GTA Announces Measures to Cut Cornering Speeds

SUPER GT organizers have announced the implementation of new technical regulations to reduce cornering speeds for the upcoming season.

The GTA revealed on Friday a package of measures that will impact both the GT500 and GT300 classes in the name of improved safety, which it indicated would be implemented in the wake of Naoki Yamamoto’s huge accident in last year’s Sportsland Sugo race.

In GT500 cornering speeds will be cut by way of increasing the minimum ride height, as defined by the thickness of the skid block, thereby reducing the aerodynamic effect of the cars. As such, the skid block will now be 5mm thicker than it was in 2023.

Cars competing in the GT300 class, both FIA GT3 and GTA-GT300 rules machinery, will have their minimum weight increased by different amounts ranging from 33 to 52 kg.

This extra weight is distinct from the extra weight assigned to each car under the Balance of Performance regulations, which are announced in advance of each race.

Differences such as normally-aspirated and turbo engines were taken into account when dictating the weight, with the turbocharged FIA GT3 cars – namely the Honda NSX GT3 Evo22, BMW M4 GT3, Nissan GT-R NISMO GT3, Ferrari 296 GT3 and Aston Martin Vantage GT3 Evo – receiving the largest increases, either 51 or 52 kg.

The smallest increase of 33 kg applies to the Toyota 86 Mother Chassis car.

The additional weight partly explains why the success ballast system for GT300 cars has been modified for 2024, with each point now worth only an additional 2 kg (instead of 3 kg previously) and a cap of 80 kg (previously 100 kg) implemented.

GT500 cars will continue to receive 2 kg of ballast per point scored up to 50 kg, after which a combination of weight and fuel flow restrictors are applied up to a nominal maximum of 100 kg.

As revealed by Sportscar365 earlier in the week, the race distances for the 2024 season have been officially set, with a new three-hour timed race format set to debut in the second round of the season at Fuji Speedway in May.