The 1997 All Japan Grand Touring Car Championship was the fifth season of the All-Japan GT Championship, now known as the Super GT Series, and the 15th season of top-level Japanese sports car racing dating back to the formation of the previous All-Japan Endurance/Sports Prototype Championship.
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Michael Krumm and Pedro de la Rosa won the GT500 class championship for Toyota Castrol Team in the #36 Castrol TOM's Supra. Hideo Fukuyama and Manabu Orido won the GT300 class championship for Racing Project Bandoh in the #19 Nissan Silvia.
The GT500 Drivers' Championship was decided on a tiebreaker for the first time in JGTC/Super GT history. The duo of De la Rosa and Krumm, and Toyota Team SARD driver Masami Kageyama each scored 67 points, with two victories, and one second place finish. But a third-place finish for De la Rosa and Krumm broke the tie, giving them the championship for the Toyota Castrol Team. De la Rosa became the first driver to win both the GT500 Drivers' Championship, and the Japanese Top Formula Championship in Formula Nippon (now Super Formula), in the same calendar year.
For the second year in a row, the GT Association (GTA) held a non-championship all-star race at the end of the year. The race was held at the new Twin Ring Motegi circuit which had opened earlier in the year. Instead of using the 4.801-kilometre road course, the series raced around the 2.414 km superspeedway oval with cone chicanes installed around the banked corners. The circuit, now known as Mobility Resort Motegi, staged its first championship race the following year and has remained on the JGTC/Super GT schedule ever since.
Drivers and teams
GT500
GT300
Entrant | Team Name | Make | Car | Engine | No. | Drivers | Tyre | Rounds |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
KRAFT | Wise Sports Dunlop BP MR2 | Toyota | Toyota MR2 | Toyota 3S-GE 2.0 L I4 | 6 | ![]() |
D | 1–6 |
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1–6 | |||||||
Wise Sports Dunlop BP Cavalier | Toyota Cavalier | 60 | ![]() |
4–6, NC | ||||
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4–6, NC | |||||||
RE Amemiya Racing | RE Amemiya SuperG RX-7 | Mazda | Mazda RX-7 (FD3S) | Mazda RE20B 2.0 L 3-rotor | 7 | ![]() |
D | All |
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All | |||||||
Team 5ZIGEN | PCJ 5ZIGEN RSR | Porsche | Porsche 993 RSR | Porsche M64/80 3.8 L F6 | 9 | ![]() |
D | 1–2 |
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1–2 | |||||||
M Factory Racing | Murauchi Kamei Skyline | Nissan | Nissan Skyline GTS-R (HR31) | Nissan SR20DET 2.0 L Turbo I4 | 11 | ![]() |
B | 2 |
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2 | |||||||
Kamco Works | Kamco Workstation GT-R | Nissan | Nissan Skyline GT-R (R32) | Nissan RB26DETT 2.6 L Twin Turbo I6 | 15 | ![]() |
Y | 4 |
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4 | |||||||
Team Power Magic | YB BMW 318i Coupe | BMW | BMW 318i Coupe | BMW M43B18 1.8L I4 | 16 | ![]() |
Y | All |
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1–2 | |||||||
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3–6 | |||||||
Kageisen Racing Team | Tokyo College of Science and Arts RX-7 (1) | Mazda | Mazda RX-7 (FC3S) | Mazda RE13B 1.3 L 2-rotor | 17 | ![]() |
D | 1 |
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1 | |||||||
Tokyo Polytechnic Institute Roadster (2–4, 6) | Mazda Roadster (NA) | ![]() |
2–4, 6, NC | |||||
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2–4, 6, NC | |||||||
RS-R Racing with Bandoh | RS-R Silvia | Nissan | Nissan Silvia (S14) | Nissan SR20DET 2.0 L Turbo I4 | 19 | ![]() |
