The 2024 AUTOBACS SUPER GT series awards ceremony “SUPER GT HEROES 2024” was held at a hotel in Tokyo on the night of December 19th, and the champions of this season gathered to receive their awards. After the successful conclusion of the Round 5 Suzuka Grand Final that had been postponed due to a typhoon as the final race of the season, the annual “SUPER GT HEROES” awards ceremony was held once again. Gathered for this occasion were the champions of the GT500 and GT300 classes, the main staff members of the participating teams, along with representatives of the season’s title sponsor, AUTOBACS SEVEN Co., Ltd.,, the other sponsor companies, the auto makers and tire makers, the participating circuits, the JAPAN AUTOMOBILE FEDERATION (JAF), as well as members of the National Parliament who support motor sports in Japan and the various ministries and agencies, all gathered for a ceremony worthy of the dramatic competition that played out this season. In this Part 1, we report mainly on what occurred at the awards ceremony.
*Click here to see the SUPER GT HEROES Part 2 awards ceremony
【Address by the Organizer】
First, a special video was aired on the large screen, which gathered footage from the intense battles and dramatic moments from the races the 2024 season. Then, Masaaki Bandoh, President and CEO of GTA Co., Ltd., the promotor of SUPER GT, rose to the stage to address the meeting. “Prior to the start of this season’s opening round, we changed the format for the holding of the Official Qualifying, the number of tire sets that could be brought to a round, and the change to a Combined Time system, as well as introducing measures to make the series more eco-friendly. With hardly any chance to look back over the proceedings, the drivers pressed forward courageously, the teams approached the races with intense efforts, while the automakers, the tire makers and the other stakeholders all worked together to realize this SUPER GT season. This year marks the 30th anniversary of SUPER GT, going back to its start as the All-Japan GT Championship in 1994. When I became involved in GTA from the year 2007, the total prize money spent came to some 10 million yen, and while we had to spend a lot of effort on restructuring the company the following year, in contrast, for this year 2024 series the total for the top three teams and the Drivers title winners has grown to a total of more than 100 million yen. Although it took a lot of time, we have finally reached this level. We believe that we owe this growth to the cooperation we received from all of you gathered here today. We believe that we have reached this point due to the daily efforts to implement various measures on a daily basis to continue to develop SUPER GT become that strongly established series that it is today, and one that everyone looks up to and one that inspires dreams. In addition to presenting awards to the series participants, today’s “SUPER GT HEROES” is also an opportunity to express our gratitude to everyone involved in SUPER GT. We believe all of you gathered here are indeed worthy of the title “Heroes.”” In this way Mr. Bandoh described the meaning SUPER GT HEROES and expressed his gratitude to everyone who contributed to the success of this season and to the growth of SUPER GT over these 30 years.
【Introduction of the Sponsors and Partner Companies】
The fact that SUPER GT can continue to operate as a well-respected motorsport event internationally is due to the support of many sponsor companies. On the stage were representatives of this year’s 27 series sponsors and partner companies (with include three companies absent this day), and there was an introduction of the series Title Sponsor company and presentations of gifts to the representatives by Mr. Bandoh. Speaking as representative of the sponsors was Special Advisor Kiomi Kobayashi of the title sponsor, AUTOBACS SEVEN Co., Ltd. “This year’s races were plagued with unexpected heat, an unimaginable amount of rain and unpredictable typhoons, seemingly a perfect reflection of this year’s popular expression Futehodo (Literally: Even inappropriateness must have limits (from a popular TV drama)). In the race environment where there should be limits of inappropriateness, we had a good time this year. To the 400,000 people that turned out at the circuits this year, and the more than 10 million people that have turned out in these 30 years, we want to say, “Thank you!” The year 2025 marks the 100th year since the start of Japan’s Show Period. I believe it is the people gathered here today who have fostered the people of this Showa period who provided the base of Japan’s motorization, people who loved cars and loved motor sports. Next year as well I want to work heart and soul together with all of you to make sure that more motor sport fans are born.” With these words, Special Advisor Kobayashi proposed a toast to which all raised their glasses, followed by a big round of applause.
There was also meaning behind the entries on the menu for this SUPER GT HEROES banquet. As signs of appreciation for the six circuits where races were held this season, famous products and local foods were used from Miyagi Prefecture (SportsLand SUGO), Tochigi Prefecture (Mobility Resort Motegi) Shizuoka Prefecture (Fuji Speedway) Okayama Prefecture (Okayama International Circuit and Oita Prefecture (AUTOPOLIS).
【Presentation of the Liberal Democratic Party Parliamentary Association for Motorsports Cup】
Among the other guests on hand at this SUPER GT HEROES ceremony were representatives of numerous companies and agencies that support SUPER GT and other Japanese motor sports. Present among these were Parliament members including Chairman Keiji Furuya and Deputy secretary general Masahisa Miyazaki of the Liberal Democratic Party Parliamentary Association for Motorsports, which makes efforts to support motor sports like SUPER GT. And it was Chairman Keiji Furuya who rose to speak on their behalf. “I love motor sports, both as a participator and as a spectator, and I also went to watch a SUPER GT race this year. I truly enjoyed it. It was great! As an Association we hope that next year will bring more good races. We also know that a SUPER GT round in Sepang will begin again, and we hope that this expansion will go on to include other Asian countries like Taiwan. As one of the premier race categories in Japan, we hope SUPER GT will continue to progress.” With these words, he promised to work to support motor sorts like SUPER GT.
This speech was followed by the presentation of the Liberal Democratic Party Parliamentary Association for Motorsports Cup, which was presented to Team Manager Daisuke Ito of this season’s GT500 class champions, the No. 36 TGR TEAM au TOM’S team and to Team Manager Isao Noritake of the GT300 class champions, the No. 88 JLOC team. The trophy and gifts of rice coupons were presents by Mr. Furuya and Mr. Miyazaki.
【Introduction of SUPER GT governing bodies and officials for each round】
The next to address the meeting was Managing Director Masao Notsu of JAF, the organization that presides over SUPER GT and the other Japanese motor sports. “As one of the motorsport events under the jurisdiction of our JAF, we are glad to see the successful conclusion of its season, and we wish to express our gratitude to all of the related persons gathered here today. Looking back over this year, it was a season when fierce competition had to be conducted under very difficult weather conditions, which led to situations that were hard to predict, and this brought the championships to be hotly contested right down to the final round. This has certainly made for a season that the fans will long remember. I hope that next year will again see many fans turn out at the circuits to watch the races.” With these words, he described the excitement generated by SUPER GT and the other Japanese motor sports.
A transporter (large trailer) of the No. 36 au TOM’S GR Supra team that showed up in front of the hotel where the ceremony was held.
