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1998 All Japan Grand Touring Car Championship

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The 1998 All Japan Grand Touring Car Championship was the sixth season of Japan Automobile Federation GT premiere racing. It was marked as well as the sixteenth season of a JAF-sanctioned sports car racing championship dating back to the All Japan Sports Prototype Championship. The GT500 class champion was the #23 Pennzoil NISMO Nissan Skyline GT-R driven by Érik Comas and Masami Kageyama, and the GT300 class champion was the #25 Team Taisan Jr with Tsuchiya MR2 driven by Keiichi Suzuki and Shingo Tachi, who won a record five championship races, plus the post-season all-star race, giving them a total of six wins in 1998.

The season was marred by a horrific crash at the All Japan Fuji GT Race on May 3, 1998, when Ferrari Club of Japan driver Tetsuya Ota lost control of his Ferrari F355 in heavy rain and fog, and crashed into the stationary Porsche 911 of Tomohiko Sunako. Ota's car erupted into flames upon impact, and fellow racer Shinichi Yamaji rushed to extinguish the fire. Ota suffered severe burns and nerve damage that would force him to retire from full-time racing. Sunako suffered a broken leg, but would continue to race in the series later on.

1998 also saw the first GT500 class victory for Honda, at the Japan Special GT Cup at Fuji Speedway.

Drivers and teams

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GT500

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Team Make Car Engine No. Drivers Tyre Rounds
Nismo Nissan Nissan Skyline GT-R Nissan RB26DETT 2.7 L Twin Turbo I6 2 Japan Masahiko Kageyama B All
Japan Aguri Suzuki 1, 3–7, NC
Spain Pedro de la Rosa 2
23 Japan Masami Kageyama All
France Érik Comas 1, 3–7, NC
Republic of Ireland Ralph Firman 2
Hasemi Motorsport Nissan Nissan Skyline GT-R Nissan RB26DETT 2.7 L Twin Turbo I6 3 Japan Masahiro Hasemi B All
Japan Tetsuya Tanaka All
Team 5ZIGEN Toyota Toyota Supra Toyota 3S-GT 2.0 L Turbo I4 5 Belgium Marc Goossens D All
Japan Yasutaka Hinoi 1–3
Japan Eiichi Tajima 4–7
INGING Toyota Toyota Supra Toyota 3S-GT 2.0 L Turbo I4 6 Japan Shinichi Takagi B All
France Pierre-Henri Raphanel 1, 3–7
Sweden Anders Olofsson 2
Team Power Craft Toyota Toyota Supra Toyota 3S-GT 2.0 L Turbo I4 8 Australia Wayne Gardner B 1–4, 6–7
Japan Minoru Tanaka 1–4, 6–7
Calsonic Team Impul Nissan Nissan Skyline GT-R Nissan RB26DETT 2.7 L Twin Turbo I6 12 Japan Takuya Kurosawa B All
Japan Kazuyoshi Hoshino 1, 3–7, NC
Germany Michael Krumm 2
Endless Sports Nissan Nissan Skyline GT-R Nissan RB26DETT 2.7 L Twin Turbo I6 13 Japan Mitsuhiro Kinoshita Y All
Japan Mitsuo Fujimura All
Castrol Mugen Honda Honda NSX Honda C32B 3.5 L V6 16 Japan Ryo Michigami B All
Japan Osamu Nakako All
Dome Racing Team Honda Honda NSX Honda C32B 3.5 L V6 18 Japan Katsutomo Kaneishi B All
Japan Katsumi Yamamoto 1–5
Japan Juichi Wakisaka 6–7, NC
Team Take One Porsche Porsche 993 GT2 Porsche M64/81 3.6 L Twin Turbo F6 30 Japan Hideki Okada B All
Japan Yoji Yamada All
Toyota Team TOM'S Toyota Toyota Supra Toyota 3S-GT 2.0 L Turbo I4 36 Japan Masanori Sekiya D All
Argentina Norberto Fontana All
37 Japan Toshio Suzuki All
United Kingdom Kelvin Burt All
Toyota Team Cerumo Toyota Toyota Supra Toyota 3S-GT 2.0 L Turbo I4 38 Japan Hironori Takeuchi B All
Japan Hideki Noda All
Denso Toyota Team SARD Toyota Toyota Supra Toyota 3S-GT 2.0 L Turbo I4 39 Japan Keiichi Tsuchiya Y All
Japan Tatsuya Tanigawa All
Autobacs Racing Team Aguri Nissan Nissan Skyline GT-R Nissan RB26DETT 2.7 L Twin Turbo I6 50 Japan Takeshi Tsuchiya B All
Japan Satoshi Motoyama 1, 3–7, NC
Japan Hiroki Katoh 2
Team Taisan Advan Chrysler Chrysler Viper GTS-R Chrysler Viper 8.0 L V10 55 Japan Hideshi Matsuda Y 1–2, 4, 7, NC
Japan Eiichi Tajima 1–2
Japan Fuminori Mizuno [ja] 4
United Kingdom Anthony Reid 7
Japan Mitsuhiro Kinoshita NC
Mobil 1 Nakajima Racing Honda Honda NSX Honda C32B 3.5 L V6 64 Netherlands Tom Coronel B All
Japan Koji Yamanishi 1–2, 4–7, NC
Japan Koji Sato [ja] 3
JLOC Corsa Lamborghini Lamborghini Diablo GT-1 Lamborghini L532 6.0 L V12 88 Japan Naohiro Furuya D All
Japan Hisashi Wada All
Lamborghini Diablo Jota 777 Japan Takao Wada 2, 4–5, 7
Japan Masami Sugiyama 2, 4–5, 7
Kenji Kawagoe Porsche Porsche 993 GT2 Porsche M64/81 3.6 L Twin Turbo F6 89 Japan Kenji Kawagoe D 2
Japan Toshikazu Kanamori 2
Raybrig Team Kunimitsu with Mooncraft Honda Honda NSX Honda C32B 3.5 L V6 100 Japan Kunimitsu Takahashi B All
Japan Akira Iida All