Y | All |
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All | |||||||
AI Auto Racing | AI Auto GAB Porsche | Porsche | Porsche 993 RS | Porsche M64/70 3.8 L F6 | 20 | ![]() |
Y | All |
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All | |||||||
Hitotsuyama Racing | Dunlop BP BMW | BMW | BMW M3 (E36) | BMW S14 2.2 L Turbo I4 | 21 | ![]() |
D | 1–2, 6 |
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1 | |||||||
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2–4 | |||||||
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3–5 | |||||||
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5–6 | |||||||
Hirano Motorsport | Hirano Motorsport R32M | Nissan | Nissan Skyline GTS-i (R32) | Nissan RB20DET 2.0 L Turbo I6 | 24 | ![]() |
Y | 4 |
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4 | |||||||
Tsuchiya Engineering | Atlus Tsuchiya MR2 (1–2) Tsuchiya MR2 (3–6) |
Toyota | Toyota MR2 | Toyota 3S-GTE 2.0 L Turbo I4 | 25 | ![]() |
Y | All |
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1–6 | |||||||
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NC | |||||||
Team Taisan Jr. | Taisan Star Card RSR | Porsche | Porsche 993 RSR | Porsche M64/80 3.8 L F6 | 26 | ![]() |
Y | All |
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All | |||||||
Team Ferrari Club of Japan | Team FCJ Ferrari (1–4) Shell Ferrari F355 (5–6) |
Ferrari | Ferrari F355 GT | Ferrari F129B 3.5 L V8 | 27 | ![]() |
Y | 1–4, 6, NC |
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1–2, 4, NC | |||||||
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3, 6 | |||||||
Team FCJ Ferrari | 28 | ![]() |
All | |||||
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1–4, 6 | |||||||
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5 | |||||||
Signal | Friends Nito Seaside Silvia | Nissan | Nissan Silvia (S13) | Nissan FJ20DET 2.0 L Turbo I4 | 45 | ![]() |
Y | 1–2 |
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1–2 | |||||||
Cobra Racing Team | Cobra Porsche | Porsche | Porsche 993 RSR | Porsche M64/80 3.8 L F6 | 51 | ![]() |
Y | All |
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1–2, 4–6 | |||||||
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3 | |||||||
S.D.R. | Che'Nelle Porsche SDR | Porsche | Porsche 993 RSR | Porsche M64/80 3.8 L F6 | 54 | ![]() |
Y | 6 |
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6 | |||||||
Sports Factory Racing | Castrol RX-7 (1–3) Castrol FS RX-7 (4, 6) |
Mazda | Mazda RX-7 (FD3S) | Mazda RE13B 1.3 L 2-rotor | 55 | ![]() |
D | 1–3, 4, 6 |
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1–3, 4, 6 | |||||||
ecurie SiFo | SiFo Spider Version GT | Renault | Renault Sport Spider | Renault F7R 2.0 L I4 | 57 | ![]() |
M | 2 |
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2 | |||||||
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6 | |||||||
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6 | |||||||
Team Gaikokuya | Gaikokuya Dunlop Porsche | Porsche | Porsche 993 RSR | Porsche M64/80 3.8 L F6 | 70 | ![]() |
Y | All |
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All | |||||||
SigmaTec Racing Team | SigmaTec 911 | Porsche | Porsche 993 RSR | Porsche M64/80 3.8 L F6 | 71 | ![]() |
D | All |
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All | |||||||
Makiguchi Engineering | WAKO'S BMW M3 | BMW | BMW M3 (E36) | BMW S14 2.5 L I4 | 72 | ![]() |
Y | All |
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All | |||||||
Cusco Racing | Cusco Subaru Impreza | Subaru | Subaru Impreza WRX STI | Subaru EJ20 2.0 L Turbo F4 | 77 | ![]() |
Y | 6 |
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6 | |||||||
