The Japanese Grand Touring Car Championships (JGTC)

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JohnBM01

JohnBM01

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Hello again, GTPlanet.

I don't think there is a certain thread dedicated to the JGTC, so let me build this one.

You can visit these sites if you are new or inexperienced to the JGTC. Pick your language:

http://www.jgtc.net (Japanese)
http://www.jgtc.net/index_en.htm (English)


So what can you talk about in this topic? You can discuss:

- 2004 Predictions for GT500 and GT300 winners
- Japanese GT Racing all over Japan, and expanding to the world market
- the JGTC's many cars from around the world
- JGTC racers
- How would Americans do in Japan?
- What about JGTC's beautiful, sweet-faced race queens?

These are just examples. Maybe you want to talk about why the series is great or boring. Why you can't wait/don't really care about them coming to America (my best guess is Laguna Seca). I'll start...


The JGTC may not be seriously fast, but for the cars involved in the series, they can be quite quick and fun to drive. Everything about the cars that race there make them some of the best race cars to race. Even though they have little lights, I would like to see a night race at Fuji or Suzuka. Or bring Gran Turismo to the JGTC and make the Tokyo R246 course a reality! I would like to see JGTC challenge some more American tracks. You know, attract the circle-track fans, even if they don't like Japanese cars. Even if they don't like GT racing. Even if... whatever.

Now it's your turn!
 
The Viper was unable to compete real well because it was not factory backed. All the teams in GT500 that do well are all Nissan, Toyota, or Honda factory teams, with the exception of the McLarens who aren't true factory teams.

Nearly all non-factory teams in GT500 have been complete failures. JLOC Lamborghini Diablo JGT-1, HKS Mercedes-Benz CLK, R&D Sport Vemac RD350R, Team Taisan Advan Chrysler Viper GTS-R, LeyJun Mirage RGS-1, etc...

In the GT300 class the new rebodied Team Taisan Advan Chrysler Viper has been one of the usual top runners however.
 
will they have a battle in CA this year?

the following is from the official site:
In addition to the above-mentioned events, negotiations continue for races to be held in Shanghai (China), California (United States), and Seoul (Republic of Korea).
 
Originally posted by VipFREAK
sorry to say but Vipers suck now... :(
Click to expand...

I know, its quite noticable.

Originally posted by Dorifto
I want the Vipers in GT500!
Click to expand...

It USED to be in the GT500 class. I guess the Japanese got sick of looking at the viper and said,"**** the viper, I hate, to GT300 it goes! Damn americans.":lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
 
The JGTC was brave enough to downtune the 7990cc Viper. Thing is, I don't think it should be a GT300. Hell, I can remember Gran Turismo 2 where GT300s had horsepower over 300 and GT500 had horsepower over 500. Of course, who CAN'T forget the 680hp turbocharged Castrol Supra?

But things have changed since then. I guess the reason I can give to why the Viper isn't challenging the Supras, Skylines, NSXes (not the GT300 one), F1s, Diablos, and all is like the same reason why prototypes sportscars were obsolete in the Rolex Sports Cars. The highest-level cars now are the Daytona Prototypes there. The JGTC is about the best cars in Japan, but with the addition of the McLaren F1 and Lamborghini Diablo (I don't think McLaren and Lambo are even contenders anymore). The STP Taisan Viper in GT2 had about 600+ hp and raced GT500 (I think). Now STP Taisan is a Porsche team.

To me, American car fans would love to see either the Dodge Viper GTS-R or the Mosler Raptor MT900R dominate the Japanese cars for the honor of the red, white, and blue. For some Japanese car fans, keep the American cars downtuned and make it all about Japan as with my Rolex Sports Car theory. Now personally, if you have McLaren and Lamborghini, put the Viper in GT500 to see if they can take on the big three in GT500. If not that, put the Mosler with the big three and just give it more power. Same goes for any other American car looking to take on Japan. By the way:

UGLIEST CAR EVER IN JGTC: Chevrolet Corvette

I don't think I have pictures, so look online.
 
GT500 cars are limited to 500hp. GT300 cars are limited to 300hp. They use air restrictors on all the cars to keep them all even.

The Mosler MT900 has done well in GT300 class in qualifying, and the Viper won Round 3 of the 2003 season.

The Chevrolet Corvette participated in a few races last season, failing to finish each time, the team quit after 2002.
 
I was just looking online, and I have a big update to this topic!

The website known as i-Club, has reported on more information about where the JGTC will be racing in America. Now, I said that California would be a very interesting place. And I said that Laguna Seca would be a big favorite. But according to (http://www.i-club.com/), the race will NOT... I repeat, WILL NOT be at Laguna Seca, instead it will race at Fontana with an unconfirmed date. LoudMusic mentioned the 2004 JGTC video, so I'll be sure to take a look at it on a decent computer.

