Fuji Grand Champion Series
Encyclopedia
The ran from 1971 to 1989. It was a drivers' championship in Japan and was originally for 2 litre Group B6
cars. The series was started in 1973, and all races were held at the Fuji Speedway
circuit.
, Lola and GRD
.
In its second year of running, it had its first fatalities. At the start of the second race of the second round of the 1974 series, two cars were racing for the lead. They collided and Hiroshi Kazato
and Seiichi Suzuki
crashed into them, causing a fire. Both Kazato, 25, and Suzuki, 37, were killed. The race was immediately abandoned.
A change in the rules in 1979 however, made it possible for single seat sportscars, similar to the revived Can-Am series, to race in the series.
In 1983 in the second race, Famiyasu Sato was killed in practice. Later in the series, Toru Takahashi
was killed when his car spun, and the aerodynamics of the car caused it to fly through the air, head first into a wall, also killing a spectator.
The maximum engine size limit was increased to 3 litres in 1987. In 1988, the series changed its name from Fuji Grand Champion series to Grand Champion series because some races added into the championship were not held at Fuji.
The late 1980s saw attendance dropping, and after 1989 the series folded.
F3s
powered by Toyota 3S-GTE engine
s. Like its precessor, it raced exclusively at Fuji Speedway
with the exception of 2004, when the circuit was undergoing a major renovation work. Despite running on a small field (usually five and six cars at a time), it ran on into 2006 when the series again folded. Between 2006
and 2007
, it formed part of the LMP2 class
in the Japan Le Mans Challenge
.
Group 6 (racing)
Group 6 was the official designation applied by the FIA to two motor racing classifications, the Prototype-Sports Car category from 1966 to 1971 and the Two-Seater Racing Cars class from 1976 to 1982.-Group 6 Prototype-Sports Cars :...
cars. The series was started in 1973, and all races were held at the Fuji Speedway
Fuji Speedway
is a race track standing in the foothills of Mount Fuji, in Oyama, Suntō District, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. It was built in the early 1960s and hosted the first Formula One race in Japan in 1976. In the 1980s, Fuji Speedway was used for the FIA World Sportscar Championship and national racing...
circuit.
History
In its formative years, cars elibigle to start included the March 74S, Alpine A441 Renault, ChevronChevron Cars Ltd
Chevron Cars Ltd. is a manufacturer of racing cars, founded by Derek Bennett in 1965. Following Bennett's death in 1978, the firm has remained active in various guises. The original company's designs and name continue to be utilized by Roger Andreason to build replacement parts and continuation...
, Lola and GRD
Group Racing Developments
Group Racing Developments, known more simply as GRD, was a short-lived British constructor of racing cars. It was formed in 1971 with a large percentage of staff coming from those made redundant from the closure of Lotus Cars customer car manufacturing arm...
.
In its second year of running, it had its first fatalities. At the start of the second race of the second round of the 1974 series, two cars were racing for the lead. They collided and Hiroshi Kazato
Hiroshi Kazato
was a Japanese racecar driver. Kazato started his career at age 19. He took part in the 1971 Can-Am season, finishing 10th in the championship driving a Lola T222-Chevrolet....
and Seiichi Suzuki
Seiichi Suzuki
is a Japanese figure skater. He is the 1995 World Junior bronze medalist and Japanese national bronze medalist. He graduated from Meiji University....
crashed into them, causing a fire. Both Kazato, 25, and Suzuki, 37, were killed. The race was immediately abandoned.
A change in the rules in 1979 however, made it possible for single seat sportscars, similar to the revived Can-Am series, to race in the series.
In 1983 in the second race, Famiyasu Sato was killed in practice. Later in the series, Toru Takahashi
Toru Takahashi
was a Japanese race car driver.- Career :In 1982, he was runner-up in Japanese Formula 3. The following year, he ran a dual campaign, racing in the Grand Champion Series and also stepping up to Japanese Formula 2http://www.motorsportmemorial.org/focus.php?db=ct&n=986.Takahashi was killed in the...
was killed when his car spun, and the aerodynamics of the car caused it to fly through the air, head first into a wall, also killing a spectator.
The maximum engine size limit was increased to 3 litres in 1987. In 1988, the series changed its name from Fuji Grand Champion series to Grand Champion series because some races added into the championship were not held at Fuji.
The late 1980s saw attendance dropping, and after 1989 the series folded.
Revival
The series was revived again in 2002 as GC-21, like its precessor, cars were rebodied single seaters but were DallaraDallara
Dallara Automobili is an Italian chassis manufacturer for various motor racing series, being most notable for its near-monopoly in Formula 3 since 1993...
F3s
Formula Three
Formula Three, also called Formula 3 or F3, is a class of open-wheel formula racing. The various championships held in Europe, Australia, South America and Asia form an important step for many prospective Formula One drivers...
powered by Toyota 3S-GTE engine
Toyota 3S-GTE engine
The 3S-GTE is an in-line 4-cylinder 1998cc engine from Toyota, based on the 3S-GE with reduced compression ratio and addition of a turbocharger.There are four generations of this engine, which were manufactured from 1986 to 2007....
s. Like its precessor, it raced exclusively at Fuji Speedway
Fuji Speedway
is a race track standing in the foothills of Mount Fuji, in Oyama, Suntō District, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. It was built in the early 1960s and hosted the first Formula One race in Japan in 1976. In the 1980s, Fuji Speedway was used for the FIA World Sportscar Championship and national racing...
with the exception of 2004, when the circuit was undergoing a major renovation work. Despite running on a small field (usually five and six cars at a time), it ran on into 2006 when the series again folded. Between 2006
2006 Japan Le Mans Challenge season
The 2006 Japan Le Mans Challenge season was the first ever season for the Japan Le Mans Challenge, a series created by SERO and run under sanctioning from the ACO to follow 24 Hours of Le Mans rules...
and 2007
2007 Japan Le Mans Challenge season
The 2007 Japan Le Mans Challenge season was the second for the Japan Le Mans Challenge, a series created by the SERO and sanctioned by the ACO...
, it formed part of the LMP2 class
Le Mans Prototype
A Le Mans Prototype is a type of sports prototype race car most notably used in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, American Le Mans Series and Le Mans Series...
in the Japan Le Mans Challenge
Japan Le Mans Challenge
The Japan Le Mans Challenge was an endurance sportscar series based in Japan built around the 24 Hours of Le Mans that began in 2006. It was run by the Sports Car Endurance Race Operation sanctioning body and ran under the rules laid out by the Automobile Club de l'Ouest...
.