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2002-09-14 |
Qualify Review
McLaren on Pole First Time Since Last Round in 2001
Vemac Clinches 4th Pole of Season in GT300
Qualifying sessions for the sixth round of the 2002 AUTOBACS Japan GT Championship (JGTC), the "Motegi GT Champion Race," were held under changing weather on September 14 at Twin Ring Motegi (Tochigi Prefecture). All 43 cars entered for the event were on the track vying for best positions on the starting grid for the 63-lap race. In the GT500 class, the McLaren looked in fine form and claimed the fastest lap for its first pole since the final round in the 2001 season. For the GT300 class, the powerful Vemac racked up its fourth pole position this year.| Morning Qualifying (Wether:Cloudy/Rain, Air Temp.:20C/Truck Temp.:22C, Course:Half Wet) |
The first qualifying session begins with the GT500 class running first, followed by the GT300 class and finally a period with both classes running together. The session started off with dry track conditions, but under cloudy skies that threatened rain. Just 5min after the green light, the session was stopped with a red flag when the No.25 Supra went off the track. Once the session resumed, the numbers and names at the top of the timing monitor changed at a dizzying pace. Michigami in the No.16 Honda NSX, Philippe in the No.18 NSX and Dufour in the No.39 Supra all gave impressive qualifying performances. But the best lap of the session was set by Tsuchiya and the No.36 Supra (1'46.858"). The second fastest time was 1'46.931" set by Philippe, who was followed by Haruki Kurosawa in the No.30 McLaren (1'47.029") and Juichi Wakisaka in the No.6 Supra(1'47.063").
Rain began to fall just prior to the start of the 20min period for the GT300 class. Being only a slight drizzle, the cars went out on the circuit with slicks and several cars suffered spins as a result. Fortunately the rain subsided and the track began to dry, allowing drivers to challenge faster times. Yogo set the quickest lap behind the wheel of the No.26 Porsche, but by the end of the session the provisional pole had moved to the No.62 Vemac-Shibahara claiming a fine 1'58.882" in spite of a heavy 50kg weight handicap.
| Afternoon Qualifying (Wether:Cloudy, Air Temp.:21C/Truck Temp.:23C, Course:Dry) |
The afternoon session runs reverse of the morning session with both classes taking to the course first. Even so, contention for the pole in both classes was keen throughout. In the last 5min of the GT300 class period, a number of drivers managed to improve on their best lap times. Mitsuyama clocked a time of 1'57.182 in the No.62 Vemac to bring the car to the front of the class. Yogo tried hard to better the time, but only came close with a 1'57.278 in the No.26 Porsche. Behind him was Nitta in the No.31 Toyota MR-S with a time of 1'57.288". But the fight didn't end there. With just minutes to go, Mifune set a superb lap time of 1'56.177 in the No.5 Mosler, and then Nitta bettered the time of the No.31 car to 1'56.347" for second place. Mifune again improved his lap time to 1'55.905" and Yogo and the No.26 pushed hard for a 1'55.888". Striking back, Shibahara flew through a marvelous lap in just 1'55.388 to seal the pole position for the No.62 Vemac.Shibahara (after the sessions): "In addition to our 50kg handicap weight, we have to choose between another 50kg of weight or reduction air restrictor size due to performance adjustments in accordance with regulations. We chose the restrictors size reduction. To compensate for the reduction in power, we are using softer tires. Thanks to Dunlop supplying excellent tires, we were able to get a good qualifying time today."
Mitsuyama: "Although air restrictor size has been reduced, the feel of the car was better than I expected it would be. Car balance was good, and I felt just a little slow as I exited corners. But that was not so important. I really hope that we will have a win this time.."
A nearly identical battle for pole position in the GT500 class ensued as well. A number of drivers set out in the last minutes of the race to improve their times and take the pole. Dufour and the No.39 Toyota moved to the top of the monitor first with a lap of 1'47.717". , Firman and the No.64 Honda NSX to the spot temporarily (1'47.624), and then Michigami in the No.16 NSX (1'47.393"). Then Hattori and the No.76 McLaren broke the 1'46" barrier with a circuit record lap time of 1'46.724". Tsuchiya and the No.36 Supra had to settle for second on the grid (1'46.841"). Shigekazu Wakisaka seemed to have third on the grid in the bag for the No.35 Supra (1'46.893"), but Mitsusada squeezed the No.100 Honda into third with a lap of 1'46.885" at the last moment. Pole position went to Hattori and Tajima in the No.76 McLaren.Hattori: "This is my first pole position in a McLaren since 1996 at Suzuka. The tires did not warm very easily, and I should have made one more lap before starting the flying lap. I know that it is not easy to runaway from the field so easily in a JGTC race, but I think we will be able to finish on the podium if the team and drivers don't make any mistakes."
Tajima: "I hope that Hattori will create a big margin before passing the wheel on to me (laughing). Since we have not done any testing under rainy conditions, I hope the weather will be fine tomorrow."
(From left) Eiichi Tajima/Naoki Hattori (No.76), Shinsuke Shibahara/Shogo Shibahara (No.62)
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