NAC West | NAC West Silvia | Nissan | Nissan Silvia (S13) | Nissan FJ20DET 2.0 L Turbo I4 | 79 | ![]() |
D | 2, 4 |
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2, 4 | |||||||
Team Daishin | Daishin Silvia | Nissan | Nissan Silvia (S14) | Nissan SR20DET 2.0 L Turbo I4 | 81 | ![]() |
B (1–2) D (3–6) |
All |
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1 | |||||||
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2–6 | |||||||
First Racing Team | Buddy Club MR2 | Toyota | Toyota MR2 | Toyota 3S-GTE 2.0 L Turbo I4 | 91 | ![]() |
Y | All |
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All | |||||||
Shimizu Racing Enterprise | Castrol Porsche (1–3) Porsche (4, 6) |
Porsche | Porsche 993 RSR | Porsche M64/80 3.8 L F6 | 333 | ![]() |
D | 1–2, 4, 6 |
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1–2 | |||||||
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4 | |||||||
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6 | |||||||
Tackle & RS Matsumoto | PCJ Shiomi Clinic RSR | Porsche | Porsche 993 RSR | Porsche M64/80 3.8 L F6 | 777 | ![]() |
D | 1 |
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1 | |||||||
910 Racing | 910 Porsche | Porsche | Porsche 993 RSR | Porsche M64/80 3.8 L F6 | 910 | ![]() |
D | All |
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1 | |||||||
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2–3 | |||||||
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4–6 | |||||||
910 TIB Porsche | 911 | ![]() |
6 | |||||
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6 |
Schedule
Round | Race | Circuit | Dates |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Suzuka GT 300 km | ![]() |
29–30 March |
2 | All Japan Fuji GT Race | ![]() |
3–4 May |
3 | Hi-Land GT Championship | ![]() |
28–29 June |
4 | Japan Special GT Cup | ![]() |
9–10 August |
5 | CP Mine GT Race | ![]() |
4–5 October |
6 | Sugo GT Championship | ![]() |
25–26 October |
NC | Nicos Cup GT Allstar Race | ![]() |
15–16 November |
Season results
Drivers credited with winning Pole Position for their respective teams are indicated in bold text.
Point ranking
GT500 class
Drivers
Rank[16] | Driver | No. | SUZ | FUJ | SEN | FUJ | MIN | SUG | MOT | MOT | Points | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() ![]() |
No. 36 Toyota Castrol Team | 13 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 15 | 67 | |||
2 | ![]() |
No. 39 Toyota Team SARD | 2 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 13 | 7 | Ret | Ret | 67 | |
3 | ![]() |
No. 37 Toyota Castrol Team | 3 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 64 | |
3 | ![]() |
No. 37 Toyota Castrol Team | 3 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 64 | |||
No. 36 Toyota Castrol Team | Ret | 5 | ||||||||||
4 | ![]() |
No. 2 NISMO | 1 | 4 | 2 | 10 | 9 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 60 | |
5 | ![]() |
No. 39 Toyota Team SARD | 1 | 5 | 1 | 13 | 7 | Ret | Ret | 52 | ||
6 | ![]() |
No. 2 NISMO | 1 | 2 | 10 | 9 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 50 | ||
7 | ![]() ![]() |
No. 3 Hasemi Motorsports | 4 | 2 | 9 | 6 | 7 | Ret | 4 | 3 | 37 | |
8 | ![]() |
No. 5 Team 5Zigen | 6 | Ret | 6 | Ret | 12 | 1 | 7 | 10 | 32 | |
8 | ![]() |
No. 5 Team 5Zigen | 6 | Ret | 6 | Ret | 12 | 1 | 32 | |||
9 | ![]() ![]() |
No. 100 Team Kunimitsu with Mooncraft | Ret | 16 | 11 | 2 | 2 | 10 | 11 | 30 | ||
10 | ![]() ![]() |
No. 38 Toyota Castrol Team | 7 | 9 | 4 | 8 | 5 | 10 | 2 | 4 | 28 | |
11 | ![]() |
No. 12 Hoshino Racing | Ret | 5 | 15 | 4 | 6 | 14 | 24 | |||
12 | ![]() |
No. 8 Power Craft | 7 | 4 | 6 | 20 | ||||||
13 | ![]() |
