine starts across two seasons. Drago Corse entered Super GT in 2015 as the replacement for the Dome Racing Honda team. The team formed a partnership with Modulo, becoming Drago Modulo Honda Racing. Oliver Turvey and Takashi Kogure were
280-458: A few teams were penalised after the race ended when race officials discovered their pit stops came one lap before the mandatory window had opened. Perhaps the best-known performance balancing system in use in the Super GT is its Success Ballast system, also known as Success Weight and formerly referred to as "weight handicap". Weight penalties are assigned depending on a car's performance during
350-465: A managerial role upon his retirement in 2004. Other drivers who were famously associated with the series and still are actively involved in Super GT through team ownership are Masahiro Hasemi , Kazuyoshi Hoshino , Aguri Suzuki , and Kunimitsu Takahashi , with the latter being a former President of the GT Association, which runs the series. The series also attracts drivers who see the series as
420-581: A partnership with David Price Racing in 2006 to become DPR Direxiv , hiring former Formula One driver Jean Alesi as executive director and McLaren test driver Alexander Wurz as director of the team's young driver program. Direxiv also continued their involvement in Super GT, this time with Nobuteru Taniguchi replacing Miyagawa, sponsored Mitsuyama in Formula Nippon and Lewis Hamilton in GP2 among other drivers. Direxiv's intent to enter Formula One
490-531: A racer, founded Drago Corse as a racing kart team in 2014. In 2014, the team participated in the final two races of the 2014 Super Formula season with Takuya Izawa as the driver, achieving a best finish of 14th. For 2015, the team raced with Takashi Kogure for two seasons, finishing 15th in 2015 and 13th in 2016. At the end of 2016, Drago Corse discontinued their operation in Super Formula and Super GT GT500 as founder Michigami focused to compete for
560-422: A rarity in top-level circuit racing, are further examples of unique GT300 machines. They competed in their original configurations until the early 2000s, when FWD cars were being permitted to be converted to rear-wheel drive configuration. The FWD cars were mostly unsuccessful, failing to win any championships, although a Celica won a race in 1999 after a Porsche 911 was disqualified. Rear-wheel drive cars dominated
630-407: A single race in particular), the handicap system was changed in 2009 to combat sandbagging , discouraging a team from intentionally performing poorly in order to secure a more favorable weight handicap. The ballast is now halved in the penultimate race and lifted altogether in the final race for teams that participated in every round of the season. Teams missing only one round receive halved-ballast in
700-603: A single specification of car. After some delays, technical regulations were fully aligned in 2020, with the GT500 category fully adopting Class One specifications. By 2021 however, DTM switched to a Group GT3 series due to massive manufacturer exodus. Super GT maintained the current technical regulations for GT500, though the "Class 1" moniker would no longer be used. Super GT races take place on well-known Japanese race tracks such as Fuji Speedway , Suzuka Circuit , and Mobility Resort Motegi . The series also races at Autopolis in
770-417: A stepping-stone to Formula One such as Ralf Schumacher and Pedro de la Rosa , as well as former F1 drivers, most famously Érik Comas , who was the series' most successful driver until he stepped down from his position as a number one driver, and 2016 champion Heikki Kovalainen . After a one-off appearance in 2017, 2009 F1 world champion Jenson Button drove for Team Kunimitsu in 2018 and 2019, winning
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#1732793688057840-490: A trend that accelerated in 2010 with the introduction of FIA GT cars to the series. In response to the decline of locally produced entries from specialist manufacturers, the GTA worked with Dome to create the " Mother Chassis " ( ja: マザーシャシー ), a low-cost GT300 platform, with the first MC car entering the series in 2014. Mother Chassis cars utilize a standard Dome-produced tub and GTA-branded Nissan VK45DE engine, while maintaining
910-717: Is a sports car racing series that began in 1993. Launched as the Zen Nihon GT Senshuken ( 全日本GT選手権 ) , generally referred to as the All Japan Grand Touring Car Championship ( JGTC ), the series was renamed to Super GT in 2005. It is the top level of sports car racing in Japan. The series is sanctioned by the Japan Automobile Federation (JAF) and run by the GT Association (GTA). Autobacs has been
980-457: Is a spin-off company of Honeywell International Inc. currently supplies exclusive turbocharger kits including wastegate for all Super GT GT500 class cars from 2014 season onwards using a 846519-15 model. The turbocharger spin rev limit spins up to 150,000 rpm but not exceeding 155,000 rpm due to higher turbo boost pressure. Unlike GT500, both works-backed and independent teams compete in GT300, so