GT300

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Team Make Car Engine No. Drivers Tyre Rounds
RE Amemiya Racing Mazda Mazda RX-7 Mazda RE20B 2.0 L 3-rotor 7 Japan Shinichi Yamaji D All
Japan Haruhiko Matsumoto [ja] All
Team Daikokuya Porsche Porsche 993 RSR Porsche M64/80 3.8 L F6 9 Japan Shuroku Sasaki [ja] D 1–2
Japan Tsunefumi Hioki 1, 3
Japan Yukihiro Hane 3–5, 7
Japan Naohiro Kawano 4–5, 7
Japan Hideaki Ichimura 2
99 Japan Tsunefumi Hioki 5–6
Japan Kiichi Takahashi 5
Japan Akira Yoshitomi 6
Ability Motorsport Porsche Porsche 993 GT2 Porsche M64/82 3.6 L Turbo F6 10 Japan Hidehiko Aso D All
Japan Akira Ishikawa [ja] All
M Factory Racing Club Nissan Nissan Skyline GTS-R (HR31) Nissan SR20DET 2.0 L Turbo I4 11 Japan Hiromoto Ishimori B 2, 4
Japan Kazuo Miura 2, 4
Xanavi Racing with Nismo Jr. Nissan Nissan Silvia (S14) Nissan SR20DET 2.0 L Turbo I4 15 Japan Masahiko Kondo B All
Japan Takayuki Aoki All
Kageisen Racing Team Mazda Mazda Roadster (NA) Mazda RE13B 1.3 L 2-rotor 17 Japan Toshihiko Nogami [ja] D 1–2, 4–5, 7
Japan Tomoyuki Hosono 1, 4
Japan Masaaki Nagashima 2, 5, 7
Racing Project Bandoh Toyota Toyota Celica Toyota 3S-GE 2.0 L I4 19 Japan Manabu Orido Y 4–7
Italy Max Angelelli 4–6
Japan Katsumi Yamamoto 7
Hitotsuyama Racing BMW BMW M3 (E36) BMW S14 2.2 L Turbo I4 21 Japan Hiroki Katoh D 1, 3–7
Japan Yasushi Hitotsuyama [ja] 1–2, 4, 7
Japan Mikio Hitotsuyama [ja] 3, 5–6
Japan Takayuki Kinoshita 2
Hirano Motorsport Nissan Nissan Skyline GTS-i (R32) Nissan RB20DET 2.0 L Turbo I6 24 Japan Toshiyuki Hirano Y 2, 4
Japan Teruhiko Someba 2, 4
Team Taisan Jr. with Tsuchiya Toyota Toyota MR2 Toyota 3S-GTE 2.0 L Turbo I4 25 Japan Keiichi Suzuki Y All
Japan Shingo Tachi All
Team Ferrari Club of Japan Ferrari Ferrari F355 GT Ferrari F129B 3.5 L V8 27 Japan Tetsuya Ota Y 1–2
Sweden Anders Olofsson 1
Sweden Steven Andskär 2
28 Japan Masahiro Yamazaki 2–3
Japan Hiroaki Suga 5
A'PEX Toyota Toyota MR2 Toyota 3S-GTE 2.0 L Turbo I4 44 Japan Morio Nitta D All
Japan Shota Mizuno 1–3
United Kingdom Peter Dumbreck 4–7
Cobra Racing Team Porsche Porsche 993 RSR Porsche M64/80 3.8 L F6 51 Japan Katsunori Iketani Y All
