It’s not long now until the start of the adrenaline-fuelled Japan Automobile Federation Super GT Championship’s 2016 season, and Lexus has already begun testing.
2015 season recap: Season finale win for Lexus RC F in Japan’s Super GT series
Super GT is extraordinary for a number of reasons. Electronic aids (such as ABS, traction and stability controls) are not allowed, and the series pitches two different classes and power outputs of car – GT300 and GT500 – into the same race at the same time.
Super GT testing this week in Okayama and next week in Fuji. First race second weekend of April. #supergt #LexusRCF pic.twitter.com/o0SEZDE5KW
— Heikki Kovalainen (@H_Kovalainen) March 19, 2016
Super GT’s first official test of the year went ahead on Saturday 19th March. The first day of testing involved two 2-hour sessions, one each in the morning and afternoon. The morning session was wet but the afternoon session was much drier, encouraging the teams to clock up test-miles in preparation for the first race of the season.
Day one ended with Lexus RC F dominating the top four of the timing result. Kazuya Oshima posted a lap time that broke the track record (1’19.008), a figure that went on to become the fastest time of the day.
Great couple of days testing Super GT. Ended today fastest. Got a few days off before more testing next weekend! pic.twitter.com/GfUsqGqsjm
— James Rossiter (@Rossiterracing) March 20, 2016
In Super GT’s GT500 class, six Lexus RC F mounted with an inline 4-cylinder, 2.0-litre direct injection turbo-charged engine (RI4AG) will be supplied to five teams under the entrant name of LEXUS GAZOO Racing.
The rounds for the 2016 season are as follows:
| ROUND | DATE | LOCATION |
|---|---|---|
| Rnd 1 | 9-10 April | Okayama International Circuit, Japan |
| Rnd 2 | 3-4 May | Fuji Speedway, Japan |
| Rnd 3 | 21-22 May | Autopolis, Japan |
| Rnd 4 | 23-24 July | Sportsland Sugo, Japan |
| Rnd 5 | 6-7 August | Fuji Speedway, Japan |
| Rnd 6 | 27-28 August | Suzuka Circuit, Japan |
| Rnd 7 | 8-9 October | Buriram United International Circuit, Thailand |
| Rnd 8 | 12-13 November | Twin Ring Motegi, Japan |
Learn more: Lexus hits the 2015 Super GT season for six
Learn more: Rossiter leads peerless Lexus RC F performance at Suzuka
Learn more: Former F1 driver Heikki Kovalainen to race for Lexus
