Mid-Season Qualifying Format Changes Confirmed

SUPER GT’s new-for-2024 aggregrate qualifying format will be modified from the next round of the season at Suzuka, the GTA has confirmed.

The Japanese sportscar series introduced a radical new system for qualifying that replaced the previous knockout system, with times from both Q1 and Q2 combined to provide the grid order and a requirement to use the same set of tires in both sessions.

However, the system has not proven universally popular, and last month the decision was made to implement changes using feedback from teams and drivers, which were revealed ahead of Sunday’s fourth round of the season at Fuji Speedway.

As previously reported by Sportscar365, the aggregrate system will remain in place, but it will no longer be necessary for teams to re-use the same set of tires in both Q1 and Q2.

Under the current system, the same set of tires that was used for Q1 and Q2 must also be equipped for the start of the race, but now the tire set to be fitted for the opening stint will be determined by lottery, as was the case until last year.

In the GT300 class, the 27-car field will no longer be split into two groups for Q1, with a single 20-minute session dictating which cars progress to the pole shootout – which will now comprise 14 cars, instead of 16 as previously.

This change comes amid concerns that the system of splitting the field for Q1 was unfair as the latter group would usually gain an advantage from improving track conditions.

In the event of wet conditions, the aggregate system will not be used for GT300, with only Q2 times determining the grid (as was the case in qualifying on Saturday at Fuji), but combined times will still be used for the GT500 class.

Additionally, the ‘special replacement rule’ which saw the four fastest cars in the lower Q2 group mixed with the slowest cars from the upper group has been scrapped.

Impul Nissan driver Bertrand Baguette, one of the most vocal critics of the aggregate system, told Sportscar365 he welcomed the changes.

“I’m happy this was the last time using this format,” said the Belgian driver. “A lot of people were against it. I would still go back to last year’s system, but at least with two new sets of tires, it will be easier for everybody to understand.

“This time [in Q2] I think I did a good lap, but it’s difficult to know what the problem is: is it me, the set-up, the tire? Why are some guys faster in Q2 and we lost four tenths?

“At least for the next race, if I am four tenths slower in Q2, I know it’s my fault!”