
The2023 Eneos Super Taikyu Series Supported by Bridgestone (previously theEneos Super Taikyu Series Powered by Hankook) was the thirty-third season of theSuper Taikyu Series endurance racing championship. The season started on 19 March atSuzuka Circuit and ended on 12 November atFuji Speedway.
ZhongshengROOKIE Racing won the championship in the series' GT3 category, known as ST-X, with aMercedes-AMG GT3.
A specially designedToyota GR Corolla running onliquid hydrogen fuel made its debut at the NAPAC Fuji SUPER TEC 24 Hours Race on 27–28 May.[1]
The Super Taikyu Series announced their provisional 2023 calendar on 24 October 2022, with seven rounds held at the six major Japanese racing circuits.[2] The final round of the season was moved fromSuzuka Circuit toFuji Speedway. Before the start of the season, the sixth round atOkayama International Circuit was moved from 15 October to 22 October to avoid a clash with theSuper GT Series' race atAutopolis, and the seventh round at Fuji was moved from 19 November to 12 November, to avoid a clash with theWorld Rally ChampionshipRally Japan.[3]
| Round | Event | Race Length | Race Format | Classes | Circuit | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suzuka Super Taikyu 5 Hours Race | 5 hours | 1 race | All | Suzuka Circuit | 18–19 March |
| 2 | NAPACFuji SUPER TEC 24 Hours Race | 24 hours | 1 race | All | Fuji Speedway | 26–28 May |
| 3 | SUGO Super Taikyu 3 Hours Race | 3 hours | 2 races | ST-X / Z / TCR / Q / 1 / 2 / 4 / 5 | Sportsland Sugo | 8–9 July |
| 4 | Super Taikyu Race in Autopolis | 5 hours | 1 race | ST-X / Z / TCR / Q / 2 / 3 / 5 | Autopolis | 29–30 July |
| 5 | Motegi Super Taikyu 5 Hours Race | 5 hours | 1 race | ST-X / Z / TCR / Q / 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 | Mobility Resort Motegi | 2–3 September |
| 6 | Super Taikyu Race in Okayama | 3 hours x 2 | 2 races | ST-X / Z / TCR / Q / 1 / 3 / 4 / 5 | Okayama International Circuit | 21–22 October |
| 7 | S-Tai Final Fuji 4 Hours Race with Fuji Niq Festival | 4 hours | 1 race | All | Fuji Speedway | 11–12 November |
Hankook entered 2023 in the final year of a three-year contract as the Super Taikyu Series' official tyre supplier. On 12 March, a fire at Hankook's plant inDaejeon forced the company to halt all production at the facility, including the production of tyres supplied to Super Taikyu.
Bridgestone agreed to become the new tyre supplier to the series with immediate effect on 24 April, just 12 days after signing a new three-year deal to become the series' new tyre supplier in 2024.[4] At the NAPAC Fuji SUPER TEC 24 Hours Race, most teams were supplied with Bridgestone slick tyres and the remaining stock of wet tyres from Hankook. This excluded ST-4 and ST-5 class entries, and select ST-Q cars, which used Bridgestone high-performance street tyres instead of slicks. Bridgestone would then supply wet racing tyres from the third round onwards.
At the fourth round in Autopolis, it was confirmed that the ST-4, ST-5, and select ST-Q cars would continue to race on Bridgestone street tyres for the remainder of 2023.[5]
On 19 February, the Super Taikyu Series published their provisional full-season entry list, featuring 62 entries.[6] 61 different cars entered throughout the course of the season.
