Can anyone explain the differences between GT3 racing and SUPER GT racing. Which is more popular? I want to get into following GT racing but it's really confusing...
Well, the big difference is that GT3 is a class of racing cars and SuperGT is a racing series. Super GT itself has two classes: GT500 and GT300. GT500 cars (GTR, RC F, NSX) are basically prototypes and not GT’s, although old GT1 cars were allowed to race in that class. GT300 cars are slower than the GT500 cars, and this class include cars built to Japans own GT rules as well as FIA GT2(E) and GT3. The Audi in your picture is a GT3 car racing in GT300 class. GT3 cars are raced in multiple different series’, like Blancpain GT, PWC, IMSA Sportscars (although not full-GT3 spec) and a ton of national series. Popularity. Now, GT3 is hugely popular, with drivers and fans. The car counts are high and the racing is close. Super GT on the other hand… It has good racing in both classes, but it seems to be quite unknown outside Japan. At least some of the races can be found with English commentary on Youtube. And the part about GT racing being confusing… It can be, but once you get into it, it’s not as much confusing. To demonstrate this, here’s how the FIA GT classes developped from early-90’s…
-It started with GT1, 2 and 3. -In the late-90’s GT1 -> GTP, GT2 -> GTS (Le Mans)/GT (FIA GT) and GT3 -> GT (LM)/N-GT (FIA) -A few years later GTP merged with LMP900 —-> LMP1. GTS/GT -> GT1 and GT/N-GT -> GT2. -In 2005/6, GT3 and GT4 are created. -late 2000’s, GT1 car get extremly expensive and are “killed off”. GT2 -> GTE. A new GT1 from GT3 doesn’t last. GT4 is basically dead.
Thanks a lot man, that was an awesome answer. So it seems the one to watch is GT3 then. Is there Japanese cars that compete in GT3? I noticed that there are European cars that compete in the Super GT races. Also is the GT3 series only European and which do you think is the best GT3 series to start watching?
I recently got into gt3 racing myself, try to look for Blancpain gt3 series. A complete season has a combination of sprint races and endurance races with up to 56(?) drivers. I’ve actually been to the 24hr of Spa this year and it was amazing. Fun thing is, its bloody cheap to go, 35 euros for 24hr, and they have a free livestream on youtube!
I think that’s the one I’m going to start watching :)
Comments
Well, the big difference is that GT3 is a class of racing cars and SuperGT is a racing series.
Super GT itself has two classes: GT500 and GT300.
GT500 cars (GTR, RC F, NSX) are basically prototypes and not GT’s, although old GT1 cars were allowed to race in that class.
GT300 cars are slower than the GT500 cars, and this class include cars built to Japans own GT rules as well as FIA GT2(E) and GT3. The Audi in your picture is a GT3 car racing in GT300 class.
GT3 cars are raced in multiple different series’, like Blancpain GT, PWC, IMSA Sportscars (although not full-GT3 spec) and a ton of national series.
Popularity. Now, GT3 is hugely popular, with drivers and fans. The car counts are high and the racing is close. Super GT on the other hand… It has good racing in both classes, but it seems to be quite unknown outside Japan. At least some of the races can be found with English commentary on Youtube.
And the part about GT racing being confusing… It can be, but once you get into it, it’s not as much confusing.
To demonstrate this, here’s how the FIA GT classes developped from early-90’s…
-It started with GT1, 2 and 3.
-In the late-90’s GT1 -> GTP, GT2 -> GTS (Le Mans)/GT (FIA GT) and GT3 -> GT (LM)/N-GT (FIA)
-A few years later GTP merged with LMP900 —-> LMP1. GTS/GT -> GT1 and GT/N-GT -> GT2.
-In 2005/6, GT3 and GT4 are created.
-late 2000’s, GT1 car get extremly expensive and are “killed off”. GT2 -> GTE. A new GT1 from GT3 doesn’t last. GT4 is basically dead.
Thanks a lot man, that was an awesome answer. So it seems the one to watch is GT3 then. Is there Japanese cars that compete in GT3? I noticed that there are European cars that compete in the Super GT races. Also is the GT3 series only European and which do you think is the best GT3 series to start watching?
I recently got into gt3 racing myself, try to look for Blancpain gt3 series. A complete season has a combination of sprint races and endurance races with up to 56(?) drivers. I’ve actually been to the 24hr of Spa this year and it was amazing. Fun thing is, its bloody cheap to go, 35 euros for 24hr, and they have a free livestream on youtube!
I think that’s the one I’m going to start watching :)