As 2023 draws to a close, the iRacing Fuji 8 Hours special event takes place this weekend. With it comes a 50-car-strong grid of GT3 cars all fighting at the base of the Japanese mountain. But which GT3 is the best fit for your team?
Image credit: iRacing.com
With a race-specific competitive BOP and the addition of the single-class format, the Fuji 8 Hours is looking like one of the most competitive special events of the season so far.
Image Credit: iRacing.com
The weather conditions for the event are set to dynamic. Two Stints will never have the same conditions which further adds to the immersion of a track like Fuji. With a minimum of two drivers per team and a maximum of sixteen, the pitlane will certainly be very busy come race day.
Two older GT3 cars are eligible for the iRacing Fuji 8 Hours as well. The McLaren MP4-12C GT3 marked McLaren’s return to sports car racing after almost 20 years, but is almost 12 years old at this point. It has since been replaced by the 720S GT3, which is not part of the iRacing roster.
Meanwhile, the Ford GT GT3 is even older. The V8-powered car is not based on second-generation model produced from 2016 to 2022, but rather the 2005-2006 model. It first appeared in real-life competition in 2008. As a result, while subject to BOP as well, racers tend to avoid these two older cars in iRacing.
Image credit: iRacing.com
With a race-specific competitive BOP and the addition of the single-class format, the Fuji 8 Hours is looking like one of the most competitive special events of the season so far.
Fuji 8 Hours Balance of Performance
Choosing which GT3 car to use is often event-specific. The Balance of Performance (BOP) changes for each event. Thus, it adjusts factors of a car’s performance to make each entry as viable as the rest of the field. There is a good variety of GT3 cars to choose from in iRacing – here are your options for this event.| Car | Powertrain | Drivetrain | BOP Stats |
| Audi R8 LMS GT3 | Mid-Engined NA V10 | RWD | -1% Fuel |
| BMW M4 GT3 | Front-Engined Turbo Straight Six | RWD | -1.5% Power |
| Ferrari 296 GT3 | Mid-Engined Turbo V6 | RWD | -2% Power -1% Fuel |
| Ford GT GT3 | Mid-Engined NA V8 | RWD | – |
| Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO | Mid-Engined NA V10 | RWD | -1% Fuel |
| McLaren MP4-12C GT3 | Mid-Engined Turbo V8 | RWD | -2% Power |
| Mercedes-AMG GT3 2020 | Front-Engined NA V8 | RWD | -1.5% Power -1% Fuel |
| Porsche 911 GT3 R (992) | Rear-Engined NA Flat Six | RWD | -2% Power |
Variable Conditions
The Fuji 8 Hours is a GT3 class event only. Whilst the lack of the higher class will limit participation for some drivers, it allows competitors to not have to sacrifice lap time and momentum to allow faster-class cars through every lap. With a maximum of fifty cars in one split, the fight will be from lights to flag without a doubt.Image Credit: iRacing.com
The weather conditions for the event are set to dynamic. Two Stints will never have the same conditions which further adds to the immersion of a track like Fuji. With a minimum of two drivers per team and a maximum of sixteen, the pitlane will certainly be very busy come race day.
Which Car To Choose?
With the location of Fuji International Speedway, turbo-charged cars are going to be at an advantage. with the air being thinner. If you plan to run the newest addition to the GT3 lineup, the Ferrari 296, or the BMW M4, you will see a very slight performance increase.Two older GT3 cars are eligible for the iRacing Fuji 8 Hours as well. The McLaren MP4-12C GT3 marked McLaren’s return to sports car racing after almost 20 years, but is almost 12 years old at this point. It has since been replaced by the 720S GT3, which is not part of the iRacing roster.
Meanwhile, the Ford GT GT3 is even older. The V8-powered car is not based on second-generation model produced from 2016 to 2022, but rather the 2005-2006 model. It first appeared in real-life competition in 2008. As a result, while subject to BOP as well, racers tend to avoid these two older cars in iRacing.
Fuji 8 Hours Time Slots
Date: November 10-12
- Timeslot #1 – Friday 22:00 GMT
- Timeslot #2 – Saturday 07:00 GMT
- Timeslot #3 – Saturday 12:00 GMT
- Timeslot #4 – Saturday 16:00 GMT
