1993 All Japan Grand Touring Car Championship

The 1993 All Japan Grand Touring Car Championship was the inaugural season of the Japan Automobile Federation All-Japan Grand Touring Car Championship and the successor series to the All Japan Sports Prototype Championship as international prototypes were in a state of flux in the early 1990s, and sportscar racing globally had switched from prototypes to grand tourers. It was marked as well as the eleventh season of a JAF-sanctioned sports car racing championship dating back to the All Japan Sports Prototype Championship.[1]

Most events were staged as joint-races with the upstart Japan Super Sports Sedan Championship, and the IMSA GT Championship, with only a small handful of cars entered in the "GTS" category that would later evolve into the current GT500 class - and in fact, only one such car took part in that year's Suzuka 1000km against several Group C prototypes and sports cars from the N1 Endurance Series. Because the format and structure of the races were so different from what would come in future seasons, the 1993 season is not recognized by the GT Association (GTA), who were incorporated in 1994 to promote the All-Japan GT Championship (later to become Super GT).

The championship was contested over four rounds,[2] and Masahiko Kageyama was declared the champion, driving a Nissan Skyline GT-R.[3] He would also win the final All-Japan Touring Car Championship to be run to Group A regulations in the same year.

Drivers and teams

GT1

Team Make Car Engine No. Drivers Tyre Rounds
NISMO[N 1] Nissan Nissan Skyline GT-R Nissan RB26DETT 2.6 L Twin Turbo I6 2 Japan Masahiko Kageyama B 1–2, 4
Joe Llauget Oldsmobile Oldsmobile Cutlass IMSA GTO Oldsmobile 6.0 L V8 12 United States Joe Llauget G 1
Lindley Racing[N 2] Ford Ford Mustang IMSA GTO Ford 6.0 L V8 48 United States Les Lindley G 1
Tommy Riggins Oldsmobile Oldsmobile Cutlass IMSA GTO Oldsmobile 6.0 L V8 53 United States Tommy Riggins G 1

GT2

Team Make Car Engine No. Drivers Tyre Rounds
NISMO Nissan Nissan Silvia Nissan FJ20DET 2.0 L Turbo I4 3 Japan Takayuki Kinoshita Y 1–2
Japan Hideo Fukuyama 4
Auberlen Racing Concepts[N 3] Mazda Mazda RX-7 Mazda RE13B 1.3 L 2-rotor 19 United States Bill Auberlen Y 1
Jack Lewis Enterprises Porsche Porsche 964 RS Porsche M64/03 3.8 L F6 73 United States Jack Lewis Y 1
Leitzinger Racing Nissan Nissan Silvia Nissan VQ30DE 3.0 L V6 95 United States Bob Leitzinger T 1
97 United States Frank Honsowetz 1

JSS

Team Make Car Engine No. Drivers Tyre Rounds
RS Nakaharu Nissan Nissan Silvia Nissan FJ20DET 2.0 L Turbo I6 5 Japan Hiroyasu Aoyagi B 1–2, 4
24 Japan Seiichi Sodeyama 1–2, 4
25 Japan Minoru Saotome 2
RE Amemiya Racing Mazda Mazda RX-7 Mazda RE13B 1.3 L 2-rotor 6 Japan Katsuo Kobayashi D 1
10 Japan Tadashi Mizuno 1–2, 4
ERC Mazda Mazda RX-7 Mazda RE13B 1.3 L 2-rotor 9 Japan Tetsuya Kawasaki D 1
11 Japan Takemasa Okazaki 1–2
12 Japan Tetsuya Kawasaki 4
Hiromoto Ishimori Nissan Nissan Skyline GTS-R Nissan RB20DET 2.0 L Turbo I6 13 Japan Hiromoto Ishimori B 1–2, 4
Katsumi Mochizuki Mazda Mazda RX-7 Mazda RE13B 1.3 L 2-rotor 17 Japan Katsumi Mochizuki D 1–2
Kenji Tohira Nissan Nissan Skyline GTS-R Nissan RB20DET 2.0 L Turbo I6 22 Japan Kenji Tohira B 1–2
Atsushi Hayakawa Mazda Mazda RX-7 Mazda RE13B 1.3 L 2-rotor 33 Japan Atsushi Hayakawa D 1–2
Tetsuo Kozai Mazda Mazda RX-7 Mazda RE13B 1.3 L 2-rotor 37 Japan Tetsuo Kozai D 1–2, 4
Shunichi Mori Mazda Mazda RX-7 Mazda RE13B 1.3 L 2-rotor 39 Japan Shunichi Mori D 1–2, 4
Katsutoshi Ito Mazda Mazda RX-7 Mazda RE13B 1.3 L 2-rotor 40 Japan Katsutoshi Ito D 1, 4
Toshiro Fukazawa Mazda Mazda RX-7 Mazda RE13B 1.3 L 2-rotor 55 Japan Toshiro Fukazawa D 1–2, 4
Yoshimi Ishibashi Nissan Nissan Skyline GTS-R Nissan RB20DET 2.0 L Turbo I6 70 Japan Yoshimi Ishibashi Y 1–2, 4

