2024 Autobacs SUPER GT

The 30^th-anniversary edition of the Japan’s top touring car series implemented new regulations regarding the number of tyre sets and qualifying methods. Despite these changes, the battle for victory between the two Bridgestone-powered cars that had taken the front row in qualifying was a close one, with Yui Tsutsumi and Hibiki Taira taking their first victory in the series. Other Bridgestone users also finished their first race with points for all their cars. 

Bridgestone tyre users occupy front row of starting grid

During the qualifying, the GT300 class was divided into Groups A and B, and Q1 and Q2 qualifying rounds took place as before. However, the top eight cars from each group in Q1 qualified for Group 1 (Upper) in Q2 to determine the top grid, while those ranked 9th and lower in each Q1 group formed Group 2 (Lower 17) and determined the grid for 17^th and lower. If a machine in the Lower group outperformed the Upper group's time, the system replaced only those between 13^th and 20^th place. The Tsutsumi-Taira group topped Group B in Q1, and the Gamo-Shinohara group that followed them fought a close battle in Q2, with Gamo-Shinohara obtaining the pole position. The front row was occupied by Bridgestone tyre users, and other Bridgestone users were placed 8^th in Upper. 

No-change tyre strategy helps cars achieve results in the race

The race began on a sunny summer day with a clear start. The top group remained unaffected by the multiple crashes that occurred in the GT500 class. The starting order remained as it was when the safety car run was lifted, and the positions changed up to 6^th place. Behind them, the Yoshida-Nonaka group and the Odaka-Nakamura group each moved up one place in the early stages. After clearing the minimum number of laps for each driver, these two cars made a pit stop and changed drivers, using a strategy of not changing tyres, which allowed them to quickly move up the rankings. The Tsutsumi-Taira group, which was running second, also did not change tyres. 

The leading group of Gamo-Shinohara and several other cars had yet to make their pit stops. Of the following groups that had already made their pit stops, the top group was Tsutsumi-Taira, and second place was Yoshida-Nonaka. In 4^th place was the Kodaka-Nakamura group. Gamo-Shinohara pitted after 49 laps as the race entered its final stages. After changing four tyres, he returned to the race in 3^rd place behind Yoshida-Nonaka. The Gamo-Shinohara pair returned to 2^nd place 10 laps after returning. In the final stages, the Gamo-Shinohara pair, who had the advantage in tyre performance, were slowly closing in on the leading Tsutsumi-Taira pair, but were unable to pass. The Yoshida-Nonaka pair had a difficult time and were unable to maintain their 3^rd place, finishing in 4^th place without being able to stand on the podium. Odaka-Nakamura finished the first race in 5^th place.