Super GT/JLMC
Volume 8
- Motegi: YellowHat YMS TOMICA GT-R Takes its First Victory of the Season!:
On September 14, the MOTEGI GT300km Race, Round 7 of the 2008 AUTOBACS SUPER GT, was held at the Twin Ring Motegi (one lap 4.801 km) in Tochigi Prefecture and the GT500 class winner was the YellowHat YMS TOMICA GT-R driven by Ronnie Quintarelli and Naoki Yokomizo.
- Motegi: Firman Secures Pole for Yellowhat NSX:
Qualifying second was the No. 1 ARTA NSX (Ralph Firman), which had held the fastest time until it was bettered by Quintarelli near the end of the session. Meanwhile, the 3rd position went to the No. 6 ENEOS SC430 driven by Bjorn Wirdheim, who bettered his time on the last timed lap to win the team its best grid position of the season. These results gave the GT-R, NSX and SC430 a place among the top three.
- Suzuka: Nissan Take Win with Matsuda and Phillipe:
On July 27, the 37th International Pokka 1000Km Race, Round 6 of the 2008 AUTOBACS SUPER GT, was held at the Suzuka Circuit (one lap 5.807 km ~173 laps) in Mie Prefecture and the GT500 class winner was the CALSONIC GT-R driven by Tsugio Matsuda and Sebastien Philippe.
- Suzuka: Bad Weather Hands Pole to the Motul Autech GT-R:
The first qualifying session started at 9:50 in the morning. The rain that had been falling since the night before had turned into a drizzle by start time but never stopped and the track was completely wet. The temperature at start time was 22 degrees C., with a track temperature of 23 degrees C.
- Sugo: First 2008 Win for the TAKATA DOME NSX is a Pole-to-Checkered Dash!:
On July 27, the “SUGO GT 300KM RACE,” Round 5 of the 2008 AUTOBACS SUPER GT, was held at Sports land SUGO in Miyagi Prefecture. In the GT500 class the No. 18 TAKATA DOME NSX driven by Ryo Michigami and Takashi Kogure scored a pole-to-checkered win. In the GT300 class, the No. 43 ARTA Garaiya driven by Morio Nitta and Shinichi Takagi came from the second position on the starting grid to take the victory.
- Sugo: TAKATA DOME NSX Grabs Second Pole Position this Season:
The first qualifying session began at 11:00 a.m. Although the Wet sign was still out, the track was mostly dry and the teams took to the track on slick tires. The air temperature at the start of the session was 23 degrees C., with a track temperature of 27 degrees C.
- Sepang: Two from Two for Woodwon Advan Nissan:
The SUPER GT International Series MALAYSIA race, Round 4 of the 2008 AUTOBACS SUPER GT, was run at the Sepang International Circuit (lap = 5.542 km) in Malaysia on June 22. In the GT500 class, the No. 24 WOODONE ADVAN Clarion GT-R driven by the pair of Joao Paulo Lima De Oliveira and Seiji Ara started from 4th position on the grid and staged a come-from-behind victory. In the GT300class, the No.77 CUSCO DUNLOP SUBARU IMPREZA driven by Tetsuya Yamano and Kota Sasaki scored an impressive pole-to-checkered win.
- Fuji: ZENT CERUMO SC430 (Tachikawa/Lyons) Wins for First Time this Season:
The FUJI GT 500KM RACE, Round 3 of the 2008 AUTOBACS SUPER GT, took place at Fuji Speedway (one lap 4.563 km x 110 laps) in Shizuoka Pref. on May 4, and victory was won by the ZENT CERUMO SC430 driven by Yuji Tachikawa and Richard Lyons for the first time this season.
- Fuji: TAKATA DOME NSX Wins Pole Position for Second Consecutive Year!:
The qualifying for the FUJI GT 500 km Race, Round 3 of the 2008 AUTOBACS SUPER GT, took place at Fuji Speedway (one lap 4.563 km) in Shizuoka Pref. on May 3. The TAKATA DOME NSX driven by Takashi Kogure won the GT500 class pole position and will start from the front row in the race on the 4th.
