2007 Super GT Season
The 2007 Autobacs Super GT Series was the fifteenth season of the Japan Automobile Federation Super GT Championship including the All Japan Grand Touring Car Championship (JGTC) era and the third season as the Super GT series. It is also marked as the twenty-fifth season of a JAF-sanctioned sports car racing championship dating back to the All Japan Sports Prototype Championship. It is a series for Grand Touring race cars divided into two categories: GT500 and GT300. This was the final season for the 350Z, as it was announced by Nissan and Nismo near the end of the season that the new R35 GT-R would be replacing it the following season. The season began on March 18 and ended on November 4, 2007, after 9 races. In the GT500 class, ARTA drivers Ralph Firman and Daisuke Itō won the championship in a dominating fashion, becoming the first GT500 champion to clinch the title before the final race of the season, a feat only matched by the 2012 champions Masataka Yanagida and Ronnie ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Ralph Firman
Ralph David Firman Jr. (born 20 May 1975) is a British and Irish former racing driver who last raced under an Irish licence. His father, Ralph Firman Sr., co-founded the Van Diemen racecar constructor with Ross Ambrose, father of V8 Supercars champion Marcos, then more recently founded RFR. He is married to Aldís Kristín Árnadóttir, an Icelandic UK-educated lawyer. Ralph's sister, Natasha, is also a racing driver. Career Formula Three Educated at Gresham's School between 1988 and 1993, Firman went straight into motor racing on leaving school. Despite leading much of the 1995 British F3 championship, he lost the title at the final round to Oliver Gavin. However, he continued in the championship in 1996 and captured the title at his second attempt. Macau Grand Prix controversy Firman won the prestigious Macau Grand Prix in 1996 under controversial circumstances. At the end of round 1, Firman finished ahead of German Formula 3 champion Jarno Trulli. In round 2, he wa ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Ronnie Quintarelli
Ronnie Quintarelli (born 9 August 1979) is an Italian racecar driver competing in Super GT from 2005 through 2024. A four-time champion, he holds the all-time record for the most drivers' championship titles won in the GT500 class of Super GT. Biography Quintarelli first encountered motorsports at age 6 when his father gave him a small go-kart. After starting his karting career in 1990, he scored two second place finishes in the World Formula Super A championship and a European Formula C title. He made his single seaters debut in 1999 when he drove in 5 rounds of the Formula Opel Cup in Croatia. He finished 2nd in the standings, behind his teammate Antony Bertocchi, who competed in every round. In 2000, he entered the Italian Formula Renault Championship and ended up third with Prema Powerteam. He also entered the Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0, the German Formula Three Championship and the Formula Volkswagen Germany. In 2005, he scored his maiden GT win in the 1000 km Suzuka ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Oliver Jarvis
Oliver Richard Benjamin Jarvis (born 9 January 1984) is a British professional racing driver currently racing in the 2023 FIA World Endurance Championship, FIA World Endurance Championship, 2023 European Le Mans Series, European Le Mans Series and 2023 Asian Le Mans Series, Asian Le Mans Series with United Autosports. Jarvis won the 2022 IMSA SportsCar Championship, IMSA Championship (including the 2022 24 Hours of Daytona) in the DPi category with Meyer Shank Racing. Early life Born in Burwell, Cambridgeshire, he was educated at The King's School, Ely, King's Ely. Early career Jarvis was first introduced to motorsport from an early age when his father Carl was competing in Formula Ford 1600. Keen to try it for himself, and at just six years old, Jarvis enjoyed his first motocross competition, albeit then two wheels not four. At the age of eight, Jarvis made the transition to race karts. During his 10 years in karts, he achieved notable success in British and European events ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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André Lotterer
