1996 All Japan Grand Touring Car Championship

The 1996 All Japan Grand Touring Car Championship was the fourth season of Japan Automobile Federation GT premiere racing. It was marked as well as the fourteenth season of a JAF-sanctioned sports car racing championship dating back to the All Japan Sports Prototype Championship. The GT500 class champion was the #61 Team Lark McLaren F1 GTR driven by David Brabham and John Nielsen, and the GT300 class champion was the #26 Team Taisan Jr Porsche 964 driven by Keiichi Suzuki and Morio Nitta.

For the 1996 season, the names of the two classes of the JGTC were changed to GT500 and GT300, replacing the previous GT1 and GT2 names from the 1994 and 1995 season. This season also mandated two-driver teams for all races. On November 17, the series held its first non-championship "All-Star Race" at Central Circuit.

The arrival of the McLaren F1 GTRs, prepared by Team Goh, was the biggest story of the 1996 season. The number 60 McLaren of Naoki Hattori and Ralf Schumacher led a 1-2 finish at the season opening round at Suzuka. However, despite winning three races, Hattori and Schumacher also suffered three retirements, and were beaten to the title by their senior teammates, Brabham and Nielsen. Despite massive performance handicaps instituted by the GTA, the two McLaren F1 GTRs combined to win four of the six championship races, and won pole position and set fastest lap in all six. At odds with the GTA over further performance handicaps that were to be proposed, Team Goh withdrew from the series after the championship finale at Miné Circuit, and after an aborted attempt to return in 2006, they would not return to the series until 2019.

The season also featured the debut of the Honda NSX in the series, although direct factory support would not appear until the following season; as such, the car entered by Team Kunimitsu was mostly mechanically identical to the 1995 24 Hours of Le Mans GT2 class winner.

Drivers and teams

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GT500

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Team Make Car Engine No. Drivers Tyre Rounds
Calsonic Team Impul Nissan Nissan Skyline GT-R Nissan RB26DETT 2.6 L Twin Turbo I6 1   Kazuyoshi Hoshino B All
  Masahiko Kageyama All
Team Zexel Nissan Nissan Skyline GT-R Nissan RB26DETT 2.6 L Twin Turbo I6 2   Aguri Suzuki B All
  Hideo Fukuyama All
Hasemi Motorsport Nissan Nissan Skyline GT-R Nissan RB26DETT 2.6 L Twin Turbo I6 3   Masahiro Hasemi B All
  Tetsuya Tanaka All
Taku Motor Sports Porsche Porsche 993 GT2 Porsche M64/81 3.6 L Turbo F6 5   Kaoru Iida B All
  Tetsuya Ota 1–3, 5–6
  Michael Krumm 4
FET Racing Team Toyota Toyota Supra Toyota 3S-GT 2.0 L Turbo I4 8   Tom Kristensen B All
  Tatsuya Tanigawa 1–3
  Bertrand Gachot 4–6
Prova Motorsport Porsche Porsche 964 Turbo Porsche M64/60 3.6 L Turbo F6 15   Motoji Sekine D All
  Scott Maxwell 1
  Taro Mitsuno 2
  Takahiro Ito 3–6
Porsche 993 GT2 Porsche M64/81 3.6 L Turbo F6 16   Satoshi Toda 4–5
  Taro Mitsuno 4
  Eiji Yamada 5
  Osamu Nakajima 6
  Ichiro Iijima 6
Team-Jun Nissan Nissan Skyline GT-R Nissan SR20DET 2.0 L Turbo I4 19   Katsuo Kobayashi Y All
  Naohiro Furuya 1–3
  Manabu Orido 4
  Koma Mitsutake 5–6
Bros Factory Nissan Nissan Fairlady Z LM Nissan VH45DE 4.5 L V8 25   Masami Kageyama Y 2–3, 5–6, NC
  Yuji Tachikawa 2–3, 5–6, NC
Team Take One Porsche Porsche 993 GT2 Porsche M64/81 3.6 L Turbo F6 30   Yoji Yamada B All
  Eiichi Tajima 1–6
  Kazuo Mogi NC
Team Taisan Advan Porsche Porsche 993 GT2 Porsche M64/81 3.6 L Turbo F6 34   Hideshi Matsuda B 3–4
  Osamu Nakako 3–4
35   Takeshi Tsuchiya 1–4
  Anthony Reid 1
  Oscar Larrauri 2–4
Ferrari Ferrari F40 LM Ferrari F120B 2.9 L Twin Turbo V8   Oscar Larrauri 5–6
  Anthony Reid 5
  Mitsuhiro Kinoshita 6
Toyota Castrol Team TOM'S Toyota Toyota Supra Toyota 3S-GT 2.0 L Turbo I4 36   Masanori Sekiya B All
  Pedro de la Rosa 1–6
  Ukyo Katayama NC
Toyota Castrol Team Cerumo Toyota Toyota Supra Toyota 3S-GT 2.0 L Turbo I4 37   Érik Comas B All
  Hidetoshi Mitsusada 1–2
  Hironori Takeuchi 3–6, NC
Toyota Team SARD Toyota Toyota Supra Toyota 3S-GT 2.0 L Turbo I4 39   Wayne Gardner D 1–4, 6
  Alain Ferté 1–5
  Naoki Nagasaka 5
  Giampiero Simoni 6
  Olivier Grouillard NC
  David Dussau NC
Team BMB Minijuke Porsche Porsche 964 RS Porsche M64/04 3.8 L F6 43   Yukio Okamoto Y All
  Yasutaka Hinoi All
Limit Motor Sport Nissan Nissan Skyline GT-R Nissan RB26DETT 2.6 L Twin Turbo I6 55   Kenji Tohira B 1–5
  Hiroyuki Kawai 1–5
Team Lark McLaren GTR McLaren McLaren F1 GTR BMW S70/2 6.0 L V12 60   Naoki Hattori B All
  Ralf Schumacher All
61   David Brabham All
  John Nielsen All
Kenji Kawagoe Porsche Porsche 993 GT2 Porsche M64/81 3.6 L Twin Turbo F6 69   Kenji Kawagoe D 1–4
  Shunji Kasuya 1–4
Kenwolf with JLOC Corsa Lamborghini Lamborghini Diablo Jota Lamborghini BFR1244 5.7 L V12 88   Takao Wada Y 1–2, 4–6
  Tatsuhiko Kaneumi 1
  Satoshi Ikezawa 2, 4–6
Team Kunimitsu Honda Honda NSX Honda C30A 3.0 L V6 100   Kunimitsu Takahashi Y All
  Keiichi Tsuchiya All
Kure Racing with Nismo Nissan Nissan Skyline GT-R Nissan RB26DETT 2.6 L Twin Turbo I6 556   Toshio Suzuki B All
  Masahiko Kondo All

