Nissan Z Scores 3rd place podium finish

Date: November 5, 2006
Place: Fuji International Speedway (Shizuoka Pref.) 4.563km
Weather: Fine (18C, Dry) / Track surface: 26C

The 66 lap final round of the Super GT series was held on Sunday, November 5th at Fuji Speedway. The #24 WOODONE ADVAN KONDO Z with drivers Masataka Yanagida and Seiji Ara started from 4th, and with very aggressive driving, finished on the podium in 3rd place, their very best result of the season. This race also marked the first event for the new, normally aspirated V8 motor, the “VK45DE”, introduced in the MOTUL AUTECH Z (#22, Michael Krumm / Richard Lyons). The aim was to win the Team Championship title, but with the car starting from 9th on the grid and finishing in 6th, it won points, but came runner-up in the Teams battle. The weather on race day was fine, with the temperature at 18 C at its highest and a track temperature of 26 C. 46,300 spectators visited the track on the day.

Masataka Yanagida was the start driver for the #24 Z, and he managed to avoid a series of accidents at the start of the race, improving his position to 3rd on lap 5. He kept a steady gap between the car ahead until returning to the pits on lap 26 to hand over to Seiji Ara. Ara then drove the long 40-lap stint to the end, pressured from behind by the #35 SC430. The two cars constantly fought for position from lap 50, and on the final section of the final lap, the #24 succeeded in pushing through the gap. But right before the main straight, the #35 took over again, and ran across the finish line just ahead. The crowed was on its feet witnessing the intense battle, and applauded loudly as the cars crossed the line together. The performance won Seiji Ara the “Exciting Driver Award”.

The #22 MOTUL AUTECH Z, burdened from the 80kg handicap weight on board, was blocked by the cars involved in the accident at the Dunlop corner on the opening lap, and returned to the main straight in 11th. However, Michael Krumm was keen on seeking his opportunity to recover the position, and was back up to 7th on lap 13. Richard Lyons took over the car on lap 27 and moved up to 5th. However, he then had an accident with the #3 Z at the 1st corner on lap 33, dropping to 7th. The #3 Z was given a penalty for the incident, and the #22 Z immediately moved up to 6th. In spite of further attempts to pursue other cars in front, Lyons finished the race in 6th place.

The YellowHat YMS TOMICA Z (#3, Naoki Yokomizo / Joao Paulo de Oliveira) started the race from 3rd on the grid and finished 8th, while the XANAVI NISMO Z (#23, Satoshi Motoyama / Tsugio Matsuda) and the CALSONIC IMPUL Z (#12, Benoit Treluyer / Kazuki Hoshino), which started from 12th and 14th respectively, were both burdened by heavy handicap weights and finished well down the order.

“There is so much remorse for not meeting our fans’ expectations and winning the Championship,” said Yoshitaka Iijima, Team Director at NISMO. “We regret the accident of the #22 Z, because Richard had started so well. However, when our new chassis is completed – to mate with our new engine, we know for sure that we will be very competitive. We are aiming to take back the title next season. Thank you all for your support throughout this season.”

“Our team started from scratch,” recalled Masahiko Kondo, Team Director of KONDO Racing. “But our final round was such a good way to finish the season, we know what to expect next year. The drivers and the whole team fought well, and Yokohama Tires gave us the support we needed. I am very grateful to our fans. Thank you very much!”

Seiji Ara, driver of the #24 Z said, “During the battle in the last few laps, I pushed really hard because I wanted to be ahead. We couldn’t win, but the Fairlady Z and Yokohama Tires were very reliable. I joined the team from the middle of the season, but I am so glad we have accomplished what we did today. I am really happy about it.”

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