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

GT500

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 Japan Kazuyoshi Hoshino B All
Japan Masahiko Kageyama All
Team Zexel Nissan Nissan Skyline GT-R Nissan RB26DETT 2.6 L Twin Turbo I6 2 Japan Aguri Suzuki B All
Japan Hideo Fukuyama All
Hasemi Motorsport Nissan Nissan Skyline GT-R Nissan RB26DETT 2.6 L Twin Turbo I6 3 Japan Masahiro Hasemi B All
Japan Tetsuya Tanaka All
Taku Motor Sports Porsche Porsche 993 GT2 Porsche M64/81 3.6 L Turbo F6 5 Japan Kaoru Iida B All
Japan Tetsuya Ota 1–3, 5–6
Germany Michael Krumm 4
FET Racing Team Toyota Toyota Supra Toyota 3S-GT 2.0 L Turbo I4 8 Denmark Tom Kristensen B All
Japan Tatsuya Tanigawa 1–3
France Bertrand Gachot 4–6
Prova Motorsport Porsche Porsche 964 Turbo Porsche M64/60 3.6 L Turbo F6 15 Japan Motoji Sekine D All
Canada Scott Maxwell 1
Japan Taro Mitsuno 2
Japan Takahiro Ito 3–6
Porsche 993 GT2 Porsche M64/81 3.6 L Turbo F6 16 Japan Satoshi Toda 4–5
Japan Taro Mitsuno 4
Japan Eiji Yamada 5
Japan Osamu Nakajima 6
Japan Ichiro Iijima 6
Team-Jun Nissan Nissan Skyline GT-R Nissan SR20DET 2.0 L Turbo I4 19 Japan Katsuo Kobayashi Y All
Japan Naohiro Furuya 1–3
Japan Manabu Orido 4
Japan Koma Mitsutake 5–6
Bros Factory Nissan Nissan Fairlady Z LM Nissan VH45DE 4.5 L V8 25 Japan Masami Kageyama Y 2–3, 5–6, NC
Japan Yuji Tachikawa 2–3, 5–6, NC
Team Take One Porsche Porsche 993 GT2 Porsche M64/81 3.6 L Turbo F6 30 Japan Yoji Yamada B All
Japan Eiichi Tajima 1–6
Japan Kazuo Mogi NC
Team Taisan Advan Porsche Porsche 993 GT2 Porsche M64/81 3.6 L Turbo F6 34 Japan Hideshi Matsuda B 3–4
Japan Osamu Nakako 3–4
35 Japan Takeshi Tsuchiya 1–4
United Kingdom Anthony Reid 1
Argentina Oscar Larrauri 2–4
Ferrari Ferrari F40 LM Ferrari F120B 2.9 L Twin Turbo V8 Argentina Oscar Larrauri 5–6
United Kingdom Anthony Reid 5
Japan Mitsuhiro Kinoshita 6
Toyota Castrol Team TOM'S Toyota Toyota Supra Toyota 3S-GT 2.0 L Turbo I4 36 Japan Masanori Sekiya B All
Spain Pedro de la Rosa 1–6
Japan Ukyo Katayama NC
Toyota Castrol Team Cerumo Toyota Toyota Supra Toyota 3S-GT 2.0 L Turbo I4 37 France Érik Comas B All
Japan Hidetoshi Mitsusada 1–2
Japan Hironori Takeuchi 3–6, NC
Toyota Team SARD Toyota Toyota Supra Toyota 3S-GT 2.0 L Turbo I4 39 Australia Wayne Gardner D 1–4, 6
France Alain Ferté 1–5
Japan Naoki Nagasaka 5
Italy Giampiero Simoni 6
France Olivier Grouillard NC
France David Dussau NC
Team BMB Minijuke Porsche Porsche 964 RS Porsche M64/04 3.8 L F6 43 Japan Yukio Okamoto Y All
Japan Yasutaka Hinoi All
Limit Motor Sport Nissan Nissan Skyline GT-R Nissan RB26DETT 2.6 L Twin Turbo I6 55 Japan Kenji Tohira B 1–5
Japan Hiroyuki Kawai 1–5
Team Lark McLaren GTR McLaren McLaren F1 GTR BMW S70/2 6.0 L V12 60 Japan Naoki Hattori B All
Germany Ralf Schumacher All
61 Australia David Brabham All
Denmark John Nielsen All
Kenji Kawagoe Porsche Porsche 993 GT2 Porsche M64/81 3.6 L Twin Turbo F6 69 Japan Kenji Kawagoe D 1–4
Japan Shunji Kasuya 1–4
Kenwolf with JLOC Corsa Lamborghini Lamborghini Diablo Jota Lamborghini L532 5.7 L V12 88 Japan Takao Wada Y 1–2, 4–6
Japan Tatsuhiko Kaneumi 1
Japan Satoshi Ikezawa 2, 4–6
Team Kunimitsu Honda Honda NSX Honda C30A 3.0 L V6 100 Japan Kunimitsu Takahashi Y All
Japan Keiichi Tsuchiya All
Kure Racing with Nismo Nissan Nissan Skyline GT-R Nissan RB26DETT 2.6 L Twin Turbo I6 556 Japan Toshio Suzuki B All
Japan Masahiko Kondo All