- Okayama: XANAVI NISMO GT-R Starts Season with Consecutive Victories!:
The Okayama GT 300km Race, Round 2 of the 2008 AUTOBACS SUPER GT, was held at the Okayama International Circuit (one lap 3.703 km x 82 laps) in Okayama Pref. on April 13 and Satoshi Motoyama and Benoit Treluyer drove the XANAVI NISMO GT-R to a second consecutive victory, following their win in the season opener.
- Okayama: XANAVI NISMO GT-R Qualifies on Pole:
The qualifying for the Okayama GT 300km, Round 2 of the 2008 AUTOBACS SUPER GT, was held at the Okayama International Circuit (one lap 3.703 km) in Okayama Pref. on April 12. The XANAVI NISMO GT-R driven by Benoit Treluyer won the pole position as the fastest qualifier in the GT500 class and will start from the front row in the final race on the 13th.
- Suzuka: The New Nissan GT-R Takes First Win:
The SUZUKA GT 300km, Round 1 of the 2008 AUTOBACS SUPER GT, was held at the Suzuka Circuit in Mie Pref. on March 16. The GT500 class was won in a come-from-behind victory by the 2nd-place qualifying No. 23 XANAVI NISMO GT-R driven by Satoshi Motoyama and Benoit Treluyer. This gave Nissan's new GT-R an impressive 1-2 victory in its debut race.
- Suzuka: MOTUL AUTECH GT-R Qualifies 1st in its GT Debut!:
The qualifying for the SUZUKA GT 300km, Round 1 of the 2008 AUTOBACS SUPER GT, took place at the Suzuka Circuit (one lap 5.807 km) in Mie Pref. on March 15. Driving the MOTUL AUTECH GT-R, Michael Krumm won the pole position as the fastest qualifier and will start from the front row in the race on the 16th.
In the first qualifying session in the morning, Krumm ran the second fastest lap time. In the first afternoon session he qualified for the Super Lap for the top ten qualifiers (time trials run individually). - ACO To Create Asian Le Mans Series:
1st & 2nd November 2008 - Shanghai bound!
After the United States and Europe the Automobile Club de l'Ouest breaks new ground with the organisation of its first race in China.
- FeedMeSportsCars Catches Up with Loic Duval:
FeedMeSportsCars was able to catch up with Super GT's Loic Duval at the recent A1GP round in Sydney, Australia. Duval finished second in the Super GT Championship in 2007 and had been testing in Japan just hours before the first qualifying session for the A1GP race - a race in which he was competing for A1GP Team France.
- Nissan Announces New 2008 Season Motorsport Programs:
Nissan Motor Co. Ltd and Nissan Motorsports International Co., Ltd. (NISMO) today announced their 2008 Global Motorsport Programs.
Highlighting the company's continued commitment to global motorsport, Nissan will enter the all-new GT-R into the premium Japanese motorsport series, SUPER GT.
- Super GT Announces 2008 Schedule:
The final schedule for the 2008 SUPER GT SERIES calendar has been decided.
- Fuji: NSX and Porsche Take the Wins at Fugi:
On Nov. 4, The FUJI GT 300km RACE, 9th and final round of the 2007 AUTOBACS SUPER GT series, took place at the Fuji Speedway in Shizuoka Pref. In the GT500 class the No. 32 EPSON NSX (Loic Duval/Fabio Carbone) ran to its first victory of the season. The GT300 class winner was the No. 26 YUNKER-POWER TAISAN PORSCHE (Nobuteru Taniguchi/ Dominik Farnbacher), its second victory of the season. Also, the season title for drivers in the GT300 class was claimed by team of Kazuya Ohshima and Hiroaki Ishiura (No.101 TOY STORY Racing apr MR-S), who finished second in this race.
- Fuji: Pole and Course Record for Treluyer and Hosino:
The qualifying for the FUJI GT 300km RACE, Round 9 of the 2007 AUTOBACS SUPER GT, took place at Fuji Speedway (one lap 4.563 km) in Shizuoka Pref. on Nov. 3. In this qualifying the CALSONIC IMPUL Z driven by Benoit Treluyer and Kazuki Hoshino won the GT500 class pole position and will start from the front row in the final race on the 4th.
