It’s that time of the year where Super GT fever afflicts the Malaysian motoring folks. June 9th and 10th marks the 3rd round of the Super GT after Okayama and Fuji in Japan. The organizer of the Malaysian round JPM Motorsports, held a press conference on the 9th April at the classy Pavilion Shopping Centre in Kuala Lumpur to announce the event and all the activities planned during the race weekend.
For those unfamiliar, Super GT actually started way back in 1993 as the Japan GT Championship. There are two classes of race, the GT500 and GT300. Each class is limited by the amount of power the machines put out, 500hp and 300hp respectively. These power outputs are capped via the use of intake restrictors although some heavier cars are given allowances to run larger restrictors to maintain parity. In order to ensure maximum excitement, both of the GT500 and GT300 groups are run at the same time although points are awarded separately for each group.
Pic 1: The organizers
Pic 2: Mr. J.P. Chin, founder of JPM Motorsport
Pic 3: Mr. Masaaki Bandoh, the President of Japan GT Association
The top class in Super GT, GT500, is dominated by the Big 3 Japanese automakers: Honda, Nissan, and Toyota/Lexus. The lower GT300 class has a few factory teams but mostly are privateers with cars from Subaru, Toyota/Lexus, Honda, Nissan and continental makes like the BMW Z4 GT3, Ferrari 458 GT3, Audi R8 LMS, Porsche 911 GT3R, Corvette Z06R GT3, Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3, Aston Martin V8 Vantage, Lamborghini Gallardo RG-3 and others. Notable new entrants are the latest Subaru BRZ and Toyota Prius. All of these cars racing together on the track make a race like no other! Fierce competition and excitement in every corner is expected.
Besides racing, Super GT fans can look forward to a host of innovative off track activates to cater to all genre of the crowd. There will be a huge motorshow event with participants from Honda, Porsche, Ford, Alfa Romeo, Toyota, Nissan, Hyundai, Naza World and other manufacturers. For the shopaholic there’s also the Akiba Town, which is a lifestyle themed bazaar for Japanese gadgets.
Something very different would be a BMX challenge and also the Gran Turismo 5 Asia Online Tournament 2012 Challenge, the winner of which will compete with international players for the title of Asia’s GT5 Champion.
Making a comeback would be The Biggest Supercar and Performance Car Gathering in Malaysia. Last year, a Malaysian Book of Records number of 405 cars turned up for the event. This year, they hope to break that record. If you are an owner of a sports car, make yourself available and be part of this record breaking feat.
We have been covering the Super GT event in Malaysia since the year 2000, and this year is no exception. Come and join in the fun this 9th and 10th June 2012. See you in Sepang International Circuit!
Get your tickets here : click this link
Pic 4: Ms. Lu Shan, Malaysia's Super GT ambassador
Pic 5: Mr. J.P. Chin with some of the supporters for Super GT 2012 Round 3
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