2015.07.29

[Tire test at Suzuka] Many spectators showed up at the open tire test at Suzuka!

It had only been a few days after the official test at Sportsland SUGO, but a tire test for the Round 5 Suzuka 1000km in one month time was held at Suzuka Circuit on July 29 and 30. It was open to the public and the summer vacation season brought many fans to the circuit despite been on weekdays.

 

With the Round 4 at Fuji coming up in a little over one week, development as well as selection of tires for the race were practically over. The tire test this time was mainly to test tires for the Suzuka 1000km. Many cars of the manufacturers participating in the GT500 class will be using the second engine of the season from Round 4 Fuji, and it seemed that the test also included a final check for the rollout.

Suzuka Circuit started the day with a clear sky on Day 1 and air as well as track surface temperatures were very high from the morning (35℃ and 52℃). On the contrary, light rain sprinkled in the afternoon on Day 2.

Seven cars participated from the GT500 class. Among them, the winner of last year's Suzuka 1000km No.36 PETRONAS TOM'S RC F showed outstanding performance. Although different cars were under different conditions, for instance, the amount of weight mounted on the car could vary depending on what each team was assuming for the next few races, No.38 car was able to mark a best time of 1 min 49.298 sec already on the first day of testing. No.1 MOTUL AUTECH GT-R followed with a lap time in the same 1 min 49 sec-mark and No.17 KEIHIN NSX CONCEPT-GT, which marked the fastest time by improving its best lap time in the afternoon, placed third overall of Day 1.

 

 

As a side note, all other cars of GT500 class were driven by the respective regular duo, but No.1 MOTUL AUTECH GT-R was driven by three drivers on Day 1 with Masataka Yanagida, who usually drives No.46 S Road MOLA GT-R in the race, joining the regular duo of Tsugio Matsuda / Ronnie Quintarelli. Satoshi Motoyama of the same No.46 S Road MOLA GT-R replaced Yanagida to join the camp on Day 2.

No.36 PETRONAS TOM'S RC F showed again a good performance on the second day and marked a best lap time of 1 min 48.828 sec in the morning. The time was the eventual fastest lap time of two days overall.

 

 

GT300 class had sixteen cars participating in the test. No.77 KsFrontier Direction 458 marked the top time (2 min 00.992 sec) during the morning session of Day 1 and that became the overall top time of Day 1. Top time of the afternoon session, on the other hand, was marked by No.51 JMS LMcorsa Z4 (2 min 01.790 sec). No.51 cars was also showing good lap times at the earlier official test held at SUGO.

Fastest car on the track on Day 2 was No.7 Studie BMW Z4 marking a lap time of 2 min 00.170 sec in the morning session. The time was also the fastest in the two days of tests.

 

 

 

 

 

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