The Autobacs SUPER GT Series is celebrating its 30th anniversary, and at the heart of this milestone is the GT500 class. For decades, Gt500 Cars have captured the imagination of motorsport enthusiasts worldwide. These aren’t your average road cars; while they may visually echo beloved JDM models, underneath their striking exteriors lies a world of difference. Modern GT500 cars are technological marvels, sharing more DNA with Le Mans Hypercars or LMDh prototypes than with their showroom counterparts. Beneath the surface, a purpose-built carbon monocoque chassis houses a formidable two-litre, turbocharged, direct-injection inline-four engine. This powerhouse now churns out significantly more than the nominal 500 horsepower that originally defined the class, exceeding even the officially stated 550 HP.
What truly sets GT500 apart in the landscape of professional sports car racing is its unique character. The “GT500” name itself resonates deeply with generations who have grown up captivated by these machines, whether witnessing their thrilling races firsthand or experiencing their digital counterparts in video games.
Adding another layer of intrigue to SUPER GT is the intense tyre competition. In an era where many racing series have become single-tyre formulas, SUPER GT proudly maintains a tyre war. However, the 2024 season sees a shift in this dynamic. Michelin’s departure has resulted in Bridgestone commanding a dominant 80 percent of the tyre supply. Yokohama Advan tyres are chosen by two teams, while Dunlop, manufactured by Sumitomo, equips a single team. This concentration of tyre supply under Bridgestone’s control is the highest since the mid-2000s, raising concerns among some observers.
Yet, this tyre competition remains a crucial element fueling GT500’s excitement. It contributes to creating a class of cars that, remarkably, can outpace even the top-tier FIA World Endurance Championship cars over a single lap at Fuji Speedway. This is achieved without hybrid assistance and even with the adoption of 100% carbon-neutral fuel, showcasing the raw performance and engineering prowess of GT500 cars.
The strategic use of Success Ballast throughout the season further amplifies the unpredictability of GT500 championships, often leading to thrilling climaxes in the final race.
For the 2024 season, 15 GT500 cars are set to compete, driven by 30 of the world’s best drivers, all vying for the prestigious GT500 Class Championship. Let’s delve into the teams and their prospects for the year.
Toyota GT500 Teams: GR Supra Evolution
Toyota enters the 2024 season with its fifth-generation Toyota GR Supra GT500, incorporating refinements permitted by the GTA. Key improvements focus on aerodynamic efficiency, with a redesigned “lateral duct” beneath the doors, and enhanced engine compartment cooling.
These may appear to be subtle adjustments, but Toyota Customising & Development (TCD) has clearly made effective changes. The GR Supras consistently demonstrated strong pace during both private manufacturer tests and official pre-season tests at Okayama and Fuji, indicating their competitiveness.
Building on a successful 2023 season with four wins, Toyota aims to secure its third set of GT500 titles with the Supra.
#14 TGR Team Eneos ROOKIE: Kazuya Oshima / Nirei Fukuzumi (Bridgestone Tyres)
Alt text: #14 Eneos X Prime Toyota GR Supra GT500, driven by Kazuya Oshima and Nirei Fukuzumi, during Super GT 2024 Fuji Test, showcasing GT500 car aerodynamics and Bridgestone tyres.
ROOKIE Racing, now in its fifth SUPER GT season, is considered a strong contender for its first GT500 Championships. Founded by Akio Toyoda and located near Fuji Speedway, the team operates from a workshop envied by its rivals. Success is the clear objective for this team positioned as Toyota Gazoo Racing’s flagship in Japanese motorsport.
Continuity is a key factor for ROOKIE Racing, with team principal Toranosuke Takagi and chief engineer Kazuya Abe, both championship winners, remaining in their roles.
Leading the driver lineup is Kazuya Oshima, the 2019 GT500 Champion. Oshima is a cornerstone of ROOKIE Racing, known for his experience, technical expertise, setup skills, and consistent speed. This season marks his 16th in GT500, solidifying his integral role within the team.
