Thank you for reading the second part of DSC’s preview of the 2024 SUPER GT Series (Part 1, covering GT500, can be read here!). It’s time to talk about GT300, another category that has transformed by leaps and bounds over the last 30 years.
This year’s field is as stacked as it’s ever been. 27 entries, 14 unique models, from ten different manufacturers. Most of these are GT3 cars, but SUPER GT also offers the awesome GTA-GT300 and bespoke GT300 Mother Chassis vehicles that you won’t see anywhere else. GTA-GT300 vehicles are built around the main cabin of their road-going counterparts but are completely purpose-built for racing – and are typically lighter and more aerodynamic than a GT3 car.
The majority of these cars are loaded with supremely talented drivers – GT500 and GT300 champions, Formula One and IndyCar veterans, and winners of the great endurance races at Le Mans, Daytona, and the Nürburgring.
Of all the GT3-based categories, the level of professionalism in GT300 these days is only bettered or equalled by IMSA GTD Pro, GT World Challenge Europe’s Pro class, and DTM.
Michelin may have left GT500, but the French tyre giant is still in SUPER GT – diverting all its efforts into the GT300 class and an intense tyre competition with Yokohama, Bridgestone, and Dunlop, one that’s as good as it’s ever been.
GT300 is introducing new sustainable carbon-neutral racing fuel this year following problems in 2023 – the class has now settled on a 50/50 CNF blend from ETS Racing Fuels.
Of course, other changes are coming that have created a lot of worry and frustration for competitors and fans. To control speeds, all cars now carry an additional allocation of ballast weight between 33 to 52 kilogrammes. Engineers are already worried about the extra toll it will take on suspensions, brakes, and tyres.
The controversial new aggregate qualifying format is at its most complex here in GT300. The 27-car field is split into two groups for Q1 to ease congestion, then the groups are shuffled heading into Q2, and then the grid is set into three brackets based on aggregate time and Q2 grouping.
But all of that does not – and should not – take away from the fact that we’re blessed with another rich and competitive grid. The phrase, “Come for GT500, stay for GT300” continues to be true.
Aston Martin Vantage GT3
#777: D’station Racing – Dunlop – Tomonobu Fujii, Marco Sørensen
The new-for-2024 Aston Martin Vantage GT3 makes its SUPER GT debut as D’station Racing also makes its long-awaited return to the series, back for the first time since 2020 after establishing its presence in international competition.
No expense has been spared by the D’station/AMR connection as Aston Martin bids for its first GT300 win since 2012. The two drivers signed should be very familiar to fans of ACO-sanctioned sports car racing. Particularly the accomplished Aston Martin works driver Sørensen, who’s excited to race around Japan’s other big circuits for the first time as a well-qualified GT300 rookie.
Tomonobu Fujii also returns to SUPER GT for the first time in four years. He was the 2012 GT300 championship runner-up and aims to recapture his old form as a driver – while also wearing the many hats of a managing director and driver coach across D’station’s other endeavours.
D’station’s third-place run at Qatar with the new, more balanced Vantage has given the team plenty of confidence ahead of the GT300 season to come.
BMW M4 GT3
#7: BMW M Team Studie x CRS – Michelin – Seiji Ara, Niklas Krütten, Bruno Spengler (third driver)
Back in black (and splashes of green) is BMW M Team Studie x CRS, the Bavarian marque’s sole GT300 representative. Studie has won races in each of the last two seasons – yet has done so without a steady driver line-up.
2004 Le Mans winner Ara and 2012 DTM champion Spengler have returned, but Spengler is now in a third driver role as he balances racing with testing the upcoming M4 GT3 Evo.
But Niklas Krütten is a savvy new addition to the Studie camp. The 21-year-old was a class champion in GT World Challenge Europe last season and will be available to run the full season alongside Ara, who turns 50 in May but still has the hunger and drive to win his first SUPER GT title.
Michelin’s total focus on GT300 provides Studie with a great selection of tyres – especially in wet conditions. If this team can find consistency, it can fight for a championship this year.