1050-449: Is becoming increasingly more difficult for GT500 cars to overtake GT300s, the GTA may review the speed difference between the two classes in the future, especially if the pace of the GT300 cars continues to increase. 2024–present (second generation) Converted to 4WD layout in 2006. Converted to rear-wheel drive layout in 2010. Super GT is unique in its open and blunt statement that it is committed to providing exciting racing first, at
1120-518: Is composed entirely of manufacturer-supported teams, representing the three biggest Japanese automobile manufacturers: Toyota , Honda , and Nissan . Since 2014, GT500 cars have been powered by single-turbocharged, inline four-cylinder engines with two liters of displacement and producing over 650 horsepower. The cars are silhouette racing cars with purpose-built carbon fibre monocoques. The advancements in aerodynamics and horsepower, combined with an ongoing tyre war driving even higher speeds, have made
1190-615: The GT3 cars in the class are closely related to production cars, the JAF-GT machines differ from production vehicles to a greater degree, and in the case of the Mother Chassis cars, share little more than a badge and exterior styling with their road-going counterparts. While engine outputs are at a lower level than the GT500 cars, the GT300 cars still post competitive times and races are relatively tight when combined with GT500 traffic. As it
1260-675: The Honda Civic Type R (FL5). Other models, such as the Nissan Fairlady Z , Lexus SC 430 , Lexus RC F , Lexus LC 500 , Nissan GT-R , and the Honda NSX (NC1) have been used, as well as the Honda HSV-010 GT , a prototype car developed specifically for Super GT with its planned road-going variant having been cancelled. In the earlier years of the GT500 category, a number of foreign manufacturers entered cars in
1330-569: The JAS Motorsport -run Honda team in the 2017 World Touring Car Championship . In 2020 , Drago Corse returned to the championship in partnership with ThreeBond. This marked the team's first appearance in the championship since 2016 . Tatiana Calderón moved to the revived Drago Corse team from the FIA Formula 2 Championship , becoming the first female driver in the current Super Formula era. Koudai Tsukakoshi replaced Calderón for
1400-635: The Kyushu region, Okayama International Circuit in the Chugoku region, and Sportsland Sugo in the Tohoku region. Races are typically single events between 250 and 300 kilometres' distance, with one compulsory pit stop in the middle of the race for driver changes and refuelling. In 2022, the series introduced a new longer-distance format for select races, held over 450 kilometres with two compulsory pit stops. The series had already expanded internationally by
1470-559: The supertouring formula. Seeking to prevent the spiraling budgets and one-team/make domination of both series, JGTC imposed strict limits on power, and heavy weight penalties on race winners, in an openly stated objective to keep on-track action close with an emphasis on keeping fans happy. The JGTC had planned to hold a race during the 2005 season at the Shanghai International Circuit in China , in addition to
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#17327936880571540-599: The 2005-2006 GP2 field, including: Direxiv partnered competitors for the 2008 F1 grid spot, Carlin Motorsport , in the British F3 International Series and is the title sponsor for German driver Maro Engel . ( key ) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap) This motorsport-related article is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Super GT Super GT (stylized as SUPER GT )
1610-479: The 2018 title. In the GT300 class, notable drivers include Nobuteru Taniguchi of Goodsmile Racing , who is also well known as a D1GP competitor, and Manabu Orido , a former D1GP judge currently driving for apr Racing. Other well-known drivers in the category were the TV presenter and singer Hiromi Kozono and Masahiko Kondo , who was also a pop star, actor, and racer-turned-GT500 team owner. Another popular GT300 driver
1680-463: The 2020 provisional calendar, but both races were cancelled due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic . As of the 2023 season, the series has yet to stage another race outside of Japan. The International Suzuka 1000km endurance race in late August was the longest and most prestigious event on the Super GT calendar, from 2006 when it was added as a championship round, until 2017, the final year of
1750-610: The GT500 class the fastest form of production-based sports car racing today. The pace of a current GT500 car is roughly equivalent to that of the fastest non-hybrid Le Mans Prototypes . For many years, the Nissan Skyline GT-R , the Toyota Supra , and the Honda NSX (NA1) represented their respective brands in GT500. Today, the three cars competing in GT500 are the Nissan Z (RZ34) , the revived Toyota GR Supra , and
