Japan Cup is added to GTWC Asia schedule

2022 may finally be the year when the FANATEC GT World Challenge Asia will go back to activity, in one or another, and to add an extra to the mix, SRO created the Japan Cup that will be run inside the regular season.

The mechanism of the recently created cup is the same as the Sprint and Endurance Cup separations in the FANATEC GT World Challenge Europe, where both portions offer prizes along with the full season. In Japan Cup’s case, it will be a competition for local teams and drivers during the four rounds set to be held in Japanese lands. All drivers need a JAF license to be eligible for the Japan Cup, another sign of the partnership between SRO and the Japanese federation.

Of these four rounds, Suzuka and Fuji are confirmed to retain their spots in the schedule, with the other two circuits needing confirmation, with SRO having recent talks with Autopolis and Motegi, intended to be backup plans for 2020 and 2021.

Along with the new Cup, another new thing is the extension of available classes, as the GT3s and GT4s can be joined by GT2s and GTCs. While the GT2 is slowly gaining traction in Asia, GT Cup cars exist in large quantities, thanks to the Asian versions of the Lamborghini Super Trofeo, Ferrari Challenge and Porsche Carrera Cup, with the last one also having a national cup in Japan.

SRO confirmed that the Japan Cup will not have clashes with either Super GT or Super Taikyu, and with them having GT3s, GT4s and GT2s, their entries will be responsible for the major numbers in the grid.

A full calendar for the FANATEC GT World Challenge Asia will be announced in the near future, with the four Japanese rounds as well the two overseas weekends. While not much is known about the remaining venues, the expectation is that Sepang will return in the same position of season opener.

PHOTO: SRO