Adding fresh energy to the team is Nirei Fukuzumi, a significant acquisition from Honda. The 27-year-old, 2019 GT300 Champion and 2021 GT500 runner-up, joined Toyota seeking top-level success and international racing opportunities. Fukuzumi is known for his outright pace and demonstrated his speed during pre-season testing.
The combination of Oshima’s experience and Fukuzumi’s pace is generating excitement within the team. While the #14 Eneos X Prime GR Supra consistently scored points in 2023, including a podium at Suzuka, the team aims to convert more of these results into top finishes and race wins to achieve a breakthrough season.
#19 TGR Team WedsSport Bandoh: Yuji Kunimoto / Sena Sakaguchi (Yokohama Advan Tyres)
Alt text: #19 WedsSport Advan Toyota GR Supra GT500, piloted by Yuji Kunimoto and Sena Sakaguchi, during Super GT 2024 Okayama Test, highlighting Yokohama Advan tyres and GT500 car livery.
TGR Team WedsSport Bandoh celebrated a GT500 race victory at Suzuka last spring, their first in nearly seven years, although it was an inherited win due to a post-race penalty. The team aims for a more definitive victory in 2024.
Racing Project Bandoh has a long-standing loyalty to Yokohama tyres, dating back to their JGTC GT300 days. However, this tyre choice has often placed them at a disadvantage compared to Bridgestone-equipped Toyota teams during their GT500 tenure under team principal Masataka Bandoh.
Despite being a “non-primary tyre” team, WedsSport Bandoh received extra off-season testing time to bridge the gap to Bridgestone. The blue and yellow WedsSport Supra remains an underdog within the Toyota camp and faces an uphill battle for top results.
The driver pairing of Yuji Kunimoto and Sena Sakaguchi is not to blame. Yuji Kunimoto, despite being 33, brings veteran experience and a consistent driving style, mentoring his younger teammate. Sena Sakaguchi is known for his speed and commitment. Despite potential opportunities elsewhere, Sakaguchi remains with WedsSport at Bandoh’s request.
In 2023, the duo showed qualifying pace, but outside of the Suzuka win, the WedsSport Supra’s best finish was eighth. The team will need to improve overall race performance to consistently contend for podiums.
#36 TGR Team au TOM’S: Sho Tsuboi / Kenta Yamashita (Bridgestone Tyres)
Alt text: #36 au TOM’S Toyota GR Supra GT500, driven by Sho Tsuboi and Kenta Yamashita, during Super GT 2024 Fuji Test, showcasing champion team’s GT500 car and Bridgestone tyre performance.
Reigning GT500 Champions TGR Team au TOM’S faces a familiar situation, aiming to defend their title after a driver change. Ritomo Miyata, after securing both GT500 and Super Formula titles in 2023, has moved to international racing, aiming to follow in the footsteps of Japanese motorsport legends.
2024 is significant for both SUPER GT and TOM’S Racing, marking TOM’S 50th anniversary. The team will undoubtedly aim to celebrate with further success. Strong pre-season testing times have positioned the white and orange au TOM’S GR Supra as a favourite for another title.
Two-time GT500 Champion Sho Tsuboi is now a leading figure for Toyota Gazoo Racing and TOM’S in Japan. He has the opportunity to become the youngest three-time GT500 champion. For his sixth full-time GT500 season, Tsuboi partners with Kenta Yamashita, the 2019 GT500 Champion, who joins from ROOKIE Racing. This pairing brings together two highly skilled and adaptable drivers with no apparent weaknesses.
Tsuboi and Yamashita are supported by experienced personnel, including team director Daisuke Ito and chief engineer Satoshi Yoshitake. While qualifying performance was an area for improvement in the past, the new qualifying format could address this.
Despite the inherent unpredictability of SUPER GT, the #36 au TOM’S team is considered a benchmark and a strong title contender for the 2024 season.