No. 12 Hoshino Racing | Ret | 15 | 4 | 6 | 14 | Ret | 6 | 16 | ||
14 | ![]() |
No. 39 Toyota Team SARD | 2 | 15 | ||||||||
15 | ![]() ![]() |
No. 8 Power Craft | 10 | Ret | 12 | |||||||
No. 510 Ryowa House Pacific Team Cerumo | 8 | 5 | 11 | |||||||||
16 | ![]() ![]() |
No. 18 Mugen + Dome Project | Ret | Ret | Ret | 8 | 5 | 8 | 9 | 11 | ||
17 | ![]() |
No. 2 NISMO | 4 | 10 | ||||||||
17 | ![]() |
No. 8 Power Craft | 15 | 4 | 10 | |||||||
19 | ![]() ![]() |
No. 556 NISMO | 5 | Ret | 14 | 9 | Ret | Ret | Ret | 7 | 10 | |
20 | ![]() |
No. 8 Power Craft | 7 | 15 | 6 | 10 | ||||||
21 | ![]() |
No. 12 Hoshino Racing | 5 | 8 | ||||||||
22 | ![]() |
No. 13 Endless Sports | 8 | Ret | 11 | 7 | 10 | 12 | 8 | |||
23 | ![]() |
No. 13 Endless Sports | Ret | 11 | 7 | 10 | 12 | 5 | ||||
24 | ![]() ![]() |
No. 10 Team TMS | 12 | 7 | 13 | 13 | DNQ | 4 | ||||
25 | ![]() ![]() |
No. 34 Team Taisan with Advan | 10 | Ret | 14 | 8 | 6 | Ret | 4 | |||
26 | ![]() ![]() |
No. 30 Team Take One | 9 | Ret | 12 | 12 | 11 | 9 | 5 | 8 | 4 | |
27 | ![]() ![]() |
No. 4 Suzuki Bankin | 11 | 8 | DNQ | 16 | DNQ | 3 | ||||
27 | ![]() |
No. 13 Endless Sports | 8 | 3 | ||||||||
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No. 88 JLOC Corsa | Ret | Ret | 14 | Ret | 13 | 9 | Ret | 0 | |||
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No. 47 Susuki Racing Mechanics | Ret | 0 | |||||||||
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No. 37 Toyota Castrol Team | 3 | 2 | 0 | ||||||||
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No. 36 Toyota Castrol Team | Ret | 5 | 0 | ||||||||
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No. 12 Hoshino Racing | Ret | 6 | 0 | ||||||||
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No. 5 Team 5Zigen | 7 | 10 | 0 |
GT300 Class (Top 5)
Drivers
Rank | Drivers | Number/Team | Points | Wins |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() ![]() |
#19 Racing Project Bandoh Nissan Silvia | 90 | 2 |
2 | ![]() ![]() |
#26 Team Taisan Jr Porsche 964 | 89 | 2 |
3 | ![]() |
#25 Tsuchiya Engineering Toyota MR-2 | 52 | 1 |
4 | ![]() |
#25 Tsuchiya Engineering Toyota MR-2 | 52 | 1 |
5 | ![]() ![]() |
#71 Team Sigmatech Porsche 993 | 51 | 1 |
Notes
References
- ↑ "GT Championship 1997 - Round 1 Qualify". supergt.net. Retrieved 2023-08-25.
- ↑ "GT Championship 1997 - Round 1 Race Result". supergt.net. Retrieved 2023-08-25.
- ↑ "GT Championship 1997 Round 2 - Qualify". supergt.net. Retrieved 2023-08-25.
- ↑ "GT Championship 1997 Round 2 - Race Result". supergt.net. Retrieved 2023-08-25.
- ↑ "GT Championship 1997 Round 3 - Qualify". supergt.net. Retrieved 2023-08-25.
- ↑ "GT Championship 1997 Round 3 - Race Result". supergt.net. Retrieved 2023-08-25.
- ↑ "GT Championship 1997 Round 4 - Qualify". supergt.net. Retrieved 2023-08-25.
- ↑ "GT Championship 1997 Round 4 - Race Result". supergt.net. Retrieved 2023-08-25.
- ↑ "GT Championship 1997 Round 5 - Qualify". supergt.net. Retrieved 2023-08-25.
- ↑ "GT Championship 1997 Round 5 - Race Result". supergt.net. Retrieved 2023-08-25.
- ↑ "GT Championship 1997 Round 6 - Qualify". supergt.net. Retrieved 2023-08-25.
- ↑ "GT Championship 1997 Round 6 - Race Result". supergt.net. Retrieved 2023-08-25.
- ↑ "GT Championship 1997 Allstar Race - 1st Race Result". supergt.net. Retrieved 2023-08-25.
- 1 2 "GT Championship 1997 Allstar Race - Qualify". supergt.net. Retrieved 2023-08-25.
- ↑ "GT Championship 1997 Allstar Race - 1st Race Result". supergt.net. Retrieved 2023-08-25.
- ↑ "GT Championship 1997 - Series Ranking". supergt.net. Retrieved 2023-07-24.
External links
- Super GT/JGTC official race archive (in English)
- 1997 season results