On 29 February, the GT Association (GTA) published the 2024 Autobacs SUPER GT Series event formats, confirming the addition of three-hour timed races to the calendar as one of two new formats for this year.
The three-hour endurance races will be held at Fuji Speedway during Golden Week on 4 May (Saturday), Suzuka Circuit on 2 June, and Autopolis on 20 October.
It will be the first time in SUPER GT history that a championship round has been run under a time-based format instead of a prescribed distance.
The summer races at Fuji and Suzuka, on 4 August and 1 September, have been shortened to 350 kilometres.
The 350km and three-hour formats effectively replace the 450km format that was used over the past two seasons. All five of these races will allow teams to register up to three drivers.
The season-opening round at Okayama International Circuit, the sixth round at Sportsland Sugo, and the finale at Mobility Resort Motegi will remain at the “standard” 300km sprint distance.
The GTA has already confirmed that teams will be allowed one fewer set of dry and wet tyres in 300km races compared to last year as part of the SUPER GT Green Project 2030 sustainability drive.
In 2024, teams can only bring four sets of dry tyres and five sets of wet tyres per race weekend in the standard format.
Tyre allowances and pit stop requirements for the three-hour and 350km will be announced in event bulletins posted closer to the events.
Throughout 2023, all 450km races allowed teams to bring one additional set of dry and wet tyres per weekend and required two pit stops including refuelling to satisfy the sporting regulations.
SUPER GT 2024 Calendar (as of 29 February 2024)
- 14 April: Okayama International Circuit – 300km
- 4 May: Fuji Speedway I – 3 Hours
- 2 June: Suzuka Circuit I – 3 Hours
- 4 August: Fuji Speedway II – 350km
- 1 September: Suzuka Circuit II – 350km
- 22 September: Sportsland Sugo – 300km
- 20 October: Autopolis – 3 Hours
- 3 November: Mobility Resort Motegi – 300km
Feature image © GTA