#37 TGR Team Deloitte TOM’S: Ukyo Sasahara / Giuliano Alesi (Bridgestone Tyres)
Alt text: #37 Deloitte TOM’S Toyota GR Supra GT500, piloted by Ukyo Sasahara and Giuliano Alesi, during Super GT 2024 Okayama Test, focusing on GT500 car handling and Bridgestone tyre grip.
The #37 Deloitte TOM’S GR Supra aims for significant improvement after a disappointing 2023 season. Ukyo Sasahara and Giuliano Alesi finished low in the points standings, with no top-five finishes. This contrasts sharply with the team’s past success, when it was a leading force for TOM’S.
Sasahara and Alesi return for a second season together, and improvement is crucial. Pressure is on Alesi to elevate his performance in his third GT500 season.
Team restructuring includes Jun Yamada’s promotion to General Manager overseeing both TOM’S cars, and Michael Krumm’s appointment as Team Director for the Deloitte TOM’S Supra. Krumm brings valuable experience, having won SUPER GT championships with TOM’S and NISMO.
Sasahara has shown consistent speed since joining Toyota. Chief engineer Kenta Odachi has experience working with both drivers in GT500 and Super Formula. The team aims to restore the #37 car to its former competitive standard, contributing to TOM’S overall success.
#38 TGR Team KeePer Cerumo: Hiroaki Ishiura / Toshiki Oyu (Bridgestone Tyres)
Alt text: #38 KeePer Cerumo Toyota GR Supra GT500, driven by Hiroaki Ishiura and Toshiki Oyu, during Super GT 2024 Okayama Test, showcasing new livery and GT500 car dynamics with Bridgestone tyres.
Cerumo has undergone significant changes for 2024. Yuji Tachikawa, a Cerumo legend since 1999, has transitioned from driver to team director, marking his second stint in this role after retiring from racing. The team’s cherry red ZENT livery is replaced by the royal blue of new title sponsor KeePer.
Replacing Tachikawa was a significant task. Cerumo secured Toshiki Oyu, a high-profile signing from Honda. Oyu is known for his speed but needs to reduce mistakes. The team hopes that the move to Toyota and Cerumo, alongside Tachikawa and new teammate Hiroaki Ishiura, will benefit Oyu.
Hiroaki Ishiura, entering his 17th GT500 season, is now the most experienced Toyota GT500 driver. While he has two Super Formula Championships and a GT300 title, he has yet to win a GT500 championship. Approaching his 43rd birthday, Ishiura remains competitive and hopes this season offers his best championship opportunity.
Cerumo aims to rebound after recent difficult seasons. Their last victory was in 2019, and their last podium in 2021. The team hopes these changes will rejuvenate their performance.
Shintaro Okajima joins as chief engineer, bringing experience from preparing GT300 cars.
#39 TGR Team SARD: Yuhi Sekiguchi / Yuichi Nakayama (Bridgestone Tyres)
Alt text: #39 Denso Kobelco SARD Toyota GR Supra GT500, piloted by Yuhi Sekiguchi and Yuichi Nakayama, during Super GT 2024 Fuji Test, demonstrating GT500 car stability and Bridgestone tyre performance.
SARD Racing, the oldest GT500 team and a constant presence since 1994, maintains its iconic red and white Denso SARD Toyota livery.
Managed by three-time GT500 champion Juichi Wakisaka, TGR Team SARD showed strong pre-season testing pace. The driver pairing of Yuhi Sekiguchi and Yuichi Nakayama enters their third season together.
Yuhi Sekiguchi, the 2021 GT500 Champion, joined SARD in 2022. While he has tempered his aggressive style, he remains a formidable competitor.
Yuichi Nakayama, successful in GT300, is often overlooked in GT500. He has shown flashes of brilliance, including a strong defensive drive at Suzuka in 2023.