C1

Team Make Car Engine No. Drivers Tyre Rounds
Le Mans Company Nissan Nissan R92CP Nissan VRH35Z 3.5 L Twin Turbo V8 25 Japan Takao Wada B 3
Japan Toshio Suzuki 3
Nova Engineering Nissan Nissan R90CK Nissan VRH35Z 3.5 L Twin Turbo V8 27 Italy Mauro Martini B 3
Germany Heinz-Harald Frentzen 3

GT-N3

Team Make Car Engine No. Drivers Tyre Rounds
NISMO[N 4] Nissan Nissan Skyline GT-R Nissan RB26DETT 2.6 L Twin Turbo I6 2 Japan Masahiko Kageyama B 3
United States Jeff Krosnoff 3

GTS

Team Make Car Engine No. Drivers Tyre Rounds
Competition Motorsport South Chevrolet Chevrolet Camaro Chevrolet 6.0 L V8 11 United States Kenny Bupp Jr. G 3
Canada Robert Peters 3
United States Luis Sereix 3
Lindley Racing[N 5] Ford Ford Mustang IMSA GTO Ford 6.0 L V8 48 United States Les Lindley G 3
United States Bob Sobey 3

GTU

Team Make Car Engine No. Drivers Tyre Rounds
Dibós Racing Team Peru Mazda Mazda RX-7 Mazda RE13B 1.3 L 2-rotor 84 Peru Eduardo Dibós Y 3
Peru Juan Dibós 3

Lights

Team Make Car Engine No. Drivers Tyre Rounds
Comptech Acura Spice Racing Spice Spice SE91P Acura 3.0 L V6 49 United States Parker Johnstone G 3
United States Dan Marvin 3

LM GT4

Team Make Car Engine No. Drivers Tyre Rounds
Roock Racing Porsche Porsche 964 RSR Porsche M64/03 3.8 L F6 37 Germany Dieter Köll P 3
France Philippe Albera 3
Japan Akihiko Nakaya 3
Chamberlain Engineering Lotus Lotus Esprit Sport 200 Lotus 912 2.2 L I4 44 Republic of Ireland Gordon Kellett P 3
Japan Hideshi Matsuda 3
Japan Tomiko Yoshikawa 3
45 Japan Yojiro Terada 3
Japan Tetsuya Ota 3
Netherlands Tom Langeberg 3
Larbre Compétition Porsche Porsche 964 RSR Porsche M64/03 3.8 L F6 47 France Dominique Dupuy Y 3
Spain Jesús Pareja 3
France Jack Laconte 3
HEICO Motorsport Porsche Porsche 964 RSR Porsche M64/03 3.8 L F6 65 Germany Jürgen Barth Y 3
Germany Dirk Ebeling 3
Germany Karl-Heinz Wlazik 3

N1-1

Team Make Car Engine No. Drivers Tyre Rounds
Motor Sport Division Nissan Nissan Skyline GT-R Nissan RB26DETT 2.6 L Twin Turbo I6 1 Japan Masami Miyoshi D 3
Japan Motoji Sekine 3
Beldear Corporation Nissan Nissan Skyline GT-R Nissan RB26DETT 2.6 L Twin Turbo I6 7 Japan Hideo Fukuyama T 3
Japan Kumi Sato 3
Revolver Nissan Nissan Skyline GT-R Nissan RB26DETT 2.6 L Twin Turbo I6 8 Japan Yoshinori Hasegawa Y 3
Japan Motonobu Sakamoto 3
Knight Sport Mazda Mazda RX-7 Mazda RE13B 1.3 L 2-rotor 9 Japan Fuminori Mizuno Y 3
Japan Yasuo Kusakabe 3
Japan Yasufumi Yamazaki 3
Susuki Racing Mechanics Nissan Nissan Skyline GT-R Nissan RB26DETT 2.6 L Twin Turbo I6 15 Japan Katsuhiko Okamoto Y 3
Japan Shinya Motoyoshi 3
Team Actor Nissan Nissan Skyline GT-R Nissan RB26DETT 2.6 L Twin Turbo I6 16 Japan Junya Oshima T 3
Japan Akihiko Koto 3
Japan Yoichi Fukudome 3