Meanwhile, JGTC coming to Fontana. Date unconfirmed. Well on the bright side, at least the JGTC is coming to America. Even if it isn't on a pure road course like Laguna Seca, at least the JGTC is coming to America. That is all, thanks.
 
The JGTC is still in negotiations with Fontana as well as Shanghai and a new track in South Korea for possibly adding them to the race schedule or as exhibition races later on.

Fontana is the 2.5 mile oval used by CART and NASCAR, which has an infield road course (like Daytona or Texas).
 
I hope they stay away from the ovals -- sooo boring. I don't know that I'd want to see them at Laguna Seca either. It just doesn't seem right some how (:
 
Originally posted by LoudMusic
The current schedule doesn't include the American scene race, but it is mentioned several times in the video. Is Fontana the track in San Fransisco? I believe that's where they said they'd be.
Click to expand...

Fontana is located in Southern California.
The video states that the JGTC will be at the California Speedway (in Fontana)
caspdwy.gif


i wonder if they'll change the course layout for this...
 
Okay, I had a chance to view the 2004 JGTC Video, and I still was in awe. Seeing JGTC in action makes me want to board a plane to Japan to catch some Japanese GT action. I mean, the JGTC packs so much drama that it is like a movie each race. One example was one race at... I want to say Sugo. The AU Cerumo Supra was leading and was all out to win, but I don't know if it was the last lap and the team didn't know it, or the team had to make a quick pitstop to the finish. And how about the Wood One Supra and Esso Supra clashing at the final turn for the win? NASCAR has drama each race, but the passion to win is greater defined in the JGTC. Boy, I love watching these cars go at it.

Now in mentioning road course ovals, don't forget. Motegi's road course is one of the few that almost uses NONE of the oval. One road course in America that does not use the oval may be little known to you. Anyhow, Indianapolis Raceway Park has a club-like road course going around the short oval. I know because I downloaded a track for PC game "Sports Car GT," and it actually featured a road course going around the oval, and it was more of a club-level race track. But, there are few ovals in the world that does NOT use the main oval. Now when I say that, I mean, the race cars do not race on parts of the oval. And Motegi does the best job.

Now, why WOULDN'T you want to see JGTC at Laguna Seca? It's about America's most recognizable track. FIA GT used it around 1998-ish. You raced it WITH GT300/GT500 cars in GTs 2 and 3, so why not bring fantasy to reality? No, I don't mean getting into one of those monsters (that would be cool, though. Don't get me wrong), but put the JGTC on a recognizable American track. And if they can't get to Laguna Seca, Road Atlanta, Barber Motorsports Park, Limerock, Sebring, or Portland would make nice American venues.

Now, when this racing comes to America, how will America take part in it? For tradition, I say that we have coverage of it that does not include any of the following phrases/sentences:

"shocks, wickerbill, dialed-in..."
"It's too loose. It's too tight. We dun blown a motor."
"Boogity, boogity, boogity!!!"

I think race fans will get a chance to see the JGTC in action. It should be a welcome treat as much as the STRANA series here in America, which gave us those raceable big rigs going around road courses. America, you're in for a treat if and when the JGTC comes to the land of the red, white, and blue.
 
Originally posted by SR20DET
Fontana is located in Southern California.
The video states that the JGTC will be at the California Speedway (in Fontana)
caspdwy.gif


i wonder if they'll change the course layout for this...
Click to expand...

The Fontana race track is called the California Speedway. www.californiaspeedway.com It's located about 12 miles east of my house. They always have sombody, or some race team testing something on the track.

There are no planed racing events scheduled until the bike races in April. I plan on going to the California Historical Races on June 18, 19 and 20.
 
Well my choices for a race in USA, if i lived there would be:

- Laguna Seca
- Watkins Glen
- Elkhart Lake ( Amazing track!)
- Indianapolis (Same track used by Formula 1. I know it's not challenging or fantastic, but indianapolis means stands full of people)
 
To hell with Indy. Now sure that Indy is a big track here in America, as a road racing fan, I obviously know pure road race tracks. If the JGTC wanted to, they can race Long Beach for a special "sampling" of JGTC. You know, everything from Japanese race queens in atsuzuko shoes (those shoes Japanese girls wear that are tall and plaformed, just like the Ganguro and Yamanba girls of Japan), short skirts or short shorts, wierd makeup, waving at the camera smiling, that sort of thing.