Ferrari 296 GT3
#6: Team LeMans – Yokohama – Yoshiaki Katayama, Roberto Merhi
#45: PONOS Racing – Michelin – Kei Cozzolino, Lilou Wadoux
New to SUPER GT in 2024 is the Ferrari 296 GT3, a game-changer in the marketplace of GT3 – and now a proven winner at the Nürburgring and Daytona 24-Hour races. It’s been 15 years since the last time the famous Prancing Horse of Maranello won a race in GT300, but expectations are sky-high that Ferrari’s long winless drought will end.
The two teams entering the 296 GT3 each took turns posting eye-opening lap times in pre-season testing that have put the paddock on notice.
Team LeMans’ combination of Katayama and Merhi took a massive step forward last year, scoring three podiums in the last year for the Audi R8. Katayama has improved by leaps and bounds since his GT300 debut, and Merhi drove well enough last year to attract GT500 interest.
That’s something the team hopes to build on heading into 2024, a year which Team LeMans hopes will see them break through for their first win since breaking rank with Toyota to become an independent GT300 outfit.
The other Ferrari team is one of the exciting new entries in GT300, PONOS Racing, established as a new entry by Yorikatsu Tsujiko and run by Gainer out of their Kyoto shop.
Kei Cozzolino is back in GT300 after a year away where he gained experience with the new 296 GT3 platform, and the GT World Challenge Asia & Asian Le Mans Series champion is tipped to have his best GT300 season ever. 23-year-old Lilou Wadoux makes her much-anticipated SUPER GT debut, hoping to shake off a crash in pre-season testing to then enjoy a successful run in Japan.
There will be a lot of Ferrari sports car faithful hoping both teams live up to the significant hype!
Honda NSX GT3 Evo22
#18: Team UPGarage – Yokohama – Takashi Kobayashi, Syun Koide, Yusuke Mitsui (third driver)
The Honda NSX may be retired from GT500, but the NSX GT3 still races in GT300. Yogibo Racing’s sudden withdrawal has left Team UPGarage as the last remaining NSX runner though, and 2024 will likely be the last year we see this car racing at the highest levels.
Veteran Honda driver Kobayashi and HFDP-backed young gun Syun (“Shun”) Koide won twice last year at Okayama and Suzuka – and would have won a third race at Sugo before being disqualified for a ride height infringement.
They’re back for a second season together and now the team has added another HFDP prospect, 21-year-old rookie Yusuke Mitsui, as the third driver for select rounds.
That’s a solid line-up for the Servus Japan-backed team to work with. Kobayashi and Koide are capable of competing for more victories and even a championship, so long as the car is reliable and capable of consistent performance during the whole season.
Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO/EVO2
#87: JLOC (Huracán GT3 EVO) – Yokohama – Kosuke Matsuura, Natsu Sakaguchi
#88: JLOC (Huracán GT3 EVO2) – Yokohama – Takashi Kogure, Yuya Motojima
Lamborghini has been a part of every season of SUPER GT thanks to the ever-present Japan Lamborghini Owner’s Club, JLOC, which has run as both a fledgeling GT500 independent and then a GT300 team with a growing record of success.
The team still runs two cars this year with the same driver line-ups: The flagship #88 for 2010 GT500 Champion Takashi Kogure and Yuya Motojima, and the #87 for Kosuke Matsuura and Natsu Sakaguchi.
However, due to some supply chain issues, JLOC is only running the #88 Huracán GT3 in the latest EVO2 configuration. The #87’s upgrade will have to wait as it runs in the 2019-spec “EVO1” layout to start. The Balance of Performance for both cars will be different, too.
Last year, Kogure and Motojima finally won their first race together at Motegi, and have carried that strong form through to great pre-season testing results. Both drivers are top-quality – especially Motojima who’s finally got his first win on the board. The #88 team adding former Team Kunimitsu chief engineer Hitoshi Iyoki is a huge boost as well.