Both drivers are under pressure to deliver results. However, compared to other Toyota teams, SARD has driver and personnel continuity. They are one of only two teams retaining the same driver lineup for three consecutive years. Their consistent performance in 2023, with only two point-less finishes due to incidents, indicates potential for wins and podiums in 2024, allowing SARD to emerge from the shadows.
Honda GT500 Teams: Civic Type R-GT Era Begins
Honda enters a new GT500 era with the debut of the Civic Type R-GT. This marks the first GT500 car based on a front-wheel drive, five-door liftback. Aesthetically, the Civic Type R-GT is well-received, and underneath, it represents an evolution of the NSX-GT, featuring improved weight distribution and packaging.
Track performance remains to be seen, but testing indicated better performance at high-speed Fuji Speedway compared to tighter Okayama.
Historically, Honda’s last new GT500 car not based on the NSX, the Honda HSV-010 GT, won the championship in its debut year, setting a high target for the Civic Type R-GT in 2024.
#8 ARTA: Tomoki Nojiri / Nobuharu Matsushita (Bridgestone Tyres)
Alt text: #8 ARTA Mugen Honda Civic Type R-GT, driven by Tomoki Nojiri and Nobuharu Matsushita, during Super GT 2024 Fuji Test, highlighting new Honda GT500 car design and Bridgestone tyre technology.
ARTA, in partnership with Mugen/M-TEC, aims to improve upon a mixed 2023 season. While the #8 ARTA Mugen Honda secured a win (due to a technical disqualification), inconsistency and driver errors plagued their campaign.
Led by F1 hero Aguri Suzuki, the orange #8 ARTA Mugen Civic seeks a rebound season. Personnel and resources are in place to prevent a repeat of 2023.
Tomoki Nojiri, despite errors in 2023, is still highly regarded, with back-to-back Super Formula Championships. He is a complete driver with speed, technical feedback, and setup knowledge.
Entering his tenth year with the #8 ARTA team, Nojiri has won a race in each of the last seven years but seeks a GT500 Championship to complement his single-seater titles. Nobuharu Matsushita joins as his new teammate, transferring from Astemo Real Racing. Matsushita is known for his relentless driving style and pace, aiming to bring stability to the team after 2023’s inconsistencies.
Engineering changes also occur, with Toshihiro Ichise transitioning to a performance engineer role, and 29-year-old Kaito Tsuji stepping up as chief engineer for the #8 ARTA Mugen Civic.
Encouraging testing results, including Matsushita topping the final Fuji test day, suggest a return to form for the #8 ARTA team in 2024.
#16 ARTA: Hiroki Otsu / Ren Sato (Bridgestone Tyres)
Alt text: #16 ARTA Mugen Honda Civic Type R-GT, piloted by Hiroki Otsu and Ren Sato, during Super GT 2024 Fuji Test, showcasing GT500 rookie driver and Honda’s new Civic GT500 car.
While the #8 car underperformed in 2023, the black #16 ARTA car exceeded expectations, becoming Honda’s sole title contender at the Motegi finale.
With Nirei Fukuzumi and Hiroki Otsu, the #16 team won at Suzuka, secured two poles and three podiums, finishing fourth in the standings and leading the Honda teams.
However, Fukuzumi’s departure to Toyota creates a vacancy. ARTA has promoted 22-year-old Ren Sato to his first GT500 season. Sato previously raced in SUPER GT in 2021 in GT300, showing speed but also making errors. After two Super Formula seasons, Sato is now more refined and possesses significant potential.
He partners with Hiroki Otsu, entering his fifth GT500 season and second with ARTA. Otsu’s consistent driving style complements Sato’s raw pace. Otsu thrived in 2023, securing his first win and contending for the championship.
The #16 ARTA team was a surprise leader in 2023. If Sato adapts quickly to GT500, their success will be expected rather than surprising.