Japan Seiichi Sodeyama 1
Japan Masamitsu Ishihara 2–5, 7
Japan "OSAMU" 6
KRAFT Toyota Toyota Cavalier Toyota 3S-GE 2.0 L I4 60 Japan Kumi Sato [ja] D All
Japan Masaoki Nagashima [ja] 1
Japan Junko Mihara 2
Japan Akira Watanabe 3–7
Team Taeivon Ralliart Mitsubishi Mitsubishi FTO Mitsubishi 4G63 2.0 L Turbo I4 61 Japan Akihiko Nakaya T All
Japan Takahiko Hara All
Team Gaikokuya Porsche Porsche 993 GT2 Porsche M64/81 3.6 L Turbo F6 70 Japan Yoshimi Ishibashi Y All
Belgium Patrick van Schoote All
SigmaTec Racing Team Porsche Porsche 993 GT2 Porsche M64/81 3.6 L Turbo F6 71 Japan Kaoru Hoshino D All
Japan Masaki Jyonai All
Okura Rotary Racing Mazda Mazda RX-7 Mazda RE20B 2.0 L 3-rotor 72 New Zealand Mark Porter Y 3–7
Japan Yoshimi Katayama 3–4
Japan Isao Hirano 5–7
Cusco Racing Subaru Subaru Impreza WRX STI Subaru EJ20 2.0 L Turbo F4 77 Japan Katsuo Kobayashi Y All
Japan Hideyuki Tamamoto All
NAC West Nissan Nissan Silvia (S13) Nissan FJ20DET 2.0 L Turbo I4 79 Japan Masanori Sugiyama Y 2, 4
Japan Hiroyasu Aoyagi 2, 4
Team Daishin Nissan Nissan Silvia (S14) Nissan SR20DET 2.0 L Turbo I4 81 Japan Hideo Fukuyama D All
Japan Nobuyuki Oyagi [ja] All
First Racing Team Toyota Toyota MR2 Toyota 3S-GTE 2.0 L Turbo I4 91 Japan Masahiro Matsunaga Y 1–3
Japan Yasuhisa Fujiwara 1–3
Toyota Celica Japan Masahiro Matsunaga 4–7
Japan Yasuhisa Fujiwara 4–7
Alta Racing Team Mazda Mazda RX-7 Mazda RE20B 2.0 L 3-rotor 117 Japan Toshihiro Fukazawa Y 2, 4–5, 7
Japan Tetsuo Kozai 2, 4–5, 7
NSX Dream28 Competition Honda Honda NSX Honda C32B 3.5 L V6 280 Japan Hajime Oshiro Y 4
Japan Mamoru Suzuki 4
Yellow Magic Ferrari Ferrari F355 Ferrari F129B 3.6 L V8 355 Japan Hiroaki Suga Y 4–5, 7
Japan Takayuki Ohi [ja] 4
Japan Tatsuyuki Fujiwara 5
Japan Seiichi Sodeyama 7
910 Racing Porsche Porsche 993 RSR Porsche M64/80 3.8 L F6 910 Japan Atsushi Yogo [ja] D All
Japan Tomohiko Sunako 1–2
Japan Shogo Kobayashi [ja] 3–4
Japan Takayuki Kinoshita 5–7
911 Japan Kiichi Takahashi 1–4, 7
Japan Shogo Kobayashi 1
Japan Kazushige Saito 2–3, 7
Japan Hirotaka Nakajima 4