Matsuura and Sakaguchi came close to winning last summer at Suzuka and seek to keep that level of performance up, regardless of what spec their car is in. The new race engineer for the #87 is Masafumi Katsumata, who comes over from the other side of the garage.
Overall, there’s a lot to like about the JLOC team this year as all sights are set on a long-awaited first championship!
Lexus LC 500h
#31: apr – Bridgestone – Kazuto Kotaka, Jin Nakamura, Yuki Nemoto (third driver)
The Bridgestone-clad Lexus LC 500h GT300 constructed by apr Racing is one of the team’s two entries. It’s one of nine GT300 cars that is powered by the roaring Toyota 2UR-GSE V8 engine. But it’s the only car in all of SUPER GT which features a hybrid system, one that is derived from the technology used in Toyota Gazoo Racing’s WEC programme.
apr’s fan-favourite Toyota Prius is still missed, but the LC 500h proved to be a worthy successor on the track and restored the team’s place as a front-runner.
This year, team boss Hiroto Kaneso has made another change, this time on the driver’s side. Out steps veteran Koki Saga, and in steps 18-year-old rookie Jin Nakamura to partner full-season co-driver Kotaka and third driver Nemoto.
Nakamura is the youngest full-time SUPER GT driver this year and he’s rated very highly within TGR. The 2023 FIA F4 Japanese Championship runner-up showed strong pace in pre-season testing alongside fellow TGR-DC trainee Kotaka, who’s keen to impress after being passed up for a GT500 promotion this year.
Nemoto was a revelation in the long-distance races and has big potential of his own. It’s been 17 years since the last championship for apr but this looks to be a strong contender for the title!
Lexus RC F GT3
#50: Arnage Racing – Yokohama – Igor Fraga, Yuga Furutani
#96: K-tunes Racing – Dunlop – Morio Nitta, Shinichi Takagi
From the newest Lexus race car to the oldest GT3 car in service, there are two RC F GT3s on the grid in GT300 this year.
And surely, Arnage Racing and K-tunes Racing will have looked to what Vasser Sullivan has achieved in IMSA as inspiration for what’s possible with this well-travelled platform!
Arnage Racing’s partnership with Anest Iwata continues for a second season, as does the combination of four-time Gran Turismo World Series champion Fraga – who’s just as handy in full-metal motorsport – and his team-mate Furutani. Both are keen to improve on modest results in 2023, and there is plenty of room to grow for both.
When it comes to experience, K-tunes’ golden combination of Nitta and Takagi stands head and shoulders above everyone! Both drivers have a combined 55 seasons and over 400 championship races worth of experience and are #1 and #2 on the all-time wins list.
At this stage of their great careers, the two-time GT300 champion Takagi is a bit quicker than the three-time champion Nitta, but both drivers still aim to do their best in their 15th season together. Many nostalgic fans hope to see them take one more trip to the top step of the podium.
Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo
#4: Goodsmile Racing & TeamUKYO – Yokohama – Nobuteru Taniguchi, Tatsuya Kataoka
#9: Pacific Racing Team – Yokohama – Ryohei Sakaguchi, Yusuke Tomibayashi, Yuta Fujiwara (third driver)
#22: R’Qs Motor Sports – Yokohama – Hisashi Wada, Masaki Jyonai, Masaki Kano (reserve), Miki Koyama (reserve)
#65: K2 R&D LEON Racing – Bridgestone – Naoya Gamou, Takuro Shinohara
As one of the most popular platforms in GT3 racing around the world, it’s no surprise that Mercedes-AMG has a large contingent of AMG GT3 teams in SUPER GT. But in this series, the Silver Arrows have just one win in the last four years.
Two Mercedes teams lead the charge at the front: Yokohama-clad fan-favourite Goodsmile Racing & TeamUKYO, and Bridgestone-backed K2 R&D LEON Racing. Both teams retained their existing line-ups from last season – Taniguchi and Kataoka at GSR, and Gamou and Shinohara at LEON.