1820-495: The Honda NSX GT3, the pair would finish 14th in 2018 and 17th in 2019 , scoring a podium in each season. For 2020 , Michigami was paired with Jake Parsons, a season where they finished 22nd in the standings. The 2021 campaign saw Shogo Mitsuyama partnered with Michigami as the team received new sponsorship from Yogibo, while Misato Haga was confirmed as the team principal; the season yielded five points and 23rd place in
1890-470: The JAF. Initially, JAF announced JGTC would be renamed "Super GT World Challenge" with the goals of "challenge to the world", and "challenge to entertainment"; however, FIA prevented JAF from using it due to confusion of the suffix with "World Championship" (a higher level FIA recognition status) and a dispute with Sports Car Club of America , which ran Speed World Challenge since 1990. On December 10, 2004, it
1960-574: The Japanese racing scene. Direxiv Motorsports's first season of competition was in 2005, fielding a Vemac RD320R in the GT300 class of Super GT in a technical partnership with R&D Sport , with Shogo Mitsuyama and Yasuo Miyagawa as drivers. The company also began sponsoring drivers in several teams in the GP2 Series, namely Olivier Pla , Clivio Piccione and Hiroki Yoshimoto . With increased attention internationally, Direxiv launched into
2030-555: The NSX-Concept GT and NSX-GT (both second-generation based models) to run with a midship engine to match the road car's engine position; the waiver expired at the end of 2019 season with the implementation of Class 1 technical regulations, after which Honda was required to redesign the NSX-GT to accommodate a front-engine layout. New GT500 cars were introduced in 2014 in preparation for the future Class 1 Touring Cars , including
2100-509: The Prodrive outfit the team's withdrawal ended any speculation of a drive and there were no further realistic opportunities for him to re-enter Formula One. Haga moved to Avanzza Bomex to act as team manager in 2007 and moved to MOLA in 2008 for their successful championship campaign. She would then focus on her other business ventures before returning to team management in 2021 with Yogibo Drago Corse . Direxiv had their logo on several cars in
2170-556: The appearance of production cars such as the Toyota 86 , Lotus Evora , and Toyota Mark X . The MC concept proved to be popular with independent teams, as well as competitive, with the Toyota 86 MC winning the GT300 championship in 2016. Since 2006, Group GT1 and Group GT2 could race in GT300, and Group GT3 cars are able to enter GT300 since 2010 season. After the 2011 season, GTA announced GT1 and GTE cars are not eligible anymore with
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2240-436: The balance of performance are publicly accessible. The regulations stipulate that no single driver drive over two-thirds of the race distance, which affects the timing of pit stops and driver changes, therefore preventing strategy from dominating the competition. Formerly, the regulations went further and required pit stops and driver changes be done within mandatory windows; in 2004, during an exhibition race held at Fontana ,
2310-561: The car number is assigned to the team, in which each team is allowed to choose whichever number they want as long as the number isn't already used by any other team. The number assigned to each team is permanent, and may only change hands when the team exits the series. The number 1 is reserved for the defending GT500 champion, and the number 0 is reserved for the reigning GT300 champion. For easy identification, headlight covers, windshield decals, and number panels are white on GT500 cars, and yellow on GT300 cars. The top class in Super GT, GT500,
2380-489: The categories derive from their traditional maximum horsepower limit – in the early years of the series, GT500 cars would have no more than 500 horsepower, GT300 cars would max out at around 300 hp. However, the current generation of GT500 engines produce in excess of 650 horsepower. Meanwhile, in present-day GT300, the horsepower range varies from around 400 to just over 550 horsepower; however, GT300 cars have far less downforce than their GT500 counterparts. In both groups,
2450-554: The championship at the time; the Suzuka 1000km was their last race in the series. The team would be taken over wholly by R&D Sport, with Toshio Suzuki appointed as team manager for that car, while EMS Management took over management of the team in Formula Nippon. Mitsuyama and Taniguchi saw out the season with R&D Sport, finishing 3rd in the championship. Direxiv was dissolved in April 2007. Prodrive would withdraw their entry into Formula One in 2008 citing legal situations leading
2520-401: The championship in play up to the final race of the season: only two GT500 teams (ARTA in 2007 and MOLA in 2012) and one GT300 team (GAINER with André Couto in 2015) have managed to clinch a driver's championship prior to the final race. Following repeated cases of teams and drivers not winning a single race but still winning the championship (in 2003, neither the GT500 nor GT300 champions won
