Super Taikyu (スーパー耐久, Super Endurance), formerly known as the Super N1 Taikyu Series prior to 2005 and N1 Endurance Series prior to 1995, and currently named the Eneos Super Taikyu Series Empowered by Bridgestone for sponsorship reasons, is a Japanese endurance racing series that began in 1991. In contrast to the Super GT series, Super Taikyu is a pro-am racing series for commercially available racing vehicles such as GT3, GT4, and TCR cars, and minimally-modified production vehicles mainly from the Japanese domestic market.
| Category | GT3, GT4, TCR, Group N |
|---|---|
| Country | Japan |
| Inaugural season | 1991 |
| Classes | ST-X, ST-Z, ST-TCR, ST-Q, ST-1, ST-2, ST-3, ST-4, ST-5 |
| Tyre suppliers | Bridgestone |
| Official website | SuperTaikyu.com |
Super Taikyu races are held across all of Japan's major motor racing circuits, with formats including a single five-hour race, and a double-header format of two three-hour races. The series' largest event is the Fuji Super TEC 24 Hours, which is held annually at Fuji Speedway since its revival in 2018. Prior to that, the Tokachi 24 Hours was the series' largest event, held annually from 1994 until 2008.
In 2022, Eneos became the new title sponsor of the series.[1]
Classes
editThe series has nine classes of vehicles, ranging from international GT3, GT4, and TCR categories to domestic categories of commercially available cars with effective displacements of under 1,500 cc.
GT3 cars were introduced with the debut of the ST-X class in 2011 (named ST-GT3 from 2012 to 2013). In 2017, the series introduced the ST-Z class for GT4 cars, and the ST-TCR class for TCR touring cars (initially named ST-R for the first round of the 2017 season).
The ST-1, ST-2, ST-3, and ST-4 classes have all existed since the first year of the series in 1991, based on the original Group N regulations and with various displacement and drivetrain layout limits in place. A fifth production class was introduced with the addition of ST-5 in 2010.
ST-Q
editIn 2021, the ST-Q class was introduced for manufacturer-developed, non-homologated special racing vehicles, similar to Nürburgring Langstrecken Serie's SPX class.[2] Toyota and ROOKIE Racing entered a modified Corolla Sport (GR Corolla) hatchback, equipped with a hydrogen-powered internal combustion engine, in ST-Q beginning in 2021.[3] In the 2021 season finale, Mazda entered a modified version of their Demio (Mazda2) subcompact, powered by biofuel.[4]
In 2022, Toyota and Subaru entered special versions of their GR86 and BRZ sports cars, adapted to run on carbon-neutral synthetic fuel.[5] That same year, Nissan entered a "Racing Concept" version of their new Fairlady Z (RZ34) sports car, which served as the prototype for the Nissan Z GT4.[6] Mazda introduced a new biodiesel concept, the Mazda3 Bio Concept, at the end of 2022.[7]
The hydrogen GR Corolla will adopt the use of liquid hydrogen in 2023 - the first race car in the world to do so.[8] Honda introduced a carbon-neutral fuel compatible version of the Civic Type R in 2023.[9]
Tyres
editYokohama was the series' official tyre supplier until the end of 2017. In 2018, Pirelli became the series' new tyre supplier as part of a three-year contract. In 2021, Hankook became the series' new tyre supplier. Their contract was to last for three years, ending in 2023, with the option to extend the contract through the end of the 2025 season.[11]
Due to the fire at Hankook's manufacturing plant in Daejeon on 12 March 2023, Bridgestone signed a new three-year contract to take over as the tyre supplier of Super Taikyu beginning in 2024. On 24 April, it was announced that Bridgestone would take over as the series' tyre supplier with immediate effect on 24 April, prior to the second round of the 2023 season.[12]
Champions
editST-X/GT3 Class (2011–present)
editBold drivers indicate a driver that entered scored every possible point for their respective teams. Drivers listed in italics competed in a select number of rounds for their respective team.