Schedule

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Round Race Circuit Date
1 Suzuka GT 300 Japan Suzuka Circuit March 22
2 All Japan Fuji GT Race Japan Fuji Speedway May 3
3 HiLand GT Championship Japan Sendai Hi-Land Raceway June 28
4 Japan Special GT-Cup Japan Fuji Speedway August 9
5 Motegi GT Championship Race Japan Twin Ring Motegi September 13
6 CP Mine GT Race Japan Mine Circuit October 11
7 SUGO GT Championship Japan Sportsland SUGO October 25
NC Nicos Cup GT Allstar Race Japan TI Circuit November 15

Season results

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Round Circuit GT500 Winning Team GT300 Winning Team
GT500 Winning Drivers GT300 Winning Drivers
1 Suzuka Circuit #23 Pennzoil NISMO GT-R #25 Team Taisan Jr with Tsuchiya MR-2
Japan Masami Kageyama
France Érik Comas
Japan Keiichi Suzuki
Japan Shingo Tachi
- Mt. Fuji Race abandoned because of crash at start and subsequent fog.[1]
2 Sendai #23 Pennzoil NISMO GT-R #25 Team Taisan Jr with Tsuchiya MR-2
Japan Masami Kageyama
France Érik Comas
Japan Keiichi Suzuki
Japan Shingo Tachi
3 Mt. Fuji #64 Mobil 1 Nakajima Racing Honda NSX #25 Team Taisan Jr with Tsuchiya MR-2
Netherlands Tom Coronel
Japan Koji Yamanishi
Japan Keiichi Suzuki
Japan Shingo Tachi
4 Twin Ring Motegi #16 Castrol Mugen Honda NSX #77 Cusco Subaru Impreza
Japan Ryo Michigami
Japan Osamu Nakako
Japan Katsuo Kobayashi
Japan Hideyuki Tamamoto
5 Mine Circuit #100 Team Kunimitsu Honda NSX #25 Team Taisan Jr with Tsuchiya MR-2
Japan Kunimitsu Takahashi
Japan Akira Iida
Japan Keiichi Suzuki
Japan Shingo Tachi
6 Sportsland SUGO #16 Castrol Mugen Honda NSX #25 Team Taisan Jr with Tsuchiya MR-2
Japan Ryo Michigami
Japan Osamu Nakako
Japan Keiichi Suzuki
Japan Shingo Tachi
NC TI Circuit #64 Mobil 1 Nakajima Racing Honda NSX #25 Team Taisan Jr with Tsuchiya MR-2
Netherlands Tom Coronel
Japan Koji Yamanishi
Japan Keiichi Suzuki
Japan Shingo Tachi

Point Ranking

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GT500

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Drivers

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Rank No. Driver SUZ FUJ SEN FUJ MOT MIN SUG TAI Points
1 23 Masami Kageyama 1 6C 1 10 4 4 6 10 67
1 23 Érik Comas 1 1 10 4 4 6 10 67
2 64 Koji Yamanishi 2 1C 1 16Ret 2 19DNS 1 50
2 64 Tom Coronel 2 1C 19Ret 1 16Ret 2 19DNS 1 50
3 12 Kazuyoshi Hoshino 11 5 3 2 7 4 4 49
3 12 Takuya Kurosawa 11 10C 5 3 2 7 4 5 49
4 16 Osamu Nakako