The ST-Z class useSRO GT4 homologated vehicles
The ST-TCR class useTCR homologated vehicles
| Team | Car | No. | Drivers | Rounds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honda Civic Type R TCR (FK7) | 5 | 4–7 | ||
| 4 | ||||
| 5,7 | ||||
| 5 | ||||
| Honda Civic Type R TCR (FK5) | 97 | 4–7 | ||
| 4–5 | ||||
| 4 | ||||
| 5 | ||||
| 7 |
The ST-Q class use development vehicles approved by the STO
| Team | Car | No. | Drivers | Rounds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mazda Roadster (NDERC)CNF Concept | 12 | 4–7 | ||
| Mazda3Bio Concept | 55 | 1–2, 4–7 | ||
| 1–2 | ||||
| 2 | ||||
| 2 | ||||
| Toyota GR86CNF Concept | 28 | 1–5, 7 | ||
| 1–3 | ||||
| 1–2, 4–5, 7 | ||||
| 2–5, 7 | ||||
| 2 | ||||
| Toyota GR Yaris (Rd.1, 3) Toyota GR CorollaH2 Concept (Rd. 2, 4, 7)[1] Toyota GR YarisDAT Concept (Rd. 5) | 32 | All | ||
| 2 | ||||
| Subaru BRZCNF Concept | 61 | 1–3, 5–7 | ||
| 2 | ||||
| 2 | ||||
| Nissan Z Racing Concept | 230 | 2, 5 | ||
| 2 | ||||
| Honda Civic Type RCNF Concept | 271 | 2–7 | ||
| 2 |
| Team | Car | No. | Drivers | Rounds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ST–1 | ||||
| KTM X-Bow GTX | 2 | 1–3, 5–7 | ||
| 2 | ||||
| Aston Martin Vantage GT8R | 47 | 1–3, 5–7 | ||
| 1–3, 5–6 | ||||
| 1–3, 5–6 | ||||
| 1–3, 5–6 | ||||
| 2 | ||||
| 2 | ||||
| 7 | ||||
| ST–2 (2,400-3,500cc, front-wheel and all-wheel drive) | ||||
| Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X (CZ4A) | 6 | 1–5, 7 | ||
| 2 | ||||
| 2 | ||||
| 7 | 1–5, 7 | |||
| 1–3, 5 | ||||
| 1-3 | ||||
| 1-2, 4–5, 7 | ||||
| 2, 4–5, 7 | ||||
| 2 | ||||
| Toyota GR Yaris (GXPA16) | 13 | 1–5, 7 | ||
| Toyota GR Yaris (GXPA16) | 225 | 1–5, 7 | ||
| Honda Civic Type R (FL5) | 743 | 1–5, 7 | ||
| 1–3, 5 | ||||
| 1 | ||||
| 2 | ||||
| 2 | ||||
| 4–5, 7 | ||||
| ST-3 (2,400-3,500cc, rear-wheel drive) | ||||
| Nissan Fairlady Z (Z34) | 15 | 1–2, 4–7 | ||
| 2 | ||||
| 2 | ||||
| 16 | 1–2, 4–7 | |||
| 2 | ||||
| 2 | ||||
| Nissan Fairlady Z (Z34) | 25 | 1–5, 7 | ||
| 1, 5, 7 | ||||
| 1–2 | ||||
| 2, 4, 7 | ||||
| 2 | ||||
| 4-5 | ||||
| Lexus RC 350 (GSC10) | 38 | 1–2, 4–7 | ||
| 2, 4–7 | ||||
| 2 | ||||
| 39 | 1–5, 7 | |||
| 1–2, 4–6 | ||||
| 2, 5–7 | ||||
| 2 | ||||
| 2 | ||||
| 4 | ||||
| ST-4 (1,500-2,500cc) | ||||
| Toyota GR86 (ZN8) | 3 | 1–3, 5–7 | ||
| 2 | ||||
| Toyota GR86 (ZN8) | 18 | 1–3, 5–7 | ||
| 1–2 | ||||
| 2, 6–7 | ||||
| 2, 7 | ||||
| 2 | ||||
| 3 | ||||
| 5 | ||||
| Toyota GR86 (ZN8) | 41 | 1–3, 5–7 | ||
| 2 | ||||
| Toyota GR86 (ZN8) | 60 | 1–3, 5–7 | ||
| 1–3, 5 | ||||
| 2, 5 | ||||
| 2 | ||||
| 7 | ||||
| Mazda Roadster RF (NDERC) | 66 | 1–3, 5–7 | ||
| 1 | ||||
| 2–3, 5 | ||||
| 2, 7 | ||||
| 2 | ||||
| Toyota GR86 (ZN8) | 86 | 1–3, 5–7 | ||
| Toyota 86 (ZN6) | 216 | 1, 3, 5–7 | ||
| 1, 3, 5, 7 | ||||
| 1, 5 | ||||
| Toyota GR86 (ZN8) | 884 | 1–3, 5–7 | ||
| ST-5 (up to 1,500cc) | ||||
| Honda Fit3 RS (GK5) (Rd. 1–4) Honda Fit4 RS (GS4) (Rd. 6–7) | 4 | 1–4, 6–7 | ||
| 1 | ||||
| 1 | ||||
| 2–4, 6–7 | ||||
| 2, 4 | ||||
| 2 | ||||
| 2 | ||||
| 3, 6–7 | ||||
| Honda Fit3 RS (GK5) | 11 | 2–3, 7 | ||
| 2-3 | ||||
| 2, 7 | ||||
| 2, 7 | ||||
| 2, 7 | ||||
| 2 | ||||
| 3 | ||||