ST-Z/GT4 Class (2017–present)
editBold drivers indicate a driver that was entered in every race for their respective team. Drivers listed in italics competed in a select number of rounds for their respective team.
| Year | Team | Vehicle | Drivers |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Toyota GR Supra GT4 | ||
| 2022 | Mercedes-AMG GT4 | ||
| 2021 | Mercedes-AMG GT4 | ||
| 2020 | Mercedes-AMG GT4 | ||
| 2019 | Mercedes-AMG GT4 | ||
| 2018 | Porsche Cayman GT4 | ||
| 2017 | No entries | ||
ST-TCR Class (2017–present)
edit| Year | Team | Vehicle | Drivers |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Honda Civic Type R TCR (FL5) | ||
| 2022 | Honda Civic Type R TCR | ||
| 2021 | Honda Civic Type R TCR | ||
| 2020 | Honda Civic Type R TCR | ||
| 2019 | Audi RS 3 LMS TCR | ||
| 2018 | Honda Civic Type R TCR | ||
| 2017 | Honda Civic Type R TCR |
ST-1 Class (1991–present)
editBold drivers indicate a driver that entered scored every possible point for their respective teams. Drivers listed in italics competed in a select number of rounds for their respective team.
ST-3 Class (1991–present)
editBold drivers indicate a driver that entered scored every possible point for their respective teams. Drivers listed in italics competed in a select number of rounds for their respective team.
| Year | Team | Vehicle | Drivers |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Lexus RC 350 | ||
| 2022 | Lexus RC 350 | ||
| 2021 | Lexus RC 350 |
| |
| 2020 | Lexus RC 350 | ||
| 2019 | Lexus RC 350 | ||
| 2018 | Lexus RC 350 | ||
| 2017 | Lexus IS 350 | ||
| 2016 | Lexus IS 350 | ||
| 2015 | Nissan Fairlady Z (Z34) | ||
| 2014 | Nissan Fairlady Z (Z34) | ||
| 2013 | Lexus GS 350 (GRS191) | ||
| 2012 | Mazda RX-7 (FD3S) | ||
| 2011 | Honda NSX (NA2) | ||
| 2010 | BMW M3 (E46) | ||
| 2009 | Honda NSX (NA2) | ||
| 2008 | Nissan Fairlady Z (Z33) |
Incidents
editDuring a 2012 race at Suzuka Circuit (a support event for the 2012 FIA WTCC Race of Japan), Osamu Nakajima, driving a Nissan Fairlady Z (Z33), died after crashing into a barrier at the first corner of the circuit.[13]
References
edit- ^ "Eneos Becomes Title Sponsor Of The Super Taikyu Series | dailysportscar.com". www.dailysportscar.com. Retrieved 2022-03-09.
- ^ "Super Taikyu Completes Official Pre-Season Test At Fuji | dailysportscar.com". www.dailysportscar.com. Retrieved 2021-03-16.
- ^ CORPORATION, TOYOTA MOTOR. "Toyota Developing Hydrogen Engine Technologies Through Motorsports | Corporate | Global Newsroom". Toyota Motor Corporation Official Global Website. Retrieved 2021-10-13.
- ^ "MAZDA NEWSROOM｜Mazda to Participate in Motor Sports Race Powered by Next-Generation Biodiesel Fuel｜NEWS RELEASES". Mazda News Releases. Retrieved 2022-01-22.
- ^ CORPORATION, TOYOTA MOTOR. "Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Subaru, Toyota, Mazda, and Yamaha Take on Challenge to Expand Options for Producing, Transporting, and Using Fuel Toward Achieving Carbon Neutrality | Corporate | Global Newsroom". Toyota Motor Corporation Official Global Website. Retrieved 2022-01-22.
- ^ "Nissan Z Racing Concept for Fuji 24-hour race unveiled". Official Global Newsroom. 2022-06-04. Retrieved 2022-12-03.
- ^ "57 Cars Entered For Super Taikyu Finale at Suzuka | dailysportscar.com". www.dailysportscar.com. Retrieved 2022-12-03.
- ^ CORPORATION, TOYOTA MOTOR. "FEATURES｜World-First! Liquid Hydrogen Official Race Test at Fuji｜TOYOTA TIMES". TOYOTA TIMES. Retrieved 2023-03-23.
- ^ "New Super Taikyu ST-Q Entries From Honda, Nissan Revealed | dailysportscar.com". www.dailysportscar.com. Retrieved 2023-05-25.
- ^ "Super Taikyu 2022 Sporting Regulation" (PDF) (in Japanese). Retrieved 2 December 2022.
- ^ "スーパー耐久シリーズ 2021年からハンコックをタイヤサプライヤーに決定 | 【公式】スーパー耐久シリーズ Powered by Hankook". supertaikyu.com. Retrieved 2021-03-16.
- ^ "Bridgestone Replaces Hankook As Super Taikyu Tyre Supplier With Immediate Effect | dailysportscar.com". www.dailysportscar.com. Retrieved 2023-05-25.
- ^ "Osamu Nakajima". Motorsport Memorial. Retrieved 2013-07-22.