> Live or delayed-same-day coverage of most Fanatec GT World Challenge Asia Powered by AWS and Japan Cup rounds.
Japanese broadcaster, J SPORTS, is gearing up for its biggest-ever season of SRO Motorsports Group Asia coverage after confirming plans to broadcast both Fanatec GT World Challenge Asia Powered by AWS and the new-look Japan Cup.
The domestic sports broadcaster operates a combination of satellite TV channels and online on-demand services with dedicated, native commentary. It first became a championship partner two years ago.
Its 2024 coverage begins this weekend with Fanatec GT Asia’s season opener at Sepang in Malaysia before further races take place at Chang (Thailand), Fuji, Suzuka, Okayama (all Japan) and Shanghai (China).
Japan Cup, meanwhile, kicks off with its own round at Sugo on June 7-9 before joining Fanatec GT Asia at its native SRO GT PowerTour events.
A total of 20 one-hour races – that’s 12 for Fanatec GT Asia and eight for Japan Cup – will be mostly covered live, delayed-as-live or in highlights form by J SPORTS channels 1, 2, 3 and 4.
The national broadcaster’s full-season schedule remains subject to change. However, Race 1 at Sepang will be shown delayed-as-live this Saturday night (22:00 – 00:00 JST) ahead of Race 2’s live coverage on Sunday (12:20 – 14:20 JST). And both races at Chang are also live on May 11/12.
Meanwhile, most of Japan Cup’s eight races are scheduled to be shown live.
The same coverage is also available across Japan, albeit with English commentary, on SRO’s GT World YouTube channel.
An unprecedented number of Japanese teams – seven – and drivers – 15 – will contest this year’s Fanatec GT Asia campaign, a remarkable total considering Japan Cup is no longer part of the championship. Instead, the reformatted domestic series features one standalone event and three more on joint SRO GT PowerTour weekends. 50+ GT cars are expected to race at the first of these in Fuji on June 21-23.
Benjamin Franassovici, SRO Motorsports Group Asia General Manager: “J SPORTS’s live coverage has been an important pillar of our Japanese expansion and Japan Cup’s success over the last two years so I’m delighted to see this broadcast agreement increase further to cover all 20 races. Their commentary and presenting team, headed by the highly experienced and knowledgeable Sid Ogura, take Japanese fans into the heart of our paddock.
“The more established Japanese teams have elected to compete in Fanatec GT Asia this year, but the mix of GT3, GT4 and GTC classes will make Japan Cup a unique spectacle within its borders. It’s also the ideal proving ground for amateur drivers taking their first steps in GT racing.”
SEPANG TIMETABLE (GMT +8)
Thursday
13:00 – 14:55: Test 1
16:00 – 17:55: Test 2
Friday
12:00 – 13:00: Official Practice 1
15:30 – 16:30: Official Practice 2
16:40 – 17:10: Bronze Test
Saturday
10:30 – 10:45: Qualifying 1
10:52 – 11:07: Qualifying 2
14:45 – 15:45: Race 1
Sunday
11:30 – 12:30: Race 2