Okay, maybe my mind got carried away on race queens (what guy wouldn't?), but anyhow, Indy is a key name in American motorsports, but in my view, you need a pure road course. Sebring and Road Atlanta would still make nice tracks for the JGTC. Limerock WOULD be a challenge for them, but if they did, they'd have to run seperate races. You know, GT300 one race, followed by GT500. You may want to include Barber Motorsports Park. But if you think that ovals are big in America (and they are), why not Daytona? Charlotte should have just a small infield, then the rest of the NASCAR oval. I keep mentioning that because even though I'm not big on NASCAR or ovals, Charlotte is a pretty nice oval to race. It has a lot of character and it has smooth turns. No wonder the circle trackers call Charlotte home. Back in 2001 or 2002, the ALMS cancelled the round there because they wanted to race on more significant tracks in America (good call). But, I think we should welcome the JGTC to America. Let them race elsewhere in America. Just stay away from ovals (except for speed tests). I think we should let them try other rounds. Now, if they want a serious round, they should be at a track that exemplfies one of the finest road courses in America. Since Laguna Seca is possibly America's most world-famous courses, this track should be a great challenge. And you GT3 players played Laguna in the freaking sunset! So why not Laguna?
 
Actually, I think Long Beach would be a really cool venue. Not only do they have a world-class GT track, that area is really nice. It's near the ocean, so it's cool, lots of good places to eat, plenty of hotels, and a nice, big, convention center, inside which they could have all the ventor booths and the areas for showing off the cars. I think Long Beach would go a long way in turning JGTC from just a race into a major event.
 
Sure would, Takumi. In fact, Long Beach is probably one of the world's greatest street courses. Long Beach would be a hell of a place for a JGTC race. But they (the JGTC) would need great negotiations to make the Long Beach dream come alive. And if it does, Long Beach will never be the same again.
 
I'm bringing back this topic to kind of make this a thread to talk about the JGTC.

So the latest update is that the 2004 JGTC Season begins this weekend at TI Circuit Aida. Be sure to check out:

http://www.jgtc.net (JPN)
http://www.jgtc.net/index_en.htm (ENG)

To all competitors of the JGTC, I would like to wish all of you the very best of luck. Go out there and race your hearts out. Sure, I may be from America, but even I am fascinated by the racing you folks in Japan provide. You provide more drama than a daytime soap opera. And even more action than NASCAR will EVER have. Plus, the race queens are among some of the cutest cuties this world has to offer. So, go out there and perform!

Or as Ludacris said in a song:
"...like in the NBA, you got to play hard or go home!"
(Track 11 on CD "Chicken and Beer," Def Jam records)

I'll be back with the official calendar as it stands...
 
JGTC 2004 SCHEDULE AS IT STANDS (thanks to: http://www.jgtc.net/race/2004/04schedule_en.htm) :

April 4: TI Circuit Aida (R1)
Aida, Japan

May 23: Sportsland Sugo (R2)
Miyagi Prefecture, Japan

June 19: Sepang Circuit (R3)
Sepang, Malaysia

July 18: Tokaichi Speedway (R4)
Hokkaido Prefecture, Japan

September 5: Twin Ring Motegi- Road Course (R5)
Motegi-Cho, Japan

October 31: Autopolis (R6)
Oita, Japan (?)

November 21: Suzuka Circuit (R7)
Suzuka-Shi, Mie Prefecture, Japan


I say the schedule "as it stands" because negotiations are still being made for California, China, and South Korea.

Well, have a great weekend, folks!
 
I hope Speed Channel will show more of these races, compared with last years season. I think they showed a lot of races, but they showed edited versions of the races. Bah. I can
do that with my HD recorder; record one race and fast forward until something interesting happens.
 
Now before I continue, if you visit the JGTC's homepage, you notice that for the sponsors, the one at the top is... Gran Turismo 4. The website for it should be the same one in my signature. So nice to see GT4 represented so wonderfully.

Anyhow, all the information on Race 1 of 7 can be found at the site below:
http://www.jgtc.net/race/2004/04rd1/041index_en.shtm

Any comments or questions? All the stuff you want to know about the race including pictures are there on the website. The next round is next month at Sugo for May 23rd. Only seven rounds. Doesn't sound like a lot of races, but it is still great fun. In the meanwhile, I'm going to check out pictures of the race and possibly even the race queens. Until then, see you around!
 
Correction. As of the time of this reply, there are no pictures available. Whenever they get the pictures ready, you can see just what the heck happened in Nihon (Japan). Well, that's it.

You can, however, take a look at the reviews to get a few pictures of the race, including looking it up. I'm not really going to discuss what happened, but the Nismo Z doesn't look bad in GT500.
 
lol... um.. i have a question i think i know the answer to, but I'm not an expert on JGTC.... how much of those cars is actually the same as the road version... i'm guessing just the chasis.. i mean.. last time i checked viper had over 400 HP stock, which means its gotta be an almost totally different engine.
 

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