PETRONAS Syntium Team
2007 Super Taikyu Endurance Series
The Super Taikyu Endurance Series began in 1999 as the replacement to the All Japan Touring Car Championship (JTCC) or Inter-TEC series, which ran for four years between 1994 and 1998.
As one of the region’s premier endurance series in Asia and the only full-scale endurance series in Japan as represented by events like the Tokachi 24-hours endurance race, the Super Taikyu Endurance Series has since 1999 been gaining popularity over the past few years. The increasing number of participants with over 35 cars on the grid at every round serves as testimony to the series’ growing popularity.
Emphasising on the originality of commercially-available cars, this domestic stock-car series features “well-tuned” vehicles with limited body modifications with the intention of maintaining the basic look of the road-version vehicle. Determined by the engine size, model and aftermarket parts, the Super Taikyu Endurance Series is classified into four race categories and boasts some of widest variety of race cars. Among the different cars participating in the series are the BMW M3, Honda NSX, Integra DC5 and S2000; Mitsubishi EVO; Subaru WRX; Mazda RX7 and RX8; Nissan 350ZX; Toyota Lexus GS450H; and the Porsche GT3 models, to name a few.
In addition to rounds held at some of the world’s best race circuits, the series has also established itself as one of the feature race events in the region, able to attract large crowds to the events. In addition to the participation of the country’s best drivers from other series including Formula Nippon and Japan Super GT, the series also attracts a wide spectrum of teams from local teams to professional manufacturer-backed endurance teams. This has all helped to elevate the Super Taikyu Endurance Series to become one of the most influential series in the country. Moreover, the cars in the series have also come to play an influential role on the popular import performance on the street-racing scene in the United States.
.
2007 Super Taikyu Endurance Series*
Race Calendar**
| Round |
Venue / Circuit |
Race Distance / Format
|
Date
|
|
1
|
Sendai Hi-land Raceway |
TBA
|
22 April
|
|
2
|
Suzuka Circuit
|
500km
|
13 May
|
|
3**
|
Tokachi Speedway
|
24hrs Race
|
15 July
|
|
4
|
Fuji Speedway
|
4hrs Race
|
5 August
|
|
5
|
Okayama International Circuit
|
500km
|
2 September
|
|
6
|
Sportsland Sugo
|
TBA
|
28 October
|
|
7
|
Twin Ring Motegi
|
500km
|
11 November
|
* All events take place in Japan / **Subject to changes
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