N1-2

Team Make Car Engine No. Drivers Tyre Rounds
Nakajima Planning Honda Honda Prelude Honda H22A 2.2 L I4 6 Japan Koji Sato B 3
Japan Hidetoshi Mitsusada 3
Gazas Honda Honda Prelude Honda H22A 2.2 L I4 21 Japan Kazuo Shimizu T 3
Japan Masami Kageyama 3
Japan Takahiko Hara 3
Formula Spirit Honda Honda Prelude Honda H22A 2.2 L I4 26 France Daniel Latour T 3
Japan Takeshi Tsuchiya 3
Japan Tatsuya Tanigawa 3

N1-3

Team Make Car Engine No. Drivers Tyre Rounds
Team A-One Honda Honda Civic SiR Honda B16A2 1.6 L I4 6 Japan Ryo Michigami T 3
Japan Atsushi Okuda 3
Japan Yoshihisa Fujita 3

RS

Team Make Car Engine No. Drivers Tyre Rounds
Cosmos Racing Oscar Oscar SK90 Mazda RE13B 1.3 L 2-rotor 5 Japan Masaki Ohashi D 3
Japan Katsunori Yamamoto 3
Japan Yoshifumi Yamazaki 3
73 Japan Yoichiro Suzuki 3
Japan Akio Tomita 3
Japan Naoto Chikada 3
Trident Oscar Oscar SK90 Mazda RE13B 1.3 L 2-rotor 10 Japan Koichi Hamada D 3
Japan Minetaka Mizuno 3
Japan Tadayuki Sato 3
Car Graphic Racing Team Oscar Oscar SK90 Mazda RE13B 1.3 L 2-rotor 17 Japan Masayoshi Furuya D 3
Japan Masahiro Tejima 3
Japan Hisashi Tukahara 3
Mascrat Racing Team Oscar Oscar SK90 Mazda RE13B 1.3 L 2-rotor 23 Japan Tsuguo Yagyu Y 3
Japan Mari Nagata 3
Japan Katsuto Kinugasa 3
Mitsuo Yamamoto Oscar Oscar SK90 Mazda RE13B 1.3 L 2-rotor 51 Japan Mitsuo Yamamoto D 3
Japan Genji Hashimoto 3
Jikanwari West West 89S Mazda RE13B 1.3 L 2-rotor 52 Japan Tomohiro Tomasu D 3
Japan Michiko Hashimoto 3
IZUMODEN Oscar Oscar SK90 Mazda RE13B 1.3 L 2-rotor 55 Japan Yoshiyuki Ogura Y 3
Japan Keiichi Mizutani 3
Japan Hajime Oshiro 3

Schedule

Round Race Circuit Date
1 Japan IMSA GT Fuji Fuji Speedway March 28
2 Japan Fuji 100 km Fuji Speedway May 30
3 Japan Suzuka 1000 km Suzuka Circuit August 29
4 Japan Fuji F3000 Fuji Speedway October 17

Race results

Round Circuit Date Pole Position Winner
1 Japan Fuji Speedway March 28 #2 NISMO #2 NISMO
Japan Masahiko Kageyama Japan Masahiko Kageyama
2 Japan Fuji Speedway May 30 #2 NISMO #2 NISMO
Japan Masahiko Kageyama Japan Masahiko Kageyama
3 Japan Suzuka Circuit August 29 #27 Nova Engineering #25 Le Mans Company
Italy Mauro Martini
Germany Heinz-Harald Frentzen
Japan Takao Wada
Japan Toshio Suzuki
4 Japan Fuji Speedway October 17 #2 NISMO #2 NISMO
Japan Masahiko Kageyama Japan Masahiko Kageyama

Notes

  1. ^ Competed in GT-N3 class in round 3
  2. ^ Competed in GTS class in round 3
  3. ^ Entered into round 3 in GTU class with Auberlen and John Morton but did not arrive
  4. ^ Competed in GT1 class in all other rounds
  5. ^ Competed in GT1 class in round 1

References

  1. ^ "History of JGTC and Super GT Racing". imca-slotracing.com. 19 October 2007. Archived from the original on 8 February 2010. Retrieved 6 March 2010.
  2. ^ "JGTC 1993". wspr-racing.com. 10 April 2003. Retrieved 6 March 2010.
  3. ^ "JGTC – final positions and tables". classicscars.com. 10 April 2003. Retrieved 6 March 2010.