GT300

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Team Make Car Engine No. Drivers Tyre Rounds
imuraya Racing Team Toyota Toyota MR2 Toyota 3S-GE 2.0 L I4 6   Tetsuya Kawasaki D 1–5
  Kazuteru Wakita 1–2, 4–5
  Nendai Fukushima 3
  Takeshi Tsuchiya 6
  Yoshihiro Daimonji 6
RE Amemiya Racing Mazda Mazda RX-7 (FD3S) Mazda RE13B 1.3 L 2-rotor 7   Shinichi Yamaji D All
  Masato Yamamoto 1
  Hisashi Wada 2–3
  Haruhiko Matsumoto 4–6, NC
Schloss Motorsport Porsche Porsche 993 RS Porsche M64/80 3.8 L F6 9   Katsuhiko Okamoto D 1
  Tsunefumi Hioki 1
M Factory Racing Nissan Nissan Skyline GTS-R (HR31) Nissan SR20DET 2.0 L Turbo I4 11   Hiromoto Ishimori B 2–4
  Masuo Saito 2–4
Hoshino Racing Nissan Nissan Silvia (S14) Nissan SR20DET 2.0 L Turbo I4 12   Satoshi Motoyama B 3–6
  Yuji Ide 3
  Fuminori Mizuno 4–6
Eimei Auto Mitsubishi Mitsubishi Mirage C53A Mitsubishi 4G63 2.0 L I4 14   Akira Nagai B 2
  Takashige Kogayu 2
Team Power Magic BMW BMW 318i Coupe BMW M43B18 1.8L I4 16   Motoji Sekine Y 5
  Toshiya Fujishima 5
Kageisen Racing Team Mazda Mazda RX-7 (FC3S) Mazda RE13B 1.3 L 2-rotor 17   Toshihiko Nogami D 1–2, 4–5
  Toshiaki Koshimizu 1–2, 4–5
Goldenbear Sportswear R.T. Porsche Porsche 993 RS Porsche M64/80 3.8 L F6 18   Shogo Kobayashi D 3–4
  Hiroyuki Enomoto 3–4
AI Auto Racing Porsche Porsche 993 RS Porsche M64/70 3.8 L F6 20   Kenji Takahashi Y All
  Hiroaki Suga All
Hitotsuyama Racing BMW BMW M3 (E36) BMW S14 2.2 L Turbo I4 21   Kenji Yamamoto D 1, 3–6
  Fuminori Mizuno 1–2
  Yasushi Hitotsuyama 2, 4–5
  Mikio Hitotsuyama 3, 6
Hirano Motorsport Nissan Nissan Skyline GTS-i (R32) Nissan RB20DET 2.0 L Turbo I6 24   Toshiyuki Hirano Y 4
  Yasuyuki Suzuki 4
Team Taisan Jr. Porsche Porsche 964 RSR Porsche M64/80 3.8 L F6 26   Keiichi Suzuki Y All
  Morio Nitta All
BMW BMW M3 (E30) BMW S14 2.5 L I4 28   Masaoki Nagashima 1
  Junichi Yamanashi 1
Toyota Toyota MR2 Toyota 3S-GE 2.0 L I4   Manabu Orido 5–6
  Takeshi Tsuchiya 5–6
Porsche Porsche 993 RSR Porsche M64/80 3.8 L F6 38   Adrian Fu 1, 3–6
  Rodney Jones[N 1] 1
  Masaoki Nagashima 3–6
NAC West Nissan Nissan Silvia (S13) Nissan FJ20DET 2.0 L Turbo I4 27   Toshikazu Kanamori D 4
  Mamoru Suzuki 4
Cobra Racing Team Porsche Porsche 993 RSR Porsche M64/80 3.8 L F6 31   Katsunori Iketani Y All
  Kazuo Mogi All
51   Masamitsu Ishihara All
  Hiroyuki Noji All
Rank Up Tomei Sports Porsche Porsche 993 RSR Porsche M64/80 3.8 L F6 50   Masahisa Nakada Y 3–4
