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GT Association (GTA) Chairman Masaaki Bandoh confirmed during a Saturday press conference from Mobility Resort Motegi that SUPER GT plans to introduce 50 per cent carbon-neutral synthetic fuel (CNF) to the GT300 class next year.
Earlier today, six teams tested at Mobility Resort Motegi to test the new GTA R50 fuel manufactured by ETS Racing Fuels, including the new GT300 Champion team Saitama Toyopet GreenBrave with its Toyota GR Supra.
The change to full-synthetic and synthetic blend CNF encompasses one component of the SUPER GT Green Project 2030 which was implemented this year. “Since it was the first year, we put our hands on things that we can do,” Bandoh said about the start of the project. “It is not yet clear if everything we’ve done was correct, but we needed to transform motorsports with the future in mind.”
“For the carbon-neutral fuel, after spending two years in bench testing and then actual track testing by using the fuel on the race cars, we were able to introduce the synthetic fuel, GTA R100, which does not contain any fossil fuel to the GT500 class this season after resolving issues around dilution and volatility.
“However, we couldn’t use the same fuel in the GT300 class.”
The planned introduction of R100 fuel to GT300 didn’t proceed past the pre-season tests in March, and the second class would continue to use conventional petrol.
Since then, ETS Racing Fuels (Haltermann Carless) has worked on developing this new 50% synthetic fuel, and Bandoh expressed confidence that Monday’s test would proceed without any problems, putting SUPER GT on track to introduce this fuel to GT300 next season.
“Since it is 50% synthetic fuel, I believe there won’t be any issues. 300 litres of fuel will be provided per car for the test. If we can do it under these circumstances, then there is no doubt, this is the direction we want to go.”
The results from Monday’s test seemed to back up Chairman Bandoh’s confidence. Drivers reported no significant loss of horsepower or engine response using the GTA R50 fuel, including new GT300 Drivers’ co-champion, Kohta Kawaai.
“When we tested the GTA R100 before, there was a slight loss of power, but this time there was none,” Kawaai commented.
“There was no change in the exhaust emissions from the turbo cars of our rivals, and I think we were able to run at the same pace as yesterday. This time, we mainly had short runs, but it would be good if we didn’t have any problems during long runs in the future.”
There were no major incidents or mechanical issues – and drivers found the lack of grip caused by rain this weekend to be more of a challenge than adapting to the new synthetic fuel.
There was even an opportunity for newcomers to get their first taste of GT racing: Newly-crowned FIA F4 Japanese Champion Rikuto Kobayashi and runner-up Jin Nakamura, both sponsored by Toyota, tested the #31 apr Lexus LC500h GT.
Going back to Saturday’s press conference, Chairman Bandoh also revealed plans for new race formats, including a 300-mile (480km) race and a timed race, widely believed to be three hours.
“Like the fuel, we also have a new plan for the race formats for next season, which we are considering to have four different race formats: 300km race, 450km race, 300-mile race, and timed race. In addition, we will reduce the number of tires that can be brought to an event by one more set.
“In addition to the cooperation that we asked of the tyre manufacturers, we would like to put our focus more on the subjects related to ‘SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals)’ in order to run longer race distances.”
SUPER GT began introducing these longer “semi-endurance” races last year – after two seasons of exclusively sprint races due to the COVID-19 pandemic and its effects. The aim was to encourage its tyre manufacturers to make more sustainable tyres which would prioritize long life and durability over sheer speed, thereby allowing them to use fewer sets of tyres per race.
While these 450km races have been successful, it would seem as if there is no appetite for a return to full-fledged endurance races such as the Suzuka 1000km and the Fuji 500 Miles, likely due to running costs associated with such events.
As for where these prospective new formats would be used next year? “I’ll leave that to your imagination,” Chairman Bandoh smiled. An official announcement will be made this off-season.
“It is difficult to gauge where we are against the target,” Chairman Bandoh said about the current progress of Green Project 2030 and its aim to reduce SUPER GT’s carbon emissions by 50%. “Since we cannot identify any numbers that will lead to 50%, we need to hire an expert to find the most significant element for achieving the goal and what we need to do for it. Around 400,000 people per year gather here and they all drive their cars to the circuit. We cannot stop that, but we would want to see more people coming to the events too. So, we need to capture and show it in numbers next year.
“It was effective. I believe it was a sure first step. We could be doing something wrong, but I think the direction will become clearer if we continue building up. We will continue to put effort in this approach.”
Chairman Bandoh also addressed driver safety in the wake of several major accidents this season, including Tsugio Matsuda’s crash at Suzuka which left him to spend almost the entire two-month summer break rehabilitating injuries, and Naoki Yamamoto’s crash at Sugo which forced the two-time champion to miss the final two races.
“Driver’s misperception is a big factor. I believe some accidents were caused by it, so we need to improve the driving standards.
“There are discussions around controlling the speed of the cars, which would lead to safety, but what we are doing is already at the top of grand touring car racing around the world and that is where our discussion originates.”
Bandoh said that any significant changes would be announced in early 2024 but confirmed that there will be tighter restrictions on aero in GT500 next year.
A review of the minimum ride height and skid block regulations is also being considered in GT500, while in GT300, special BoP weight like the type used at the 2022 Okayama round is being discussed to slow the cars down in lieu of ride height changes.
Discussions between the GTA and its tyre manufacturers are ongoing. He shared a summary of his meeting with Bridgestone CEO Shuichi Ishibashi about his request for creating tyres for a wide range of conditions.
“The main point would be whether the tyre can match the temperature range. We must also consider the abrasion coefficient. The abrasion coefficient would change depending on the track surface temperature. We would like to request tyres that can last longer after broadening the abrasion coefficient. And then after all of these are addressed, we would like to improve the quality.
“Dunlop and Yokohama are also looking into various options from the same perspective. We are talking with all tyre manufacturers about the reduction of the number of tires allowed to be brought in by one set from next season as we head in the same direction.
“We are now free from the COVID-19 measures and the fans are back to the circuits. We need to have our feet on the ground and put our efforts into maintaining the series with an eye towards the future. I want to establish high-quality motorsports and make it visible to the world. There is nothing higher than this GT racing, out of all GT in the world.”
Images © GTA
Author: RJ O’Connell
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GT300 Teams Begin Testing Of R50 Carbon-Neutral Fuel – dailysportscar.com