Managed by Ukyo Katayama, GSR has another fantastic-looking, colourful livery adorned with the image of virtual idol Hatsune Miku, plus two very experienced three-time GT300 Champions behind the wheel. However, success has been harder to come by since “NOB & TK” won their last title in 2017.
LEON has been more consistent, especially last year. But the 2018 champion team led by Haruki Kurosawa is in a dry spell of its own with no wins since 2020. Gamou is one of the finest Mercedes GT3 drivers anywhere in the world, and the team still believes in Shinohara’s potential.
R’Qs Motor Sports props up the back of the grid for Mercedes and is just happy to be here. Toyota-backed female driver Miki Koyama is a fun addition and should see meaningful seat time this year – even in a four-driver setup with 61-year-old team owner Wada and fellow Bronzes Jyonai and Kano.
Somewhere in between sits the Pacific Racing Team in its second year collaborating with Mercedes and VTuber group VSpo. This offseason they added former Team Mach driver Tomibayashi to partner Ryohei Sakaguchi for the full season, with F4 graduate Fujiwara joining for the longer races.
Nissan Fairlady Z
#11 – Gainer – Dunlop – Ryuichiro Tomita, Keishi Ishikawa
The newest GTA-GT300 original is the Nissan Fairlady Z GT300 constructed by Gainer. This machine finally broke cover before the opening round and looks absolutely stunning as a replacement for the Nissan GT-R NISMO GT3.
However, the long road from planning to production has been very troubled for Gainer, by the admission of engineer Yosuke Fukuda and team owner Kazumi Fujii. The car had to be completely redesigned during the planning phase, the VR38DETT engine transplanted from the GT-R is said to be down on power, and it was only just completed without undergoing any testing – not even a shakedown before the opening round
Therefore, Gainer will exhibit the new car in Okayama, but it won’t race until Golden Week at Fuji.
Once the car is online, it’s likely to be a very tough season for Tomita and Ishikawa, who won the summer race at Fuji last year but may find themselves being happy just to score points by the end of the year unless Gainer can rapidly understand its new car and extract performance.
Nissan GT-R NISMO GT3
#48 – NILZZ Racing – Yokohama – Taiyo Ida, Yusaku Shibata, Takumi Sanada (third driver)
#56 – Kondo Racing – Yokohama – Daiki Sasaki, João Paulo de Oliveira
#62 – HELM Motorsports – Yokohama – Kohei Hirate, Yuya Hiraki, Reiji Hiraki (third driver)
#360 – Tomei Sports – Yokohama – Takuya Otaki, Takayuki Aoki, Atsushi Tanaka (reserve), Rin Arakawa (reserve)
Nissan’s long-serving GT-R NISMO GT3 is still potent in SUPER GT, just as the R35 GT-R itself continues to evolve throughout its long history.
With Gainer moving in a different direction though, there are only four examples on the grid this year and none of them showed front-running pace in testing – its current BoP state is said to be a concern, but can always change.
Kondo Racing is the leader of the pack with its two-time championship-winning squad backed by the MOLA firm and the trainees of the Nissan Mechanic Challenge initiative. This year, the brilliant two-time GT300 Champion J.P. Oliveira has rededicated himself exclusively to SUPER GT after a brief flirtation with WEC Hypercar racing. He will be reunited with Daiki Sasaki, who’s coming back to GT300 with a point to prove.
HELM Motorsports is new to SUPER GT, arriving with a successful track record in Super Taikyu and Formula 4. Co-founders and drivers Yuya and Reiji Hiraki recruited two-time GT500 Champion Hirate to be its lead driver and two-time GT300 Champion Hideo Fukuyama to manage the team as it makes the step up to GT300 where the competition will be tougher.
Kondo Racing and HELM are the two preferred teams as designated by Nissan and NISMO, so a lot of hope is riding on them this year.
