The GT Association (GTA) has announced sweeping changes to the Autobacs SUPER GT Series qualifying format, which now adopts an aggregate system for 2024.
SUPER GT qualifying will still consist of two sessions – Q1 and Q2 – for the GT500 and GT300 classes, as in recent years. However, instead of the Formula One-style knockout format used since 2013, the combined times of all teams’ two drivers (or, where applicable, two out of three drivers) will determine the grid order for the race.
A similar aggregate qualifying system is used, domestically, in the Eneos Super Taikyu Series, where the combined times of the team’s ‘A’ and ‘B’ drivers determine the grid order. The FIA World Endurance Championship previously adopted such a system from 2013 until 2020 at all rounds apart from the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
The other key element to this change in format is that all teams are limited to just one set of tyres for Q1 and Q2, and must start the race on that same set of tyres. This coincides with another change implemented by SUPER GT, reducing the number of tyre sets available to each car by one set. For example, teams will now be limited to four sets of dry tyres for 300-kilometre races, versus five sets in 2023.
The limitation of tyre sets aligns with the goals of the SUPER GT Green Project 2030, as the series aims to reduce its carbon footprint by encouraging manufacturers to develop more durable tyres – along with the adoption of R50 carbon-neutral fuel (CNF) in the GT300 class which has been officially ratified for 2024, and the continued use of R100 CNF in GT500.
Points will now be awarded to the top three qualifiers in both GT500 and GT300 classes: Three points for pole position, two points for second place, and one point for third place, similar to the Super Formula Championship which adopted a similar qualifying points system in 2021.
For record-keeping purposes, both drivers will be credited with pole position instead of the individual driver that set the pole-winning time.
Cars that fail to set a time in both Q1 and Q2 will be required to start the race from pit lane. Additionally, the GTA is considering a minimum Q2 time that, if not met, will also require the car to start from pit lane.
There is also another provision that states “In the GT300 class, a special rule will be established to swap qualifying positions under certain conditions, to create new entertainment value.” Specifics of this ‘special rule’ have not yet been determined, but it is worth noting that in recent years, GT300 Q1 was split into two groups to ease on-track congestion – with as many as 30 cars trying to progress through to Q2 under the knockout format.
SUPER GT is also developing a new display that will show the overall combined rankings in real-time during Q2 to make it easier for fans to follow the session as it develops. Other details of this new system (including length of sessions, etc.) will be revealed at a later date.
Another sporting regulations change that was announced today pertains to Success Weight in GT300, where the maximum Success Weight that can be loaded is now 80 kilogrammes, down from 100kg.
GT300 teams will revert to receiving 2kg of Success Weight per point scored in the Drivers’ championship during the first six rounds, and the Success Weight will be halved to 1kg per point for the seventh (penultimate) round before being removed at the eighth and final round.
The maximum number of entries per season is still capped at 45 cars across GT500 and GT300, where GT300 teams are still seeded into three categories based on the Teams’ championship standings from the previous year. Two GT300 entries have been reserved for international teams that wish to compete full-time.
Starting in 2024, the sporting regulations now state that if no international teams are participating, one of the two reserved slots may be used by a Japanese team approved by the GTA and GTE (GT Entrants’ Association).
But they must compete as a “C Seed” team and will not be able to take part in events where the maximum number of entries is 43 or less (such as at Sportsland SUGO). Domestic teams must gain approval from the GTA and GTE to continue to enter using the international slot – and if two international teams enter in the future, then domestic teams can no longer enter using the international slot.
Feature image © Toyota