- Nissan GT-R Shakedown In Suzuka:
NISSAN GT-R race car for the GT500 class of Japan's SUPER GT series underwent a shakedown at the renowned Suzuka Circuit from October 29 - 30 supervised by NISMO (Nissan Motorsports International Co., Ltd.). The vehicle is scheduled to debut in the series next year. The 2-day test, conducted under sunny skies, went smoothly with NISMO's regular drivers, Satoshi Motoyama, Michael Krumm and Tsugio Matsuda, behind the wheel. The test was designed to obtain important data for the race car's further development.
- Autopolis: Ito/Firman Wrap Up Championship with Victory:
On Oct. 14, the SUPER GT IN KYUSHU 300KM, Round 8 of the 2007 AUTOBACS SUPER GT, was held at the AUTOPOLIS (Oita Pref.). In the GT500 class the ARTA NSX (Daisuke Ito/Ralph Firman) won for the third time this season clinched the GT500 Drivers Title with one round remaining in the season. In the GT300 class, the No. 62 WILLCOM ADVAN VEMAC 408R No.62 WILLCOM ADVAN VEMAC408R (Shinsuke Shibahara/ Haruki Kurosawa) came away with the win.
- Autopolis: Firman/Ito Qualify Well For the Championship:
The first qualifying session began at 10:30, 10 minutes later than scheduled. The weather was fair and thee track was dry. The temperature at the start of the session was 23 degrees C. and the track surface temperature was 30 degrees.
- Motegi:Takata Dome NSX Finally Turns its Potential into Results:
The Motegi GT 300 km Race, Round 7 of the 2007 AUTOBACS SUPER GT, took place at the Twin Ring Motegi (Tochigi Pref.) on Sept. 9, The GT500 victory went to the pole starter No. 18 TAKATA DOME NSX (Ryo Michigami/Takashi Kogure). The GT300 class winner was the No. 26 YUNKER-POWER TAISAN PORSCHE (Nobuteru Taniguchi/Dominik Farnbacher).
- Motegi: Takata Dome NSX Takes Fifth Pole of the Season:
On Sept. 8, the qualifying for the Motegi GT 300 km Race, Round 7 of the 2007 AUTOBACS SUPER GT, took place at the Twin Ring Motegi (Tochigi Pref.) and the No. 18 TAKATA DOME NSX driven by Takashi Kogure won the GT500 class pole position, while the GT300 class pole went to the No. 43 ARTA Garaiya.
- Suzuka: TOM'S Lexus Takes First Win of the Season:
The INTERNATIONAL POKKA 1000 km race, Round 6 of the 2007 AUTOBACS SUPER GT, took place at the Suzuka Circuit (lap = 5.807 km x 173 laps) in Mie Pref. on Aug. 19, and the victory went to the houzan TOM’S SC430 driven by Juichi Wakisaka, Andre Lotterer and Oliver Jarvis.
- Suzuka: YellowHat on Pole at Suzuka:
The qualifying for the INTERNATIONAL POKKA 1000 km, Round 6 of the 2007 AUTOBACS SUPER GT, took place at the Suzuka Circuit (lap = 5.807 km) in Mie Pref. on Aug. 18. In this day's qualifying, the YellowHat YMS MobaHO! TOMICA Z (drivers: Sebastien Philippe, Masataka Yanagida) won the GT500 class pole position and will start from the front row in the final race on the 19th.
- Sugo: NSX Once Again Take the Win:
The SUGO GT 300 km Race, Round 5 of the 2007 AUTOBACS SUPER GT, took place at SPORTS-LAND SUGO (one lap 3.704 km x 81 laps) in Miyagi Pref. on July 29 and the GT500 class victory went to the second-place qualifiers, Daisuke Ito and Ralph Firman of the ARTA NSX team.
- TAKATA DOME NSX Sets Record with Fourth Consecutive Pole Position!:
The qualifying for the SUGO GT 300 km Race, Round 5 of the 2007 AUTOBACS SUPER GT, took place at SPORTS-LAND SUGO (one lap 3.704 km) in Miyagi Pref. on July 28. The TAKATA DOME NSX driven by Ryo Michgami and Takashi Kogure grabbed the GT500 class pole position (fastest qualifier) and will start from the front row in the final race on the 29th July.
