Does SUPER GT’s Mother Chassis still have a future?

Introduced back in 2015 as a method of motivating smaller sized Japanese groups to build their own automobiles rather of depending on European imports, the Mother Chassis has actually ended up being a recognized and popular part of the diverse GT300 landscape.

A basic Dome tub and GTA-supplied engine (an unbranded Nissan V8) form the basis of among 3 rulesets presently allowed the GT300 class along with FIA GT3 vehicles and SUPER GT’s own GT300(previously JAF GT300) makers.

But, with simply 2 examples left on the grid in 2021 – the Cars Tokai/Inging Lotus Evora and the Team Mach Toyota 86 – the subclass has actually headed out of style in the last few years, and dangers even vanishing from the champion completely in the coming seasons.

To comprehend why the Mother Chassis has actually progressively fallen out of favour with groups, it’s worth thinking about the state of the GT300 landscape back when it was very first generated.

Following their intro to the series a years back, FIA GT3 vehicles rapidly pertained to control SUPER GT’s lower department. By 2013, virtually the entire field had actually taken the GT3 path, with just 4 real GT300 s staying, and from 2014 to 2020 the title went to teams running GT3 equipment every year bar one.

The exception was available in 2016, when Tsuchiya Engineering took its Toyota 86 MC to title magnificence in what now needs to be considered as the zenith for the Mother Chassis idea.

It remained in the following season that Mother Chassis use peaked at 6 vehicles, as Team Thailand signed up with UpGarage, Team Mach and Tsuchiya in running the Toyota 86, Cars Tokai campaigned the Lotus Evora and Saitama Toyopet signed up with the fray with its unique Toyota Mark X.

But the subsiding competitiveness of the Dome/Nissan bundle has actually trimmed that number to simply 2 in 2021, with Team Thailand, Tsuchiya and UpGarage signing up with the GT3 bulk and Saitama Toyopet choosing to decrease the path of building its own GT300 variation of the Toyota GR Supra.

Inging group supervisor Tomohiro Yamamoto is a significant supporter of the Mother Chassis principle, having actually relocated to the group in 2020 after a spell with Team Mach and remaining on following the start of the group’s existing alliance with veteran Lotus entrant Cars Tokai in 2015.

But even he can see that the appeal of running the cars and truck is restricted for many groups and sponsors.

” If you wish to begin a brand-new group, it’s simpler to get going right now with a GT3 vehicle,” stated Yamamoto. “The Mother Chassis is more focused on groups that have an interest in establishing their own innovation, which is something we like which’s why we utilize it.

” It’s created particularly for racing, so it’s lighter than a GT3, the centre of gravity is lower, and for a chauffeur it’s extremely pleasurable. The tire size is the very same as the GT3s, so it’s simpler for the mom chassis to care for its tires. We’re suitable to combat versus the GT3s.

” If more sponsors and providers supported the groups then we would see more groups utilizing the Mother Chassis. It takes time to establish the vehicle.”

Cars Tokai/Inging has actually supported the Mother Chassis since sponsor Advics was eager to attempt its brakes with the mid-engined Evora after years with the front-engined 86 (the Mother Chassis can be set up as either a front-engined or a mid-engined vehicle).

But, as Yamamoto formerly exposed to Motorsport.com, Advics has actually suggested an interest in changing to another brand-new automobile for 2022, such as the upcoming GT300 variation of the 86 that is being established by Toyota-affiliated contractor apr.

If the group does make the switch, it would most likely leave Team Mach as the sole Mother Chassis holdout on the grid next year. Even then, things aren’t that uncomplicated, as the GTA’s engine service program is rumoured to be ending.

The GTA engine that all Mother Chassis vehicles need to utilize is basically a rebadged Nissan VK45 DE, a 4.5-litre system that utilized to power the marque’s GT500 oppositions and, more just recently, various LMP2 cars and trucks in other champions. The engine is no longer in production, and the more time passes by, the more difficult it ends up being for the GTA to continue servicing the engine.

Efforts to protect a brand-new supply of engines have actually up until now come to absolutely nothing, and in truth the entire concept of developing a second-generation Mother Chassis ruleset appears to have actually slipped down the program for the GTA. The larger concern is whether the GTA will extend the life of the present automobile by enabling other kinds of engine to be utilized in the Mother Chassis tub.

A senior member of Team Mach informed Motorsport.com in 2015 that, if the engine circumstance can be solved, the group means to keep the age-old 86 MC in service.

” We would choose to continue with the mom chassis if possible, so we prepare to keep the present automobile till a brand-new mom chassis platform is produced,” he stated, dismissing the possibility of a transfer to a GT300 automobile. “But up until now there has actually been no info from the GTA.

” This cars and truck is 7 years of ages, so there are some locations where it’s doing not have. The approach is excellent and we have our strong points. For the next-generation mom chassis cars and trucks we wish to keep these strengths so we can continue to have great fights with the GT3s.”

While the variety of Mother Chassis entries has actually decreased in current seasons, the GT300- guidelines automobiles have actually experienced a mini-revival. 6 GT300 automobiles were on the grid this year, up from 3 as just recently as 2019, which number looks set to increase to as high as 9 or 10 for 2022 with Tsuchiya developing its own Supra and apr intending to have up to 3 of its 86 s on the grid.

That should not come as a surprise when you think about that Subaru’s new BRZ won the title this year, which 5 out of 8 wins this year were taken by GT300 automobiles (the FIA GT3s handled simply 2, with the Lotus Evora MC taking the staying triumph).

Against such a background, there’s an argument to state that the Mother Chassis is not looking rather as important as it carried out in the years leading up to its intro.

While the Mother Chassis still has its supporters in the paddock and its reasonable share of followers amongst the SUPER GT fanbase, there’s no leaving the truth the existing platform is past its sell-by date. For those groups that do not wish to merely purchase a GT3 off the rack and rather establish their own innovation, there’s little factor to choose the Mother Chassis when the variety of alternatives on the GT300 side of things has actually increased with the arrival of the GR Supra and the 86.

That’s not to state that a second-generation Mother Chassis would not fit, and a device like the Evora most likely would not be racing in SUPER GT without the Dome tub and GTA powerplant. Now the series’ own GT300 guidelines are back in style, and have essentially the exact same benefits (low weight, cornering expertise, tire durability) as the Mother Chassis, the initial objective of the platform – to get Japanese groups developing their own vehicles once again – has actually been satisfied to a degree.

Arguably, the GTA’s efforts would be much better concentrated on dealing with a few of the Balance of Performance quibbles that have actually ended up being progressively prevalent in the paddock, and permit the existing Mother Chassis platform to pass away a ‘natural’ death when group interest vanishes entirely.

If the Mother Chassis does vanish from SUPER GT entirely, a minimum of connoisseurs of the idea can be grateful that it assisted to ward off total supremacy of GT300 by GT3 automobiles.