André Lotterer (born 19 November 1981) is a German racing driver, who most recently competed in the FIA World Endurance Championship for Porsche in motorsport, Porsche. In formula racing, Lotterer competed in Formula One at the in , and Formula E from 2017–18 Formula E Championship, 2017 to 2022–23 Formula E World Championship, 2023. In Sports in Japan#Motorsport, Japanese motorsport, Lotterer won the Formula Nippon Championship in 2011 Formula Nippon Championship, 2011, and is a two-time champion of Super GT, all with TOM'S. In endurance racing (motorsport), endurance racing, Lotterer has won two List of FIA World Endurance champions, FIA World Endurance Championship titles, and is a List of 24 Hours of Le Mans winners, three-time winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans with Audi in motorsport, Audi. He is best known for his success in Endurance racing (motorsport), endurance racing with the works Audi team, including three victories in the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the drivers' ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Juichi Wakisaka
is a former Japanese racing driver who was a 2002, 2006 and 2009 champion in Japan's Super GT series in the Super GT#GT500, GT500 category. Prior to the 1998 Formula One World Championship , 1998 Formula One season he tested for the Jordan Grand Prix team. In 2002, Wakisaka raced the Toyota Supra, Toyota Supra GT with Akira Iida, in 2006 and 2009 Wakisaka raced the Lexus SC 430 with André Lotterer. He retired from driving after the conclusion of the 2015 Super GT Series season, becoming the team director of Team LeMans, Lexus Team LeMans Wako's. Wakisaka was also a regular presenter of Best Motoring and is brother to Shigekazu Wakisaka, Shigekazu, who also competes in Super GT. Media Appearances Wakisaka made a guest appearance in Downtown no Gaki no Tsukai ya Arahende!!, driving a Lexus LFA around Fuji Speedway for the 2013 No-Laughing Earth Defence Force Batsu Game Racing record Complete JGTC/Super GT results (:Template:Motorsport driver results legend, key) (Races in bo ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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V8 Engine
A V8 engine is an eight- cylinder piston engine in which two banks of four cylinders share a common crankshaft and are arranged in a V configuration. Origins The first known V8 was the Antoinette, designed by Léon Levavasseur, and built in 1904 by the French Antoinette company for use in speedboat racing, cars, and later, airplanes. Also in 1904, V8 engines began small-scale production by Renault and Buchet for use in race cars. Design V-angle Most engines use a V-angle (the angle between the two banks of cylinders) of 90 degrees. This angle results in good engine balance, which results in low vibrations. However, the downside is the greater width of the engine compared to those that use a smaller V-angle. V8 engines with a 60-degree V-angle were used in the 1996–1999 Ford Taurus SHO, the 2005–2011 Volvo XC90, and the 2006–2009 Volvo S80. The Ford engine used a 60-degree V-angle because it was based on a V6 engine with a 60-degree V-angle. ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Toyota UZ Engine
The Toyota UZ engine family is a gasoline fueled 32-valve quad-camshaft V8 piston engine series used in Toyota's luxury offerings and sport utility vehicles. Three variants have been produced: the 1UZ-FE, 2UZ-FE, and 3UZ-FE. Production spanned 24 years, from 1989 to mid 2013, ending with the final production of the 3UZ-FE-powered Toyota Crown Majesta I-FOUR. Toyota's UZ engine family was replaced by the UR engine family. __TOC__ 1UZ-FE The all-alloy 1UZ-FE debuted in 1989 in the first generation Lexus LS 400/ Toyota Celsior and the engine was progressively released across a number of other models in the Toyota/Lexus range. The engine is oversquare by design, with a bore and stroke size of . It has proven to be a strong, reliable and smooth powerplant with features such as 6-bolt main bearings and belt-driven quad-camshafts. The water pump is also driven by the timing/cam belt. The connecting rods and crankshaft are constructed of steel. The pistons are hypereutectic ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Lexus SC
The is a two-door four passenger, front-engine, rear-drive grand touring coupe manufactured by Toyota and marketed by its luxury division, Lexus, for model years 1991-2010 across two generations. The first-generation SC debuted as the V8-powered SC 400 in 1991, and the I6-powered SC 300 was added in 1992, both manufactured until 2000. The second-generation model, the SC 430, went into production in 2001, as a retractable hardtop convertible coupe with a V8 engine. The first-generation SC was largely styled in California at Calty, and the second-generation SC was mainly conceived at design studios in Europe. In Japan, the related third-generation Toyota Soarer, with which the first-generation SC originally shared body design and multiple components, featured a separate line-up of vehicle configurations and different powertrains. The third generation Soarer sport coupe, largely identical to the SC 430, was superseded by its Lexus counterpart in Japan when the Lexus marque débu ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Lexus
