Nissan Z Scores Second Victory of the Season

Date: October 15, 2006
Place: Autopolis International Racing Course (Oita Pref.) 4.674km
Weather: Fine (26C, Dry) / Track surface: 42C

Round 8 of the 2006 Super GT was held at Autopolis in Kyushu on October 15. The XANAVI NISMO Z (#23) with drivers Satoshi Motoyama and Tsugio Matsuda had a successful race, taking the overall victory. The win was the first for NISMO and the second for a NISSAN Z this season. The car also scored the fastest lap during the race and added another valuable point for the championship. The beautiful weather was always behind them, with the temperature reaching a high of 26 C and with a track surface measured at 42 C. The total number of spectators on race day was 51,200.

Matsuda was the starting driver for the #23 Z, and he quickly caught and overtook the #18 NSX on the opening lap for 2nd place. He then went in pursuit of the top-running #8 NSX. The battle between the two cars was fierce and ended in a collision. Fortunately, there was no damage to the #23 Z, but the #8 car was forced by the officials to return to the pits for repairs to the damaged and flapping rear body work caused in the contact. After this incident, the #23 Z was now the leader of the field. Matsuda scored the fastest lap of the race during his stint, and handed the wheel over to Motoyama on lap 26, with a 10-second advantage to their pursuers. The #18 NSX was always behind him, looking for the right opportunity to overtake, but Motoyama never gave his rival the chance. In the end, the pursuer in 2nd place turned out to be the #100 NSX, but Motoyama kept him at bay also, finishing the 65-lap race as winner, and taking 6th place in the championship.

The MOTUL AUTECH Z (#22), started from 7th with Michael Krumm at the wheel. In qualifying, the 90kg handicap weight prevented him from getting more out of the car. Still, the car maintained its position despite the team’s efforts to control tire wear. Krumm handed the wheel over to Richard Lyons while running in 5th place, and Lyons focused on keeping the position. The car finished the race in 6th place, the result giving Krumm 5th place in the driver’s championship.

The CALSONIC IMPUL Z (#12, Benoit Treluyer & Kazuki Hoshino) ran a different strategy. Starting the race from 5th, they were always on the limit with their soft rubber, and after two pit stops, each to change tires, finished the race in 4th place. The YellowHat YMS TOMICA Z (#3, Naoki Yokomizo & Joao Paolo de Oliveira) started from 13th. They were at one point provisionally on top, and finished in 8th place after losing positions after the pit stop. Meanwhile, the WOODONE ADVAN Z (#24, Masataka Yanagida & Seiji Ara) started from 12th with Yanagida. However, on lap 48 when Seiji Ara was in the car, he was blocked by the cars surrounding him, and spun out. The car had to return to the pits to change tires, and finished the race in 14th place, two laps behind the winner.

“The #23 car had a perfect race in accordance to our strategy,” quoted Yoshitaka Iijima, NISMO team director, “I am very happy to score the first victory for NISMO. Matsuda took a chance and improved the car’s position, and Motoyama finished it smoothly. I am also grateful for the two drivers in the #22 car who fought a difficult race and kept 6th place despite the heavy burden on them. I am so happy to be able to report to our fans that we have finally won! We promise to be competitive in the final round in Fuji.”

Satoshi Motoyama said, “Although it was much later than we planned, I’m glad to have won the race. Since we were totally out of luck at Suzuka and Motegi, I was telling myself that we had to win here. Our mechanics did a great job, and I feel we did the same. The race turned out to be much more competitive than I thought, but Matsuda did a great job, and I was so confident that no body was going to catch me. We still have a big gap in the championship, but it is important to face the final round knowing we still have a chance.”

“I won here in Autopolis this year in Formula Nippon so I knew I had a good chance. My task was to improve our position and to score the fastest lap," Tsugio Matsuda added. "I am happy to have fulfilled my mission. Motoyama-san’s drive was amazing and so consistent. We have one more race, and I hope to do our best together.”

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