Insight: The Risks of SUPER GT's Radical Rule Changes

Why SUPER GT's radical rule changes for 2024 season could backfire...

Normally, one of SUPER GT’s three GT500 manufacturers introducing a brand new car would be the biggest talking point ahead of the new season, especially when that car, the Honda Civic Type R-GT, is the first ever four-door design to be used in the top class.

But, instead of the usual speculation about which marque looks to have the edge in testing, sweeping changes to this year’s sporting regulations have been the talk of the paddock.

The popular Formula 1-style knockout qualifying format, in use since 2010, has been replaced by an aggregate time system whereby all cars participate in Q1 and Q2 and the combined times from each session are used to determine the grid. Not only that, but the same set of tires must be used for both sessions, plus the start of the race.

For a series that has been criticized for being overly conservative in some aspects, such massive changes to the fabric of the race weekend came as a major surprise to many observers.

SUPER GT organizer GTA has justified the move primarily in environmental terms, framing it as a natural result of its decision to reduce the number of tires used at each race weekend. In 2024, teams will be limited to just four sets of slicks at 300km races, down from five last year, albeit with more sets available for longer races.