  Shinichi Katsura 3–4
Sports Factory R.T. Mazda Mazda RX-7 (FD3S) Mazda RE13B 1.3 L 2-rotor 57   Toshihiro Fukazawa D 4
  Masaaki Nagashima 4
Team Gaikokuya Porsche Porsche 993 RSR Porsche M64/80 3.8 L F6 70   Yoshimi Ishibashi Y All
  Kaoru Hoshino All
Makiguchi Engineering BMW BMW M3 (E30) BMW S14 2.5 L I4 72   Norio Makiguchi Y All
  Takayuki Kinoshita All
First Racing Team Toyota Toyota MR2 Toyota 3S-GE 2.0 L I4 91   Masahiro Matsunaga Y 3–6
  Junko Mihara 3–4
  Takahito Kawai 5–6
Team Daishin Nissan Nissan Silvia (S13) Nissan FJ20DET 2.0 L Turbo I4 95   Nobuyuki Ohyagi B All
  Tsuneaki Mankumo All
910 Racing Porsche Porsche 993 RSR Porsche M64/80 3.8 L F6 910   Seiichi Sodeyama D 2–6, NC
  Naoki Nagasaka 2–4
  Hideyuki Tamamoto 5–6, NC

Schedule

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Round Race Circuit Date
1 Suzuka GT 300   Suzuka Circuit March 31
2 All Japan Fuji GT Race   Fuji Speedway May 4
3 HiLand GT Championship   Sendai Hi-Land Raceway June 30
4 Japan Special GT-Cup   Fuji Speedway August 11
5 SUGO GT Championship   Sportsland SUGO October 6
6 CP Mine GT Race   Mine Circuit October 27
NC Nicos Cup GT Allstar Race   Central Circuit November 17

Season results

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Round Circuit GT500 Winning Team GT300 Winning Team
GT500 Winning Drivers GT300 Winning Drivers
1 Suzuka Circuit #60 Team Lark McLaren F1 GTR #26 Team Taisan Jr Porsche 964
  Naoki Hattori
  Ralf Schumacher
  Keiichi Suzuki
  Morio Nitta
2 Mt. Fuji #61 Team Lark McLaren F1 GTR #910 910 Racing Porsche 993
  David Brabham
  John Nielsen
  Seiichi Sodeyama
  Naoki Nagasaka
3 Sendai #37 Castrol Cerumo Toyota Supra #72 Makiguchi Engineering BMW M3
  Hironori Takeuchi
  Érik Comas
  Morio Makiguchi
  Takayuki Kinoshita
4 Mt. Fuji #1 Calsonic Hoshino Racing GT-R #910 910 Racing Porsche 993
  Masahiko Kageyama
  Kazuyoshi Hoshino
  Seiichi Sodeyama
  Naoki Nagasaka
5 Sportsland SUGO #60 Team Lark McLaren F1 GTR #26 Team Taisan Jr Porsche 964
  Naoki Hattori
  Ralf Schumacher
  Keiichi Suzuki
  Morio Nitta
6 Mine Circuit #60 Team Lark McLaren F1 GTR #26 Team Taisan Jr Porsche 964
  Naoki Hattori
  Ralf Schumacher
  Keiichi Suzuki
  Morio Nitta
NC Central Circuit #3 Hasemi Motorsports GT-R #7 RE Amemiya Mazda RX-7
  Masahiro Hasemi
  Tetsuya Tanaka
  Shinichi Yamaji
  Haruhiko Matsumoto

