GT300 Handicaps Revised to Include Refuel Time

Photo: SUPER GT

SUPER GT has announced a revision to the system of handicaps for the GT300 class, introducing the modification of refueling times as a form of success penalty.

The Japanese championship made the announcement on Monday, following last weekend’s second and final official pre-season test at Fuji Speedway, marking the third amendment to the system in the space of a year.

Ahead of the 2024 campaign, it was announced that the upper limit for success ballast in GT300 would be reduced to 80 kg, as part of a package of measures aimed at slowing down the cars in the lower division by making them heavier across the board.

Concerns about the implications of the ever-increasing weight of the GT300s led this figure to be lowered to 50 kg midseason.

For 2025, the nominal limit returns to 100 kg, as it was prior to 2024, but the actual amount of weight loaded will not exceed 50 kg, with the adjustment of refueling times added as a secondary measure to further penalize the most successful cars.

This will be achieved by way of a GTA-supplied restrictor to be attached to the refueling rig, the diameter of which will be announced by bulletin prior to each race.

Success ballast will continue to be accrued at the rate of 2 kg per point, with the handicap halved for the penultimate round at Autopolis and eliminated for the Motegi finale.

The new system in effect mirrors that of the GT500 class, where nominal handicaps above 50 kg are converted into the use of fuel flow restrictors to reduce engine power, with the three stages of restrictor becoming progressively harsher.

Entry List for Okayama Season Opener Revealed

SUPER GT has issued a 43-car entry list for next week’s opening round of the season at Okayama International Circuit, featuring the full grid of regular teams.

All 15 GT500 class squads are listed with their regular full-season drivers, while there are likewise few surprises in the 28-strong GT300 field.

Oliver Rasmussen’s absence due to injury has been confirmed, with the No. 31 apr Lexus LC500h to be piloted by Miki Koyama and Yuki Nemoto at Okayama.

It’s understood that the Danish driver is targeting a comeback from the broken thoracic vertebra he suffered in a Super Formula crash earlier this month at Suzuka in time for the second round of the season at Fuji in early May.

Elsewhere, Yuma Shoji is set for his debut aboard the No. 22 R’Qs Motor Sport Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo alongside veteran Masaki Jyonai after successfully passing his required rookie test in last weekend’s Fuji test.

A total of 11 drivers passed the rookie test, including CarGuy MKS Racing’s Zak O’Sullivan, who is set to make his first start in the series sharing the new team’s Ferrari 296 GT3 with Toyota junior Rikuto Kobayashi.