2590-436: The championship in the GT300 class. Italian driver Ronnie Quintarelli won the most drivers championship titles with four. Quintarelli also holds the record for the most drivers championship title won by a non-Japanese driver and the most drivers championship won in GT500 class with four. Tatsuya Kataoka and Nobuteru Taniguchi were tied for the record of most drivers championship won in GT300 class with three. Tetsuya Yamano
2660-503: The class by GT3 cars. This reflects a growing interest in the series from European manufacturers, with Audi and BMW fielding works-supported entries. Toyota/Lexus, Nissan, and Subaru also campaign works-supported cars in the class. The GT300 class used to host more exotic cars from the likes of ASL , Mosler , Mooncraft and Vemac , as well as detuned GT500 cars, such as the 2004 title-winning M-TEC NSX. However, starting in 2006, teams increasingly chose to campaign European GT cars instead,
2730-401: The drivers announced for the 2015 season. For 2016, Kogure was replaced by Hideki Mutoh , and Tadasuke Makino would appear for the team whenever Turvey was not available. The team announced their withdrawal from the series on 8 November 2016, after just two seasons. The team returned to Super GT in 2018, competing in the GT300 class with Ryo Michigami and Hiroki Otsu as drivers. Driving
2800-553: The drivers championship title in both classes. Multiverse Partners, through Haro Sports & Entertainment, undertakes the international content syndication of Autobacs Super GT 2019 Series (outside of Japan and Thailand). Drago Corse Drago LLC , also known as Drago Corse , is a Japanese racing team, competing in Super Formula . The team was founded by long-time Honda driver and 2000 JGTC champion Ryo Michigami in 2014. Ryo Michigami , who had been active as
2870-549: The event in its 1000 km format. The Suzuka 1000 km was replaced with the Intercontinental GT Challenge Suzuka 10 Hours in 2018. That year, Super GT revived the Fuji GT 500 Mile Race (805 km) as the series' new endurance round. It ran from 2018 to 2019, but was not renewed from 2020 onwards. The Golden Week race at Fuji Speedway, held annually on May 4, is also considered to be
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2940-696: The existing overseas round at Sepang in Malaysia . However, holding the series in more than two countries would have meant the JGTC would lose its status as a "national championship" under the International Sporting Code of the FIA , and therefore could not keep "Japanese Championship" in its name. The series would instead be classified as an "international championship" by the FIA, and would therefore require direct authorization from it, rather than
3010-403: The expense of runaway investment by works teams. GT500 cars are fitted with many common parts, lowering costs and equalizing the performance of those parts across all competitors. In the GT300 class, air restrictor sizes, minimum weights, ride heights, and maximum turbo boost pressures are modified on a race-to-race basis to balance performance across all cars. All adjustments to the regulations and
3080-494: The field tends to be much more varied in terms of types of cars entered. As in GT500, the major Japanese automakers participate in this class, entering cars such as the Toyota Prius and Subaru BRZ , which comply with JAF-GT regulations. However, the GT300 class is predominantly composed of GT3 -class cars from European manufacturers such as Audi and Mercedes , although Toyota/Lexus, Nissan and Honda are also represented in
3150-409: The final race instead. In 2017, the weight handicap system for GT500 cars was amended to add fuel flow restrictions. Actual weight ballast will be capped at 50 kilograms for reasons of practicality and safety. When a car's assigned ballast exceeds 50 kilograms, it will be assigned a lesser amount of weight ballast, but a fuel flow restriction will be imposed, the severity of which increases according to
3220-545: The first car in the class to utilize a KERS -assisted hybrid powertrain, the Honda NSX Concept-GT. Common aerodynamic regulations with the DTM were adopted, as was Class 1's turbocharged four-cylinder engine specification. Furthermore, the 2014 rules overhaul also increased the cars' downforce by 30%, while lowering costs. Aerodynamic development above a "design line" wrapping around the fenders, bumpers, and doorsills
3290-473: The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Traditionally, this event has been run as the Fuji GT 500 km Race, but in 2022, the event was shortened to 450 km (100 laps). Due to the effects of the 2009 energy crisis in Japan , the Fuji 500 km and Suzuka 1000 km race distances were shortened. The 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami and its effects resulted in a further reduction in all race distances for
3360-569: The intention of reducing costs, and adopted full GT3 rule. One of the more unique GT300 competitors was the Mooncraft Shiden MC/RT-16 , a Riley Daytona Prototype -based revival of the original 1977 Mooncraft Shiden 77 (紫電77). It competed from 2006 to 2012, narrowly losing the title in 2006, and winning the championship in 2007. Front-wheel drive cars such as the Mitsubishi FTO , Toyota Celica and Cavalier ,