- The ACO increases its involvement in Asia:
The Automobile Club de l'Ouest has released this statement about the Japanese Le Mans Challenge:
- Sepang: Woodone Advan Team Claim First Win + Results!:
The SUPER GT INTERNATIONAL SERIES IN MALAYSIA race, Round 4 of the 2007 AUTOBACS SUPER GT, took place at the Sepang International Circuit (lap = 5.542 km) in Malaysia Pref. on June 24. Coming up from 14th place on the starting grid to grab the win in the GT500 class was the pair of Joao Paulo Lima De Oliveira and Seiji Ara driving the WOODONE ADVAN Clarion Z.
- Sepang: TAKATA DOME NSX Top Qualifier for Third Consecutive Round!:
The qualifying for the SUPER GT INTERNATIONAL SERIES IN MALAYSIA, Round 4 of the 2007 AUTOBACS SUPER GT, took place at the Sepang Circuit (lap = 5.542 km) in Malaysia Pref. on June 23. The TAKATA DOME NSX won the GT500 class pole position (fastest qualifier) and will start from the front row in the final race on the 24th.
- Sugo: Nakano and Kurosawa Take Pole:
JLMC 2007 series starts in same circuit as last year SPORTS-LAND SUGO and official qualifying was taken place with cloudy, sometimes caught sunlight weather on Saturday. During "Driver's qualifying" held from 10:40 for 1 hour, No. 16 "MUGEN COURAGE LC70" (LMP1) with Haruki Kurosawa and Shinji Nakano recorded the fastest lap of 1'13'306, making 0.499 sec margin from "DUNLOP Zytek 05S" with Hideki Noda and Shinsuke Yamazaki.
- Fugi: Come-from-behind Win for XANAVI NISMO Z:
The Fuji GT 500 km Race, Round 3 of the 2007 AUTOBACS SUPER GT, took place at Fuji Speedway (one lap 4.563 km x 109 laps) in Shizuoka Pref. on May 4, and victory went to the 11th-place qualifiers, the XANAVI NISMO Z driven by Satoshi Motoyama and Richard Lyons. As can be expected from a long 500 km race like this, there was a good number of car contacts, crashes and machine trouble occurring one after another. Through it all, the experienced Motoyama-Lyons pair constantly moved up through the pack to take the lead by the end of their second pit stop. It was a perfect come-from-behind victory scenario acted out with skill and precision.
- TAKATA NOME NSX Top Qualifier for Second Consecutive Round!:
The qualifying for the Fuji GT 500 km Race, Round 3 of the 2007 AUTOBACS SUPER GT, took place at Fuji Speedway (one lap 4.563 km) in Shizuoka Pref. on May 3. The TAKATA NOME NSX driven by Takashi Kogure won the GT500 class pole position (fastest qualifier) and will start from the front row in the race on the 4th.
- Rookie Duval takes first pole position in EPSON NSX:
Qualifying sessions for Round 9 of the 2006 AUTOBACS SUPER GT, the FUJI GT300KM, took place at the Fuji Speedway (1 lap 4.563 km) in Shizuoka Prefecture on November 4. Loic Duval in the EPSON NSX captured the pole position (1st place in qualifying). He will start from the front row for the final race on the 5th.
- Okayama: Fate decided at the first turn + GT300 Report and Results!:
The OKAYAMA GT 300km RACE, Round 2 of the 2007 AUTOBACS SUPER GT, was held at the Okayama International Circuit (one lap 3.703 km x 82 laps) in Okayama Pref. on April 8. The GT500 class winners were the 2nd fastest qualifiers, the ARTA NSX driven by Daisuke Ito and Ralph Firman, who ran virtually the whole race without ever giving up the lead.
- Nissan Z Shows Outstanding Performance With 3rd Place Podium In Round 2 Of SUPER GT:
Round 2 of SUPER GT was held on Sunday, April 8th at Okayama International Circuit (3.703 km / lap). The NISMO MOTUL AUTECH Z (#22), with drivers Michael Krumm and Tsugio Matsuda, started 6th and finished the race on the podium in 3rd place. This marked the second consecutive podium finish for the Fairlady Z, after taking 2nd at Suzuka three weeks ago. The weather was fair on race day with a high temperature of 18C. A total of 35,000 spectators witnessed the excitement at the track.