GT300

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

Schedule

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

Season results

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

Point Ranking

GT500 Class

Drivers

Rank No. Driver SUZ FUJ SEN FUJ SUG MIN CEN Points
1 61 John Nielsen
David Brabham		 2 1 8 2 Ret 4 63
2 60 Naoki Hattori

Ralf Schumacher

 1 Ret 15 Ret 1 1 60
3 37 Érik Comas 16 4 1 Ret 4 2 2 55
4 1 Masahiko Kageyama

Kazuyoshi Hoshino

 8 5 5 1 2 Ret 5 54
5 3 Masahiro Hasemi

Tetsuya Tanaka

 3 6 2 14 6 5 1 47
6 2 Aguri Suzuki

Hideo Fukuyama

 4 Ret 7 3 5 3 3 46
7 37 Hironori Takeuchi 1 Ret 4 2 2 45
8 36 Masanori Sekiya 5 2 3 Ret 8 Ret 4 38
8 36 Pedro de la Rosa 5 2 3 Ret 8 Ret 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 Ret 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 Ret 12 12 6 8 10
16 55 Kenji Tohira

Hiroyuki Kawai

 11 10 11 6 9 9
17 100 Kunimitsu Takahashi

Keiichi Tsuchiya

 Ret 8 12 7 10 11 6 8
18 8 Tatsuya Tanigawa 10 13 6 7
19 30 Yoji Yamada 7 11 9 Ret Ret Ret 9 6
19 30 Eiichi Tajima 7 11 9 Ret Ret Ret 6
20 35 Oscar Larrauri 7 Ret 15 Ret 4
20 35 Takeshi Tsuchiya 12 7 Ret 4
20 39 Naoki Nagasaka 7 4
23 43 Yasutaka Hinoi

Yukio Yamamoto

 Ret 12 13 8 13 Ret 3
23 39 Giampiero Simoni 8 3
25 25 Masami Kageyama

Yuji Tachikawa

 Ret Ret Ret 9 2
26 5 Kaoru Iida 13 14 10 Ret Ret 12 1
26 5 Tetsuya Ota 13 14 10 Ret 12 1
26 16 Tetsushi Toda 10 11 1
26 15 Mitsuno Taro 16 0
16 10 1
88 Takao Wada Ret Ret 11 Ret 13 0
88 Satoshi Ikezawa Ret 11 Ret 13 0
16 Tarzan Yamada 11 0
35 Anthony Reid 12 15 0
19 Katsuo Kobayashi Ret 17 16 13 Ret 14 0
19 Manabu Orido 13 0
69 Kenji Kawagoe

Shunji Kasuya

 14 15 14 0
19 Takeru Koma Ret 14 0
15 Sekine Motoshi 15 16 Ret 15 Ret 0
15 Takahiro Ito Ret 15 Ret 0
15 Scott Maxwell 15 0
19 Naohiro Furuya Ret 17 16 0
35 Mitsuhiro Kinoshita Ret 0
5 Michael Krumm Ret 0
16 Osamu Nakajima

Ijima Ichiro

 Ret 0
88 Tatsuhiko Kaneumi Ret 0
36 Ukyo Katayama 4 0
39 Olivier Grouillard
David Dussau		 7 0
30 Kazuo Mogi 9 0

GT300 Class (Top 5)

Drivers

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

Notes

    1. ↑ Nationality unknown
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