3430-528: The latter reportedly ran into financial difficulties, and the team did not return for the remainder of the season. The team did not return to the series in 2023. In 2017, Michigami teamed up with ThreeBond to race in Japanese Formula 3 Championship , and entered the under the name "ThreeBond Racing with Drago Corse". The team competed until 2019 in the series. The team achieved good results with Alex Palou in their first season clinching third in
3500-449: The manufacturers introducing new cars to comply with the new rules. Aerodynamic development was further restricted, and a standardized ECU and suspension were introduced. The standard turbochargers were introduced from the start of 2014 season . The turbo configuration is single-turbocharged and producing the turbo boost level pressure up to 3.5 bar (51 psi ). Swiss-American turbocharger company Garrett Advancing Motion which
3570-639: The race, similar to systems used in the DTM and the BTCC . The system metes out two kilograms of ballast per point scored; it formerly added ballast based on qualifying positions and individual lap times. Stickers on the cars display every car's weight handicap level. In the 2007 season, the Takata NSX team achieved a record-breaking 5 pole positions in the first 7 races, but due to the weight handicap system, they only won one race among those seven. Such regulations keep
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#17327936880573640-575: The same position as in their production counterparts. However, apr took advantage of a loophole in the regulations to continue to race their mid-engine Prius until 2018, when the team was required to build a new, front-engine Prius. The development of GT300 cars is much more regulated than that of their GT500 counterparts; the GTA works with the Stephane Ratel Organisation to balance the performance of all GT300 cars via technical adjustments in order to create close racing. While
3710-627: The season, before standard distances were restored in 2012. Non-championship rounds have been run sporadically during Super GT's history. The Fuji Sprint Cup was held from 2010 to 2013, consisting of two sprint races per class. The first annual Super GT x DTM Dream Race was held in November 2019, consisting of two sprint races for GT500 and DTM cars, supported by the auto sport Web Sprint Cup, two sprint races for select GT300 teams as well as one-off GT3 entries from other Japanese events. The cars are divided into two classes: GT500 and GT300. The names of
3780-487: The series until 2008 , when an all-wheel drive Subaru Impreza developed by Cusco won in Sepang. An open top car, Renault Sport Spider , made a one-off participation in 1997, also with lack of success. Hybrid cars first raced in the GT300 class in 2012, when apr introduced their Toyota Prius apr GT , and Team Mugen fielded a Honda CR-Z GT . Both cars were heavily modified from their production counterparts. The Prius
3850-584: The series was the Aston Martin DBR9 , which fared poorly in its brief run in 2009 - illustrating the overwhelming advantage in raw pace that the GT500 class cars had over the FIA GT1 category cars that dominated the landscape in Europe; Team Goh , who entered the 1996 F1 GTRs, planned to enter a Maserati MC12 in 2006, but withdrew during testing for similar reasons. In 2012, the GT500 regulations
3920-408: The series' most prestigious event. Held during a major public holiday season, it regularly draws the largest crowds of any Super GT race, with a two-day attendance of 91,000 spectators in 2019. It was the first event of the first official JGTC season in 1994, and has been a permanent fixture of the series' calendar with the exception of 2004, when the circuit was closed for renovations, and 2020, due to
3990-513: The series, with varying success. The Porsche 911 GT2 and the BMW -powered McLaren F1 GTR are, to date, the only foreign cars to win the GT500 championship, when the former won the teams' title in 1995 and the latter won both titles in 1996. A longtail version of the F1 GTR would later score a race victory in 2001. The Ferrari F40 , Porsche 911 Turbo, and Porsche 962. The last foreign-built car to enter
4060-478: The size of the assigned weight handicap. While the amount of actual weight ballast carried may vary, the weight handicap stickers on the cars will continue to display the assigned weight handicap. Like the series, Super GT drivers are very popular in Japan with a growing international fanbase. One driver who gained international appeal is Keiichi Tsuchiya , who raced for the Taisan and ARTA teams before moving to
4130-505: The standings. For 2022, the team switched to the Nissan GT-R Nismo GT3 after Nissan-related vehicle customisation company Busou became their new title sponsor. Two-time GT500 and GT300 champion Masataka Yanagida and GT500 race winner Yuji Ide were named as the drivers, while Michigami stepped away from driving duties to become the new team director. On 1 August, Drago Corse and Busou terminated their partnership after