#17 Astemo Real Racing: Koudai Tsukakoshi / Kakunoshin Ohta (Bridgestone Tyres)
Alt text: #17 Astemo Honda Civic Type R-GT, driven by Koudai Tsukakoshi and Kakunoshin Ohta, during Super GT 2024 Okayama Test, emphasizing Honda Civic GT500 handling and Bridgestone tyre performance in cornering.
Astemo Real Racing performed consistently well in 2023, but a disqualification at Sportsland Sugo for excessive skid block wear marred their results. Koudai Tsukakoshi had won the race, but the disqualification cost valuable points.
Despite this setback, the car consistently finished in the top ten in the remaining races, securing two podiums, including the NSX-GT’s final podium at Motegi.
Team founder Katsutomo Kaneishi still seeks a GT500 championship after 17 years, a goal shared with Koudai Tsukakoshi. Tsukakoshi, after Yuji Tachikawa’s retirement, is now the longest-tenured driver with a single GT500 team, entering his 16th season with Real Racing. Together, they have achieved second in the standings in 2013, and third in 2010 and 2020.
Tsukakoshi, known for his racecraft, continues his championship pursuit with Real Racing, now partnered with Kakunoshin Ohta. Ohta enters his second GT500 season with his second team. After a challenging start to his GT500 career, complicated by injury, Ohta showed strong performance, including a podium and a Super Formula finale win in 2023.
Real Racing has promoted data engineer Yu Kuwahara to chief engineer, replacing Yasuhiro Tasaka.
Some SUPER GT observers predict Real Racing to be the top Honda team and a dark horse title contender. After consistently finishing in the top six for the past five years, they are arguably more than dark horses, but genuine contenders.
#64 Modulo Nakajima Racing: Takuya Izawa / Riki Okusa (Dunlop Tyres)
Alt text: #64 Modulo Nakajima Racing Honda Civic Type R-GT, piloted by Takuya Izawa and Riki Okusa, during Super GT 2024 Okayama Test, focusing on Dunlop tyre performance and Honda GT500 car in racing conditions.
Modulo Nakajima Racing is Dunlop’s sole GT500 team. Theoretically, this offers exclusive tyre development advantages, but the lack of reference cars is a disadvantage. Satoru Nakajima’s team has struggled, with only one championship race win in the last 16 years, none since 2017.
As the sole Dunlop runner, Nakajima Racing receives extra testing concessions and an extra tyre set. However, breaking out of the lower ranks remains challenging without significant fortune, perhaps rain playing a factor.
Dunlop excels in wet conditions in SUPER GT, and this helped Takuya Izawa and Kakunoshin Ohta secure a third-place finish at Fuji in 2023.
Veteran Takuya Izawa leads Nakajima Racing, entering his 16th full season and fifth with the team. He is a respected team leader, providing invaluable technical feedback and mentoring young drivers.
Riki Okusa, a surprise Honda selection from the Nissan pipeline, joins the team. Okusa previously auditioned for the HRS Formula scholarship, and took a less conventional path through Super Taikyu and Formula Regional before arriving in GT300. A Super Formula cameo brought him into the Honda fold.
Izawa’s mentorship, alongside racing legend Nakajima and engineer Yuki Kato, provides a strong team structure. However, success heavily relies on tyre performance. Nakajima Racing has competed in SUPER GT for 25 years without a GT500 Championship, and while unlikely this year, they will strive for their best possible results.
#100 Team Kunimitsu: Naoki Yamamoto / Tadasuke Makino (Bridgestone Tyres)
Alt text: #100 Stanley Honda Civic Type R-GT, driven by Naoki Yamamoto and Tadasuke Makino, during Super GT 2024 Okayama Test, showcasing Team Kunimitsu’s Honda GT500 car and Bridgestone tyre setup.
Team Kunimitsu enters 2024 with a sense of relief, as two-time GT500 Champion Naoki Yamamoto has fully recovered from a severe accident at Sportsland Sugo in September 2023.
Yamamoto’s high-speed crash resulted in a subluxated vertebra and spinal cord damage, ending his 2023 season and raising doubts about his racing future. His third-place Super Formula finish at Suzuka demonstrated his return to form. This is his 15th SUPER GT season, all with Honda GT500.