| Mazda Demio Diesel Turbo (DJ5FS) | 17 | 1–4, 6–7 | ||
| 2 | ||||
| 2 | ||||
| Mazda Demio (DE5FS) | 37 | 1–4, 6–7 | ||
| 1, 4, 6–7 | ||||
| 2–4, 6–7 | ||||
| 2 | ||||
| 3 | ||||
| Mazda Roadster (ND5RC) | 50 | 1–3, 6–7 | ||
| 1–3, 6 | ||||
| 1–3, 7 | ||||
| 2, 7 | ||||
| 2 | ||||
| Mazda Roadster (ND5RC) | 65 | 1–4, 6–7 | ||
| 1–2, 7 | ||||
| 2–4 | ||||
| 2 | ||||
| 6 | ||||
| Honda Fit3 RS (GK5) | 67 | 1–3, 6–7 | ||
| 2, 7 | ||||
| 2, 7 | ||||
| 3 | ||||
| Mazda Roadster (ND5RC) | 72 | 1–4, 6–7 | ||
| 2 | ||||
| 2 | ||||
| 2 | ||||
| Mazda Roadster (ND5RC) | 88 | 1–4, 6–7 | ||
| 1–3, 6–7 | ||||
| 2 | ||||
| Toyota Vitz (NCP131) | 110 | 1, 3–4, 6–7 | ||
| Mazda Roadster (ND5RC) | 120 | 1–4, 6 | ||
| 1–3 | ||||
| 1–2, 6 | ||||
| 1–2, 7 | ||||
| 2–3, 7 | ||||
| 2, 7 | ||||
| 4, 6–7 | ||||
| 4, 6 | ||||
| Honda Fit4 RS (GS4) | 222 | 1–4, 6–7 | ||
| 1–4 | ||||
| 2, 6–7 | ||||
| 2, 4 | ||||
| Toyota Yaris (MXPA10) | 290 | 1–4, 6–7 | ||
| 1–3, 6–7 | ||||
| 1 | ||||
| 2–3 | ||||
| 2 | ||||
| 2 | ||||
| 4 | ||||
| Round | Circuit | Race | ST-1 Winners | ST-2 Winners | ST-3 Winners | ST-4 Winners | ST-5 Winners |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suzuka | No.47 D'station Racing | No.743 Honda R&D Challenge | No.15 Okabe Jidosha Motorsports | No.60 Team G/Motion' | No.88 Murakami Motors | |
| 2 | Fuji 24h | No.2 K's Frontier KTM Cars | No.13 Endless Sports | No.38 Tracy Sports with Delta | No.60 Team G/Motion' | No.17 Team NOPRO | |
| 3 | Sugo | Group 1 | No.2 K's Frontier KTM Cars | No.6 Shinryo Racing Team | did not participate | ||
| Group 2 | did not participate | No.3 Endless Sports | No.72 Nihon Automobile College | ||||
| 4 | Autopolis | did not participate | No.13 Endless Sports | No.16 Okabe Jidosha Motorsports | did not participate | No.72 Nihon Automobile College | |
| 5 | Motegi | No.2 K's Frontier KTM Cars | No.225 Kobe Toyopet Motorsports | No.25 Team ZeroOne | No.41 Tracy Sports with Delta | did not participate | |
| 6 | Okayama | Group 1 | No.2 K's Frontier KTM Cars | did not participate | did not participate | ||
| Group 2 | did not participate | No.38 Tracy Sports with Delta | No.41 Tracy Sports with Delta | No.88 Murakami Motors | |||
| 7 | Fuji 4h | No.47D'station Racing | No.743 Honda R&D Challenge | No.39 Tracy Sports with Delta | No.86TOM'S Spirit | No.72 Nihon Automobile College | |
Championship points are awarded in every class with the exception of ST-Q at the end of each event.
For the ST-X, ST-Z, and ST-TCR championships, each team's six highest scoring rounds are validated in the final championship standings.
| Duration | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th | 7th | 8th | 9th | 10th | ≤11th | Pole |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 Hours / 500 km | 20 | 15 | 12 | 10 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 5 Hours / 700 km | 30 | 22.5 | 18 | 15 | 12 | 9 | 6 | 4.5 | 3 | 1.5 | 1 | 2 |
| ≥12 Hours / 1400 km | 45 | 35 | 27 | 23 | 18 | 13 | 9 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 2 |
Notes
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Bold - Pole position Italics - Fastest lap | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||