NILZZ Racing is the true minnow, with a new look and a new driver line-up featuring World Time Attack & gymkhana star Shibata, who joins tenured Am driver Ida and second-year reserve pilot Sanada.
And Tomei Sports has a fascinating combination of 2001 GT300 Champion Aoki matched with Otaki, who goes from spot starter to full-time in 2024. That’s the combination that gave Tomei Sports its lone podium in 2020. Keep an eye out for Arakawa, a rookie who was the 2021 F4 runner-up and a Super Taikyu title winner in 2022.
Subaru BRZ
#61 – R&D Sport – Dunlop – Takuto Iguchi, Hideki Yamauchi
2021 GT300 Champions Takuto Iguchi, Hideki Yamauchi and R&D Sport are back for their tenth season together, representing Subaru with the BRZ GT300.
The BRZ has lived up to its reputation as an agile cornering machine, and Subaru has spent a lot of time refining the car and developing it with a focus on reliability. It is still powered by Subaru’s tried and tested EJ20 flat-4 turbo engine which has a winning pedigree in rally and circuit racing.
Iguchi and Yamauchi have been great together over the past decade as they’ve grown into true ambassadors of Subaru motorsport. And they’re still at the peak of their powers with their racing styles that contrast one another in perfect harmony.
Last year the team had consistent results for most of the season, but let multiple chances at victory slip through their grasp. The testing results seem to indicate that the pace is still there and that the Subaru faithful should expect another strong season out of this crew in 2024.
Toyota 86 MC (Dome MC86)
#5: Team Mach – Yokohama – Kiyoto Fujinami, Yusuke Shiotsu
Here is one of the other unique cars on the GT300 grid. This is the Mother Chassis Dome MC86, aka the Toyota 86 MC, entered by Team Mach. The Mother Chassis platform has been in service since the start of 2015 and is distinct from the other GTA-GT300 cars in that it is a pure silhouette car
From a sheet of spec components including a Dome-built carbon fibre monocoque and a 4.5-litre GTA-badged Nissan V8, the Mother Chassis allows privateer teams and constructors to build whatever car they wish. Many of them, including this MC86 that was originally built in 2016, take the shape of the first-generation Toyota 86. But this Mother Chassis, number 0014, is the last one racing in SUPER GT. A next-gen version never made it past the initial planning stage and every passing year seems like it could be the last for this type of car.
Team Mach has usually been able to extract podium finishes with this platform in the past, but last year it didn’t score a single point, and now team owner Tetsuji Tamanaka is starting over with a new line-up.
The team welcomes back Kiyoto Fujinami, the two-time GT300 Champion who’s been given a second chance after costing himself a real opportunity to succeed with Nissan. Shiotsu is a newcomer who’s spent the last few years as Gainer’s reserve driver, but will now be guaranteed chances to drive in races and impact the results.
Even with such talent it may be another difficult season for the team from Fukuoka and the Mach 5-liveried MC86, but if it stays reliable, it may still challenge for podium finishes.
Toyota GR86
#2 – muta Racing INGING – Bridgestone – Yuui Tsutsumi, Hibiki Taira, Hiroki Katoh (third driver/team director)
#20 – SHADE Racing – Michelin – Katsuyuki Hiranaka, Eijiro Shimizu
#30 – apr – Yokohama – Hiroaki Nagai, Rikuto Kobayashi, Manabu Orido (third driver)
The Toyota GR86 GT300 is in its third season of action in SUPER GT. This is another GTA-GT300 special that is developed and constructed by apr Racing, but it is also used by other teams and has done very well in the series thus far. All three examples use three different brands of tyres and they’ve all developed different aerodynamic packages for the car.
The most successful team with the GR86 has not been apr, but INGING Motorsport (muta Racing INGING), which gave the car its first SUPER GT victory in 2022.
Despite not winning a race last year – though it came painfully close on three different occasions – the #2 muta GR86 was consistent enough to make a title challenge all the way until the last weekend of the season. INGING has kept its young lineup of Tsutsumi and Taira intact for another season, while Hiroki Katoh calls the shots from the pit wall and will be standing by with his helmet just in case of an emergency.
The team also benefits from the strength of its Bridgestone tyres, and if they can remain consistent and flip one of those second-place finishes to wins, Tsutsumi and Taira will be a genuine threat for the title.
SHADE Racing, backed by Hayashi Telempu, has kept its lineup of three-time GT300 Championship runner-up Hiranaka and his third-year apprentice Shimizu after they broke through for their first podium at Sugo. But this year SHADE Racing has changed tyre suppliers from Dunlop to Michelin as part of the latter’s renewed GT300 focus. This team is building towards success and has the opportunity to take another step forward this year.
As for apr’s GR86, it is still a Pro-Am car but the lineup is different this year. Reigning GT World Challenge Asia champion Nagai is still here, and legendary two-time GT300 Champion “Max” Orido has dropped down to a third driver role. Reigning FIA F4 Japanese Champion Rikuto Kobayashi (no relation!) is the new full-time driver and yet another successful convert from the world of Gran Turismo esports like Fraga and Tomibayashi. He’s keen to make an impression on his co-drivers – who are each almost 40 years his senior!
Toyota GR Supra
#25 – Hoppy Team Tsuchiya – Yokohama – Togo Suganami, Takamitsu Matsui, Kimiya Sato (third driver)
#52 – Saitama Green Brave – Bridgestone – Hiroki Yoshida, Seita Nonaka
#60 – LM corsa – Dunlop – Hiroki Yoshimoto, Shunsuke Kohno
In 2020, the fifth-generation GR Supra ignited a renaissance of GTA-GT300 cars that had once fallen out of favour for most teams. The first V8-powered GR Supra GT300, developed by Saitama Toyopet Green Brave in conjunction with apr, burst onto the scene with immediate success.
And now, four years later, the team which brought the car to life stands as the defending GT300 Champion. That team, now known as Saitama Green Brave, still looks like the favourite to win a second straight GT300 championship with the Bridgestone-clad #52 GR Supra.
The philosophy of Green Brave hasn’t changed – this is still a team operating with a works budget and a grassroots mindset, community-oriented and willing to trust several of its ordinary dealership mechanics prepare the car for its biggest challenges. Yoshida is the hard-working ace of the team who embodies the Green Brave spirit, from journeyman to champion, and back to bid for another championship.
But Kohta Kawaai has gone, and in his place steps Seita Nonaka – a Saitama local and a TGR-DC prospect who will be expected to perform well this year in GT racing and single-seaters. Nonaka accompanied the team for its defining win at Autopolis, this year he takes over as Green Brave’s new young lion in search of his first official victory.
Like the trio of GR86es, the three GR Supras all have different styles and different tyres. LM corsa has its Dunlop-clad #60 GR Supra, with its internally-developed aero kit, driven once again by the pairing of veteran Yoshimoto and young Kohno.
The Osaka-based team overhauled everything but the chassis and body for better balance and performance after two difficult seasons, and aims to return to the form that it enjoyed in 2021.
Last, but certainly not least, is the returning Hoppy Team Tsuchiya, risen from the literal ashes with a rebuilt “Hopico” – the independently-developed Toyota GR Supra which was rebuilt from the frame out after a devastating fire nearly broke the will of second-generation team owner Takeshi Tsuchiya – but his staff refused to let him give up!
Thousands of fans chipped in to help cover the costs of rebuilding the car and appropriately, at Fuji, the car returned to action 229 days after the fire with its first test. Suganami remained loyal to the team through it all and now has two new co-drivers at his side: 2016 GT300 Champion Matsui for the full season at the team that gave him his first break in motorsport, and Kimiya Sato for the long-distance rounds.
Tsuchiya Engineering has suffered setback after setback in recent years but has never given up – and should this team capture a notable result, a podium or even a victory, there will be many smiling faces up and down the SUPER GT landscape.
All images © GTA, except where otherwise listed