Point Ranking

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GT500 Class

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Drivers

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Rank No. Driver SUZ FUJ SEN FUJ SUG MIN CEN Points
1 61   John Nielsen
  David Brabham
2 1 8 2 20Ret 4 63
2 60   Naoki Hattori
  Ralf Schumacher
1 22Ret 15 19Ret 1 1 60
3 37   Érik Comas 16 4 1 16Ret 4 2 2 55
4 1   Masahiko Kageyama
  Kazuyoshi Hoshino
8 5 5 1 2 16Ret 5 54
5 3   Masahiro Hasemi
  Tetsuya Tanaka
3 6 2 14 6 5 1 47
6 2   Aguri Suzuki
  Hideo Fukuyama
4 19Ret 7 3 5 3 3 46
7 37   Hironori Takeuchi 1 16Ret 4 2 2 45
8 36   Masanori Sekiya 5 2 3 20Ret 8 17Ret 4 38
8 36   Pedro de la Rosa 5 2 3 20Ret 8 17Ret 38
9 39   Alain Ferté 17 3 4 9 7 28
10 39   Wayne Gardner 17 3 4 9 8 27
11 556   Toshio Suzuki
  Masahiko Kondo
6 18Ret 17 5 3 10 10 27
12 8   Tom Kristensen 10 13 6 4 14 7 21
13 8   Bertrand Gachot 4 14 7 14
14 37   Hidetoshi Mitsusada 16 4 10
15 34   Hideshi Matsuda
  Osamu Nakako
9 9 18Ret 12 12 6 8 10
16 55   Kenji Tohira
  Hiroyuki Kawai
11 10 11 6 9 9
17 100   Kunimitsu Takahashi
  Keiichi Tsuchiya
18Ret 8 12 7 10 11 6 8
18 8   Tatsuya Tanigawa 10 13 6 7
19 30   Yoji Yamada 7 11 9 18Ret 21Ret 20Ret 9 6
19 30   Eiichi Tajima 7 11 9 18Ret 21Ret 20Ret 6
20 35   Oscar Larrauri 7 20Ret 15 15Ret 4
20 35   Takeshi Tsuchiya 12 7 20Ret 4
20 39   Naoki Nagasaka 7 4
23 43   Yasutaka Hinoi
  Yukio Yamamoto
20Ret 12 13 8 13 18Ret 3
23 39   Giampiero Simoni 8 3
25 25   Masami Kageyama
  Yuji Tachikawa
20Ret 19Ret 22Ret 9 2
26 5   Kaoru Iida 13 14 10 17Ret 19Ret 12 1
26 5   Tetsuya Ota 13 14 10 19Ret 12 1
26 16   Tetsushi Toda 10 11 1
26 15   Mitsuno Taro 16 0
16 10 1
27 88   Takao Wada 19Ret 21Ret 11 17Ret 13 0
28 88   Satoshi Ikezawa 21Ret 11 17Ret 13 0
29 16   Tarzan Yamada 11 0
30 35   Anthony Reid 12 15 0
31 19   Katsuo Kobayashi 21Ret 17 16 13 18Ret 14 0
32 19   Manabu Orido 13 0
33 69   Kenji Kawagoe
  Shunji Kasuya
14 15 14 0
34 19   Takeru Koma 18Ret 14 0
35 15   Sekine Motoshi 15 16 19Ret 15 16Ret 0
36 15   Takahiro Ito 19Ret 15 16Ret 0
37 15   Scott Maxwell 15 0
38 19   Naohiro Furuya 21Ret 17 16 0
39 35   Mitsuhiro Kinoshita 15Ret 0
40 5   Michael Krumm 17Ret 0
41 16   Osamu Nakajima
  Ijima Ichiro
19Ret 0
42 88   Tatsuhiko Kaneumi 19Ret 0
43 36   Ukyo Katayama 4 0
44 39   Olivier Grouillard
  David Dussau
7 0
45 30   Kazuo Mogi 9 0


GT300 Class (Top 5)

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Drivers

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Rank Drivers Number/Team Points Wins
1   Keiichi Suzuki
  Morio Nitta
#26 Team Taisan Jr Porsche 964 90 3
2   Seiichi Sodeyama #910 910 Racing Porsche 993 65 2
3   Morio Makiguchi
  Takayuki Kinoshita
#72 Makiguchi Engineering BMW M3 53 1
4   Naoki Nagasaka #910 910 Racing Porsche 993 50 2
5   Katsunori Iketani
  Kazuo Mogi
#31 Cobra Racing Team Porsche 993 46 0

Notes

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  1. ^ Nationality unknown
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