4200-545: The team to have little time to set up before the start of the season. Hamilton would enter Formula One in 2007 with a seat at McLaren and win the Formula One World Championship in 2008 , de la Rosa remained a McLaren test driver and returned to Formula One in 2010 with Sauber while Paffett was released from his test driver contract in October 2006 before being re-signed; although he was linked to
4270-471: The time it was rebranded in 2005. Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia hosted a championship round every year until 2014, when it was replaced by a new event at Chang International Circuit in Buriram , Thailand . Additional overseas races were planned to be held at Shanghai Circuit in 2005, and Yeongam International Circuit in 2013, but both events were cancelled. Buriram and Sepang were both on
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#17327936880574340-504: The title sponsor of the series and its predecessor since 1998. The JGTC (Japanese Grand Touring Championship) was established in 1993 by the Japan Automobile Federation (JAF) via its subsidiary company the GTA (GT Association), replacing the defunct All Japan Sports Prototype Championship for Group C cars and the Japanese Touring Car Championship for Group A touring cars, which instead would adopt
4410-486: Was Tetsuya Yamano, who runs his own driving school and took the GT300 class victory at Sepang for three consecutive years. Overall, across all classes, 36 different drivers have won the drivers' championship in Super GT. Japan has produced the most winning drivers with 26. For the ten non-Japanese drivers who had become champions, eight of them won the drivers championship in the GT500 class while Macau driver André Couto and Brazilian driver João Paulo de Oliveira won
4480-442: Was announced at an event at Suzuka Circuit ; Alesi announced the team's plans to enter Formula One as part of a technical tie-up with McLaren, essentially acting as their B-team, while using McLaren's old factories. It was speculated that Direxiv would be provided an engine from Mercedes High Performance Powertrains and a McLaren-designed chassis; the team would have likely given Hamilton and either Pedro de la Rosa or Gary Paffett
4550-575: Was announced that new name of JGTC was confirmed as "Super GT". However, despite the name change and several attempts at holding a second overseas race, Super GT has continued to only hold one overseas race per year; in theory, it could regain its status as a national championship and return to JAF jurisdiction. In 2014, Super GT and the German touring car series DTM announced the creation of Class 1 , which would unify GT500's and DTM's technical regulations, allowing manufacturers to race in both series with
4620-514: Was changed in order to provide provisions for four-door vehicles, although none was run until Honda announced that the Civic Type R will replace the outgoing NSX in 2024. In 2010, front-engine, rear-wheel drive layout became the only permitted layout in the class, prompting Honda to initially replace the first generation-based NSX GT with the HSV-010. In 2014, Honda was granted a waiver to allow
4690-476: Was never given. In August 2006, Direxiv announced their withdrawal from all forms of motorsport with the exception of Super GT; it was also revealed that Direxiv's parent company was Akiyama Holdings, an investment company who had ties to the Super Aguri F1 Team . A few days later, Direxiv announced their withdrawal from Super GT due to loss of funding from Akiyama Holdings, despite the team leading
4760-510: Was powered by a 3.4 liter V8 LMP1 engine, which worked in concert with production Hybrid Synergy Drive components; the CR-Z utilized a 2.8 liter V6 LMP2 engine and a 50 kW Zytek electric motor. Both the CR-Z and Prius were mid-engined, differing from their front-engined road-going counterparts; this resulted in the CR-Z's withdrawal after the 2015 season, as new regulations for 2016 stipulated that GT300 cars' engines were to be located in
4830-446: Was restricted. Over sixty common parts were introduced, including the brakes, diffuser, and rear wing. In response to increasing cornering speeds, another aerodynamic overhaul was introduced in 2017, lowering downforce by 25%. Furthermore, KERS units were banned, although the only manufacturer to utilize such systems, Honda, had already discontinued their usage in 2016. In 2020, Class 1 technical regulations were fully implemented, with
4900-429: Was the first driver to win multiple championship as well as the sport's first two-time champion, all of them won consecutively. Three drivers, Toranosuke Takagi in 2005, Jenson Button in 2018, and Nirei Fukuzumi in 2019 have managed to win the championship in their first full-season attempt. As of the end of the 2019 season, Masataka Yanagida and Kazuya Oshima are the only drivers in the series' history to have won
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