Round 7 of the Super GT, the “Super GT in Kyushu 300km Race” will be held over October 31st to November 1st at Autopolis, Hita, Oita Prefecture. Located at the foot of the outer rim of Mt. Aso, Autopolis is a technical course that takes advantage of the surrounding terrain to incorporate large height undulations and successive mid-to-high speed corners. Although last year’s Autopolis round was held in the fresh greenery of spring, this year it has returned to its usual placing as the season’s late Autumn race. With the weight handicaps halved for this round, the competitive environment has somewhat returned back to equilibrium and, as this is an essential race for the top ranking drivers that greatly influences the fight for the title, all the fans are becoming increasingly excited to see what unfolds.
In round 2 the #1 Motul Autech GT-R of Tsugio Matsuda / Ronnie Quintarelli (Michelin) and the #12 Calsonic Impul GT-R of Hironobu Yasuda / Joao Paolo de Oliveira (Bridgestone) achieved a 1-2 finish, while the #46 S Road Mola GT-R of Satoshi Motoyama / Masataka Yanagida (Michelin) grabbed victory in round 3. Furthermore, with the #24 D'station Advan GT-R’s Daiki Sasaki and Michael Krumm (Yokohama Tires) taking a come-back victory in round 4, the GT-Rs achieved 3 consecutive victories for the season. The GT-Rs continued to secure top order finishes after this and the #12 GT-R has maintained its position as the point leader. Not to be outdone, the #46 GT-R is sitting at 3rd with a mere 6-point difference, while the #1 GT-R is currently in 5th with a gap of only 7 points, meaning the championship is still being hotly contended.
Although no official tests were carried out at Autopolis, tire manufacturer tests were carried out here in early October. This time the weight handicaps, which up until now have been 2kg for each accumulated point, have been reduced to 1kg per point. Thus the #12 GT-R will now be set with 51kg (50kg accomplished through an equivalent fuel restrictor), the #46 GT-R with 45kg and the #1 GT-R with 44kg. The lightest of the GT-Rs will be the #24 GT-R, which will be carrying 31kg, meaning that these cars have had their innate competitiveness somewhat returned to normal.
With the tests carried out in this state, the #24 GT-R and #12 GT-R split the top times in the four test sessions between themselves. In the overall standings these two took the top 2 spots, with the #1 GT-R following behind in overall 3rd fastest. Although #46’s Motoyama would not participate, co-driver Yanagida, along with team principal, Toshiomi Oeki joined up with the #1 GT-R drivers and took part. In this way they also progressed with preparations for the upcoming race. This race will see the Nissans, along with their rivals, coming out with their third engine of the season, but just from observing the results of the tests, there does not seem to be any weak point in the GT-R armor.
In the GT300 class, the Nissan GT-R NISMO GT3 has had its competitiveness increased through adjustments such as improved aerodynamics and strengthened brakes, and with the #10 Gainer taking two wins to be ranking leader there are increasing expectations that they can take the title. On the other hand the #3 NDDP RACING that took victory in round 3 to rank 3rd is aiming for its second victory of the season and the team is polishing up their pre-race preparations. All eyes will be focused on the GT-Rs’ battle for supremacy.
###