2014.11.28

JAF Motorsports Awards Ceremony and Series Awards Presented. Trophies for the Champions

On November 28, the Japan Automobile Federation (JAF), the governing body for motorsports in Japan, held its domestic 2014 Motorsports Awards Ceremony at a hotel in Tokyo. At this ceremony, awards were presented to the top finishers in SUPER GT and other domestic championship race series, rallies, gymkhana and dirt trial competitions.
From SUPER GT, the top three finishing teams in the drivers ranking for the GT500 and GT300 classes were invited received awards of a trophy designed in a V (victory sign) image for the championship winning driver pair and plaques for the 2nd and 3rd-ranked drivers. A trophy was also presented to the Team Championship winners.

 

 

At the reception party after the JAF Awards, the GTA made its awards presentations as well. From the GTA, awards were presented to the GT500 and GT300 class Drivers Champions and Team Champions, with the Association’s Chairman Masaaki Bando presenting the grand cup and crystal trophies to the SUPER GT series champions.

 

 

 

【JAF Awards Ceremony】

 

◎GT500 Class Champions
　Team Champions: No. 23 NISMO (Yutaka Suzuki, Team manager)
　Drivers Champions: Tsugio Matsuda/Ronnie Quintarelli (No. 23 MOTUL AUTECH GT-R)

 

 

◎GT500 Class Series 1st, 2nd and 3rd place finishers

    Team Champions: No. 23 NISMO (Yutaka Suzuki, Team Manager)）

　1st: Tsugio Matsuda/Ronnie Quintarelli (No. 23 MOTUL AUTECH GT-R)
　2nd: Daisuke Ito/Andrea Caldarelli (No. 37 KeePer TOM'S RC F) (proxy for Caldarelli)

   3rd: James Rossiter (No. 36 PETRONAS TOM'S RC F) (proxy)

 

◎GT300 Class Champions
　Team Champions: No. 11 GAINER (Tetsuya Tanaka, Team Manager)
　Drivers Champions: Nobuteru Taniguchi/Tatsuya Kataoka (No. 4 GOODSMILE HATSUNEMIKU Z4)

 

 

◎GT300 Class Series 1st, 2nd and 3rd place finishers

   Team Champions: No. 11 GAINER (Tetsuya Tanaka, Team Manager)

   1st: Nobuteru Taniguchi/Tatsuya Kataoka (No. 4 GOODSMILE HATSUNEMIKU Z4)
　2nd: Katsuyuki Hiranaka/Bjorn Wirdheim (No. 11 GAINER DIXCEL SLS) (proxy for both)

   3rd: Jorg Muller/Seiji Ara (No. 7 Studie BMW Z4) (proxy for both)

 

 

 

The SUPER GT and other JAF category champions together for a commemorative photo

 

 

 

【GTA Awards】

 

GT500 Class 2014 Champions
Ronnie Quintarelli/Tsugio Matsuda(No. 23 MOTUL AUTECH GT-R)
Yutaka Suzuki (Team Manager, No. 23 NISMO) (first from right)

 

 

Tsugio Matsuda Comment
I have wanted this title (GT500 Drivers Champion) so, so much. My dream has finally come true. I moved to the NISMO team this year and was able to work hard together with this marvelous team staff and the people from Michelin Tire. I hope we can keep this momentum going and win a second straight title next season.

Ronnie Quintarelli Comment
This is my third championship title (following ones in 2011 and ’12) and it is always a great feeling to win it. Together with Tsugio [Matsuda] we were able to have a good season. I want to work hard next season so we can come to this awards ceremony again next year.

Yutaka Suzuki, Team Manager Comment
I am very happy that we were able to win the championship in the first season under the new regulation (for GT500 cars). Personally, it is my sixth year as team manager, but I was unable to get the championship title until now, which adds to my joy. Our two drivers worked very hard and well for us, and Michelin supplied us with good tires. I hope very much to be here again for this award next year too.

 

 

GT300 Class 2014 Champions
Tatsuya Kataoka/Nobuteru Taniguchi (No. 4 GOODSMILE HATSUNEMIKU Z4)

Tetsuya Tanaka, Team Manager (No. 11 GAINER)
Masaaki Bandoh, Chairman GTA Co., Ltd. (Presenter, first from right)

 

 

Nobuteru Taniguchi Comment
I am very happy. [Showing emotion] This is my third year teaming with [Tatsuya] Kataoka, and we were finally able to win the title this time. But, as is clear from the fact that we had to split the titles [with the GAINER team], it was a tough battle all season with our strong rivals on the GAINER team. But, we managed to hold out and get the title in the end. Next season I promise that we will be the sole title winners!

Tatsuya Kataoka Comment
It is my third year with this team, and we finally got the title. Today, I had the surprise of [GTA Chairman] Bando-san putting the trophy in my pocket. I guess this is another form of encouragement! This year my dream of winning the title was realized, and now I am going to work hard to make it two in a row.

Tetsuya Tanaka, Team Manager Comment
Taking on the job of team manager for the GAINER team this year brought some hard times for me, but our two drivers did a fantastic job and the entire team worked hard to bring us the title. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to get the Divers Championship title we were shooting for. So, next year I hope we will win the Drivers title [in the last round] at Motegi.

 

 

 

Unexpected happenings at the GT300 class award presentations!

 

In the presentation of the GT300 class Team Champions Cup to Team Manager Tanaka, he and the presenter, GTA Chairman Bandou, were surprised when the trophy cup's lid came off!

 

In a witty gesture by Chairman Bandou, who has known Kataoka well since his young days, he slipped the crystal trophy into Kataoka’s suit pocket!

 

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