Ryo Michigami

17Ret 9C 18Ret 5 1 11 1 7 48
5 3 Masahiro Hasemi

Tetsuya Tanaka

5 11C 14Ret 2 8 8 5 4 37
6 39 Keiichi Tsuchiya

Tatsuya Tanigawa

3 15C 4 9 14Ret 3 14Ret 3 36
7 36 Masanori Sekiya

Norberto Fontana

6 3C 3 8 3 16 15Ret 13Ret 33
8 2 Aguri Suzuki 18Ret 2 7 11 5 9 12Ret 29
8 2 Masahiko Kageyama 18Ret 5C 2 7 11 5 9 12Ret 29
9 37 Toshio Suzuki

Kelvin Burt

7 7C 6 11 18Ret 10 2 6 26
10 100 Kunimitsu Takahashi

Akira Iida

10 4C 12 19Ret 7 1 13Ret 2 25
11 38 Hironori Takeuchi

Hideki Noda

9 12C 16Ret 21Ret 5 12 3 11Ret 22
12 50 Satoshi Motoyama 13 11 6 6 9 8 15Ret 17
12 50 Takeshi Tsuchiya 13 8C 11 6 6 9 8 15Ret 17
13 5 Marc Goossens 4 14C 7 20Ret 19Ret 18Ret 16Ret 14
14 5 Yasutaka Hinoi 4 14C 7 14
15 18 Katsutomo Kaneishi 20Ret 2C 17Ret 4 15Ret 15 21DSQ 14Ret 10
16 18 Katsumi Yamamoto 20Ret 2C 17Ret 4 15Ret 10
17 8 Wayne Gardner

Minoru Tanaka

8 20C 10 12 19Ret 7 8
18 6 Pierre-Henri Raphanel 21Ret 13Ret 13 13Ret 6 20DNQ 6
18 6 Shinichi Takagi 21Ret 18C 13Ret 13 13Ret 6 20DNQ 6
19 30 Yoji Yamada

Hideki Okada

12 13C 8 15 9 14 17Ret 9 5
20 88 Hisashi Wada

Naohiro Furuya

19Ret 19C 9 18 10 13 11 3
21 55 Hideshi Matsuda 14 16C 14 10 8 1
22 55 Anthony Reid 10 1
24 55 Eiichi Tajima 14 16C 0
24 5 20Ret 19Ret 18Ret 16Ret 0
24 55 Fuminori Mizuno [ja] 14 0
25 13 Mitsuhiro Kinoshita 17C 15Ret 16 12 17 12Ret 0
25 55 8 0
26 13 Mitsuo Fujimura 17C 15Ret 16 12 17 12Ret 0
27 777 Takao Wada

Masayoshi Sugiyama

15 21C 17 17Ret 18Ret 0
28 18 Juichi Wakisaka 15 21DSQ 14Ret 0
29 64 Koji Sato [ja] 19Ret 0
30 2 Pedro de la Rosa 5C 0
31 23 Ralph Firman 6C 0
32 50 Hiroki Katoh 8C 0
33 12 Michael Krumm 10C 0
34 6 Anders Olofsson 18C 0
35 89 Kenji Kawagoe

Tonichi Kanamori

22C 0

GT300 Class (Top 5)

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Drivers

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Rank Drivers Number/Team Points Wins
1 Japan Keiichi Suzuki
Japan Shingo Tachi
#25 Team Taisan Jr with Tsuchiya MR-2 106 5
2 Japan Manabu Orido #19 Racing Project Bandoh Toyota Celica 46 0
3 Japan Morio Nitta #44 MOMOCORSE A'PEX MR-2 45 0
4 Japan Hiroki Katoh #21 Hitotsuyama Racing BMW M3 44 0
5 Japan Akihiko Nakaya
Japan Takahiko Hara
#61 Team Taeivon Ralliart Mitsubishi FTO 37 0

References

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  1. ^ "JGTC Fog Bank Ends 2nd Round of GTC". Archived from the original on 5 June 2011.
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