Yamamoto carried the majority of pre-season testing duties as Tadasuke Makino recovered from illness. Makino, the 2020 GT500 Champion, is now fit to start the season.
Team Kunimitsu, a SUPER GT mainstay since 1994, aims to regain momentum after early 2023 promise faded. They continue racing in honor of their founder, Kunimitsu Takahashi, who passed away in 2022. Kazuhiro Kojima, now team steward, designs the team’s liveries, a tradition since 1996.
The silver and black Stanley Civic Type R-GT sports another striking livery. Team Kunimitsu boasts one of the strongest driver lineups in GT500. Both Yamamoto and Makino possess exceptional pace and racecraft.
While relying on Yamamoto’s experience, Makino has developed into a well-rounded driver capable of leading the team. With both drivers at full strength, Team Kunimitsu aims to return to top form in 2024, provided the Civic Type R-GT performs as expected.
Nissan GT500 Teams: Z NISMO Evolution
Nissan’s GT500 program is based on the revived Fairlady Z. The Nissan Z NISMO road car, launched last summer, inspired a redesign of the GT500 car, introduced in 2022.
The Z NISMO GT500’s reprofiled front fascia enhances both aesthetics and downforce. Testing has shown its effectiveness, suggesting continued strong performance.
Shinichi Kiga, Nissan’s new executive director and Senior Vice President of Nissan Motorsport & Customising (NMC), leads Nissan’s GT500 efforts, succeeding Motohiro Matsumura.
#3 NISMO NDDP: Mitsunori Takaboshi / Atsushi Miyake (Bridgestone Tyres)
Alt text: #3 Niterra Motul Nissan Z NISMO GT500, driven by Mitsunori Takaboshi and Atsushi Miyake, during Super GT 2024 Okayama Test, emphasizing Nissan GT500 car performance and Bridgestone tyre technology.
NDDP Racing, effectively NISMO’s second GT500 entry since 2018, is now officially NISMO NDDP in 2024.
While fielding younger drivers, the team’s performance is far from “junior.” For the past two years, the red and black #3 Nissan, driven by NDDP alumni Katsumasa Chiyo and Mitsunori Takaboshi, has contended for wins and championships. In 2023, they secured a Fuji win and three podiums, but the title slipped away at Motegi.
That was Chiyo and Takaboshi’s last chance as teammates. Takaboshi remains at NDDP Racing, taking the lead driver role. Despite a late-season error in 2023, Takaboshi is well-suited for the lead role, possessing speed and consistency.
Takaboshi partners with GT500 rookie Atsushi Miyake. Miyake has experience with all three major Japanese automakers and joins Nissan/NISMO as a factory GT500 driver, declining a FIA WEC opportunity. Miyake, a GT300 race winner, impressed during Nissan’s GT500 auditions and steps into Chiyo’s seat.
NISMO NDDP remains strong despite driver changes, and, like its sister team, switches to Bridgestone tyres. After two consecutive runner-up finishes, Takaboshi and Miyake aim for the championship in 2024.
#23 NISMO: Katsumasa Chiyo / Ronnie Quintarelli (Bridgestone Tyres)
Alt text: #23 Motul Autech Nissan Z NISMO GT500, piloted by Katsumasa Chiyo and Ronnie Quintarelli, during Super GT 2024 Okayama Test, showcasing NISMO’s flagship GT500 car and Bridgestone tyre performance on track.
NISMO holds the record for most GT500 races and Drivers’ championships, dating back to the JGTC’s inception in 1994. Much of this success is linked to the flagship #23 car.
For the past decade, Tsugio Matsuda and Ronnie Quintarelli drove the #23 car, forming a legendary partnership with back-to-back titles in 2014 and 2015 and 12 wins together. However, this era concludes despite a successful 2023 season with a win and three podiums, finishing third in the standings.