is the luxury vehicle division of the Japanese automaker Toyota, Toyota Motor Corporation. The Lexus brand is marketed in more than 90 countries and territories worldwide and is Japan's largest-selling make of premium cars. It has ranked among the 10 largest Japanese global brands in market value. Lexus has been headquartered in Shimoyama, Aichi, in Japan since 2024. Operational centers are located in Brussels, Belgium, and Plano, Texas, United States. Created at around the same time as Japanese rivals Honda and Nissan created their Acura and Infiniti luxury divisions respectively, Lexus originated from a corporate project to develop a new premium sedan, code-named F1, which began in 1983 and culminated in the launch of the Lexus LS in 1989. Subsequently, the division added sedan (car), sedan, coupé, Convertible (car), convertible and Sport utility vehicle, SUV models. Lexus did not exist as a brand in its home market until 2005, and all vehicles marketed internationally as L ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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TOM'S
is an automotive aftermarket parts manufacturer and tuner of Toyota and Lexus vehicles, as well as a factory-backed racing team. The TOM'S head office is located in Tokyo, Japan. TOM'S most prominently produces aftermarket parts for current Toyota vehicles, and has also created its own special edition of certain current Lexus models. In motorsport, the company is currently heavily involved with Super GT, Super Formula and Super Formula Lights. TOM'S Racing has won the Japanese Formula 3 Championship 21 times, the Super GT series ten times, the Super Formula Championship four times, and the Super Formula Lights series three times. History The name stands for Tachi Oiwa Motor Sport, as the company was established in 1974 by Nobuhide Tachi and Kiyoshi Oiwa. Despite an oil crisis at the time, the two were able to show productive results and a healthy development of motorsports for Toyota. With the support of Toyota, TOM'S went into business in 1974. In 1975 the Toyota Mo ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Hiroki Katoh
is a Japanese racing driver and team manager. Racing career Katoh started karting in 1990 and entered four-wheeled racing in 1992 with Formula Toyota. He would then compete in the Japanese Formula 3 Championship, with a highlight being a 6th place at the Macau Grand Prix. Katoh entered the All Japan Grand Touring Car Championship in 1997 with Kraft and has competed mainly in that series since; his best championship result was a 2nd place with Cars Tokai Dream28 in 2006 and 2007. He has won seven races as of 2023. In 2021, Cars Tokai Dream28 and INGING merged to form a collaborative entry known as muta Racing INGING; Katoh would drive for the team alongside veteran driver Ryohei Sakaguchi. Katoh stepped back from racing full-time in 2023, becoming the director for muta Racing INGING; he remains in the team as a third driver. In addition to Super GT, Katoh has raced in the 24 Hours of Le Mans The 24 Hours of Le Mans () is an endurance-focused Sports car racing, sports car ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Kazuho Takahashi
is a Japanese businessman and semi-retired amateur racing driver. He is the CEO, president and founder of VT Holdings and Honda Cars Tokai, a chain of Honda dealerships found across Aichi Prefecture. Racing career Takahashi's first known form of racing was in 1994 in the Tokachi 24 Hours; he would race intermittently in that series, last competing in that series in 2001. Takahashi also competed in two editions of the Suzuka 1000 km as a privateer; it was around 1998 when he started Cars Tokai Dream28 as the racing arm of his family of dealerships. Takahashi first competed in what was then known as the All Japan Grand Touring Car Championship in 2001; being a Honda-based team thanks to his dealerships he would drive a Honda NSX. Initially paired up with Hiroshi Kimura, for 2002 he would pair up with Akira Watanabe. The team switched from a Honda NSX to a Vemac RD320R in 2005, the series now being known as Super GT. 2006 would see Takahashi with a new teammate, Hiroki Katoh, ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |