For the primary time for the reason that COVID-19 pandemic, Tremendous GT is venturing past Japanese shores subsequent 12 months. The championship’s first-ever night time race at Sepang in Malaysia, which ought to have taken place in 2020 solely to be scuppered by the onset of the worldwide well being disaster, was a part of the collection’ 2025 calendar launched firstly of this month.
You’ll wrestle to search out anybody within the Tremendous GT paddock who isn’t enthusiastic about heading to Sepang. There have been robust hints that the previous Malaysian Grand Prix venue, the unique ‘Tilkedrome’ (and nonetheless arguably one of the best), could be added to the calendar after GT500 producer testing was held there again in January for the primary time for the reason that pandemic.
Masaaki Bandoh, head of the GTA organisation that promotes the collection, was a notable customer to the paddock on that event. He spoke with Malaysian authorities representatives a few deal to convey Tremendous GT again to Sepang for the primary time since 2013.
Bandoh-san revealed final 12 months, after Japan absolutely reopened its borders to the world ultimately, that talks had been ongoing with quite a lot of venues throughout the Asian area about internet hosting Tremendous GT, together with Buriram in Thailand, the place the collection raced from 2014 till 2019, and Shanghai. However Sepang was at all times considered the favorite owing to its recognition as a take a look at venue, in addition to the eagerness of the Malaysian authorities to assist issues alongside.
The ultimate particulars are nonetheless to be labored out forward of a contract signing ceremony later this month at Suzuka, however the plan is for the race to be held below floodlights on a Saturday night time, avoiding the warmth of the day. Qualifying would happen on the Friday night.
“We had the winter exams there, and it’s a pity to go to such a pleasant monitor only for testing!” Nissan’s two-time Sepang winner Ronnie Quintarelli informed Motorsport.com. “It’s a really good format, very demanding on the tyres with the high-speed corners, particularly on the fronts, and there are plenty of probabilities to overhaul. It’s nice to have it again on the calendar.”
Sepang was beforehand a staple of the Tremendous GT calendar, and its return for the primary time since 2013 is welcomed within the paddock
Photograph by: Yasushi Ishihara
Tremendous GT views internet hosting races exterior of Japan as important for dwelling as much as its billing as a global collection (it has now been 20 years for the reason that collection was generally known as the All-Japan GT Championship), increasing its fanbase and offering an additional incentive to the producers by giving them a platform to market their merchandise to a wider viewers. As such, it wouldn’t be a shock if the revived Sepang race proves to be step one in an expanded presence throughout the Asian area.
Bandoh-san has repeatedly hinted that this might find yourself taking the type of a ‘winter collection’, whereby a number of races are positioned collectively throughout the common low season between November and March, throughout the Japanese winter. However that’s not all.
Japan’s different top-level collection, Tremendous Components, additionally has plans to host a global spherical subsequent 12 months, though these are nonetheless removed from sure to return to fruition. When the provisional 2025 Tremendous Components calendar was launched firstly of this month, it featured a date marked merely ‘South Korea’.
Whether or not or not the Inje occasion sees the sunshine of day stays to be seen, however the South Korea plan may be taken as clear proof that Tremendous Components is critical about its ambitions to change into a extra pan-Asian collection
It’s understood that the supposed venue for that is Inje Speedium, which has held occasions such because the Asian Le Mans Sequence up to now and was set to be visited by the World Touring Automotive Cup in 2020 previous to the pandemic. Assuming it’s Inje – to this point there was no affirmation from Tremendous Components – it could be the primary race that includes such high-calibre single-seaters for the venue, a two-hour drive away from Seoul in Gangwon Province.
Tremendous Components organiser JRP has historical past with Inje. A race was imagined to be held there in 2013, and it could have been the championship’s first abroad race because it visited Sepang again in 2004. But it surely was cancelled on the final minute amid Inje’s lack of preparation, together with failure to get the required FIA Grade 2 classification in time.
At the moment, the monitor had solely simply opened, with a Tremendous Taikyu race held in early 2013 as a ‘pilot’ occasion. Now the monitor is rather more established, internet hosting Lamborghini Tremendous Trofeo Asia earlier this 12 months in addition to home occasions, though there are issues concerning the bumpiness of the circuit, in addition to the fee implications of visiting Korea.
Tremendous Components may additionally enterprise past Japan subsequent season into South Korea, after its final mooted go to in 2013 was canned
Photograph by: Masahide Kamio
Like Tremendous GT, JRP bosses have made rising noises about increasing abroad lately. The inclusion of South Korea on the 2025 calendar did nevertheless come as a shock to many, not least due to what occurred final time Inje was slated to carry a race.
Whether or not or not the Inje occasion sees the sunshine of day stays to be seen, however the South Korea plan may be taken as clear proof that Tremendous Components is critical about its ambitions to change into a extra pan-Asian collection that may attraction to followers and drivers exterior of Japan.
Contemplating Tremendous GT’s return to Sepang, in addition to the revival of the Suzuka 1000km subsequent 12 months, this transfer by Tremendous Components is one other positive sign that Japanese motorsport is able to flip the web page on the tough pandemic years and begin constructing in the direction of a extra worldwide future.
Is Japanese motorsport lastly starting to recuperate from its robust pandemic years?
Photograph by: 皆越 和也