Driven partly by the switch to Bridgestone tyres, NISMO made a driver change, bringing Katsumasa Chiyo to the #23 Motul Autech Z to partner with Quintarelli. Chiyo’s move to the #23 car is a reward for his role in NDDP Racing’s championship runner-up finishes. Known for his tenacity since his Bathurst breakthrough, Chiyo now has GT500 wins and success to match his reputation, only missing a championship.
Ronnie Quintarelli, the only four-time GT500 Champion, remains quick at 44 and aims for a fifth title with NISMO. He is the only NISMO driver with prior Bridgestone experience, albeit dating back to 2010.
Driver and tyre changes are not the only updates. Takeshi Nakajima, lead engineer for over a decade and team director after Yutaka Suzuki’s passing in 2021, has appointed Ken Kobori as chief engineer, while Nakajima remains team boss.
The #23 Motul Z logged the most test miles during pre-season testing, showing strong pace in all conditions. NISMO’s experience, resources, and talent position them as a title favorite for GT500 once again.
#12 Team Impul: Kazuki Hiramine / Bertrand Baguette (Bridgestone Tyres)
Alt text: #12 Marelli Impul Nissan Z NISMO GT500, driven by Kazuki Hiramine and Bertrand Baguette, during Super GT 2024 Fuji Test, showcasing Team Impul’s GT500 car and Bridgestone tyre setup for performance.
Team Impul’s Nissan now sports a different shade of blue, a significant change after 35 years, reflecting the evolution of Calsonic Kansei to Marelli and Kazuyoshi Hoshino passing team director duties to his son Kazuki.
After winning their first GT500 Championship in 27 years, Team Impul’s title defense in 2023 was decent but lacked podium finishes, hindering their championship retention despite consistent points scoring.
Qualifying has been a weakness, and while overcome in 2022, it hampered them in 2023. The new qualifying format, allowing both drivers to qualify, aims to address this. Race pace is strong for both drivers.
Kazuki Hiramine’s championship win after a career hiatus is a notable GT500 story, and Bertrand Baguette is now a seasoned foreign driver. Both drivers, in Kazuyoshi Hoshino’s mold, are aggressive and attack-minded. Their strong driver chemistry, unique among Nissan teams with unchanged lineups, could be a crucial advantage for Impul.
Impul has also used Bridgestone tyres since 1994, providing an advantage over NISMO, which returns to Bridgestone after a decade with Michelin.
After finishing fifth in 2023, Team Impul, with driver stability and Bridgestone tyre familiarity, should be a strong contender in 2024.
#24 Kondo Racing: Tsugio Matsuda / Teppei Natori (Yokohama Advan Tyres)
Alt text: #24 Realize Corporation Advan Nissan Z NISMO GT500, piloted by Tsugio Matsuda and Teppei Natori, during Super GT 2024 Okayama Test, highlighting Yokohama Advan tyres and Kondo Racing’s GT500 car.
Masahiko Kondo’s team finished last in the GT500 standings in 2023, with only one top-five finish and a missed win opportunity at Fuji.
Nissan replaced both Daiki Sasaki and Kohei Hirate, bringing in Tsugio Matsuda and GT500 rookie Teppei Natori. Matsuda enters his 25th GT500 season, while Natori was born a day after Matsuda’s first SUPER GT race, highlighting a vast experience gap.
Matsuda’s 24 wins are the most in SUPER GT history. The oldest GT500 driver at 45, Matsuda still delivers strong performances. His NISMO experience and feedback aim to revitalize Kondo Racing’s GT500 program.
Natori, a Nissan talent addition in 2022, moves up from Kondo Racing’s successful GT300 team. He is a developing driver with a solid racing pedigree and potential for GT500 success.
Kondo Racing hopes to benefit from extra testing concessions as a Yokohama Advan runner to end their eight-year winless streak, the longest in GT500 entering 2024.
Images © GTA, Team Kunimitsu
