Season Preview: What to expect out of the 2016 SUPER GT Season
Mie Prefecture, Japan - After a testing run of 2 races went successfully in the fall, the JAF has confirmed that they will roll out with the official series in the beginning of February of 2016.
To save budget, teams opted to stay in one sole class this time around, compared to the multiple dual entries. This has allowed many teams to completely focus on one car. However, some teams have opted to keep their second car in GT300. The first of these teams were TnK, a Japanese power house that has ties with Honda. Two other teams opted for this decision: Nameless Motorsports, a Hawaii based racing team, and Team HEISEI, both fielding Nissan efforts. By utilizing the dual entries, the teams hope to bring up new talent to their GT500 programs in the future.
Big names have also entered the GT500 fray- Team Kunimitsu RAYBRIG and ARTA have announced they will field both HSVs. ARTA has completely replaced their drivers with budding talent, while Kunimitsu has kept Naoki Yamamoto, while fielding New Jersey native, Descoteau, who is also participating in IndyCar and GT3WS. Xanavi Nismo, another big named that had risen from the ashes, have also recruited both Amaterasu Racing drivers from the official testing sessions.
Other notable entries in the GT500 class include PACIFIC NAC Racing, who we thought were a low budget effort, until they somehow came in ties with Honda, allowing them a chance to fight for the GT500 title.
GT300 consists of IMPUL and Cerumo teams, oddly enough. Due to the increasing popularity of the class, they decided to utilize their GT300 counterpart cars. IMPUL will collaborate with SEGA, fielding the almighty GT-R GT3, with Cerumo utilizing the Supra, a JAF chassis derived from the GT500 Supra of the past.
BMW Works team SunValley will be sporting the famous "Batmobile" livery with partners Castrol and Under Armour. They've shown no interest in competing in GT500 and working with Nissan after the test sessions.
The RX-7 and Shiden have proven to be popular choices, due to their cost to performance ratio. Both chassis will have 3 entries in GT300.
It is unknown if JLOC will field any cars this year.
The schedule for 2016 has had some major changes, with SPORTSLAND SUGO and Grand Valley Speedway being rejected for a race. The biggest replacement has to be Auto Club Speedway, which means that it will be SUPER GT's first return to the United States after 12 years. Many race fans in the So Cal area has begged for the series to come back, so JAF seen it as a way to get the SUPER GT name more reputation around the world. Also replacing those two tracks is Zhuhai, with the series making it's first appearance in China.
Suzuka has been lengthened to a 6 hour race, promising the event to go into the late night as it should. Okayama, Fuji, Motegi, and Autopolis have also stayed on the schedule, with the first Fuji race being an endurance.