The Japanese Super GT manufacturers Lexus, Honda and Nissan, have presented their new cars for the 2014 season, which are built to the current technical regulations of the German DTM series.
The three brands presented their new cars at the Suzuka circuit for the first time. The cars have been built to broadly the same technical specifications as those used in the DTM, allowing for the Japanese brands to be represented in the DTM and the German brands to be represented in Super GT if desired.
Although the chassis and aerodynamic rules are common between the series, the engine regulations are not currently compatible between the Super GT series and the DTM. The Super GT series uses a mid-mounted 2.0 litre inline direct-injection 4-cylinder turbo engine equipped with a racing hybrid system, whereas the DTM uses 4 litre V8 normally-aspirated engines.
The press conference for the unveiling of the new cars was joined by video link by ITR (promoter of the DTM) Chairman Hans-Werner Aufrecht, along with GRAND-AM President Ed Bennett. DTM bosses are hoping to team up with GRAND-AM to run a series for the current specification of cars in the USA by 2017.
Lexus presented their LF-CC model, Honda presented their NSX Concept-GT and Nissan presented their GT-R Nismo GT500 racer.
