Round 6 of the 2005 AUTOBACS SUPER GT got underway at Fuji Speedway today under bright and clear skies, with temperatures hitting 27 Celsius. A total of 45 cars took to the track in the series' second visit to the circuit since its complete rebuild and subsequent re-opening in April this year.

The Toyota Supras were expected to dominate this weekend after their decisive victory in May when international-level competition returned to the track.

The first Official Practice session looked much like race action from May's Round 2 event, Supras occupying the top five spots on the leaderboard. It wouldn't last however, as the #32 EPSON NSX was the eventual leader after both sessions had been run.

The day's first session was dominated by the TEAM TOM'S entries, the #36 machine leading the way ahead of its sister car in third spot. Newly-liveried, the 'Open Interface TOM'S Supras were the class of the field in the session, split by the #25 Eclipse ADVAN Supra of Max Orido and new recruit Hideki Noda. In fourth place it was the winners here last time, the #38 ZENT Supra, followed by the #39 DENSO SARD SUPRA GT.

The quickest of the NSXs was the #8 ARTA machine in seventh place, just behind the #3 G'ZOX Hasemi Z. It was followed the #32 car, which would eventually take the top spot in the afternoon.

GT300 action saw the #62 Willcom ADVAN Vemac 350R take the top spot, ahead of the #27 direxiv ADVAN 320R, another Vemac. Third went to the #0 EBBRO M-TEC NSX, ahead of the #87 JLOC Murcie RG-1, the car showing a very strong performance in the category. The #10 Jim Gainer Ferrari Dunlop, #43 ARTA Garaiya, and #46 Dream Cube's ADVAN Z - always strong, were next up, ahead of the #30 Reckless MR-S and the identical #31 Kicchohouzan machine.

In the afternoon session, the Open Interface TEAM TOM'S Supras kept up their strong showing from the morning taking two of the top three spots again - however, this time they were eclipsed by the #32 EPSON NSX, Andre Lotterer shaving 16 hundredths of a second off the best Toyota time. Behind the trio, the #6 ESSO Ultraflo made a measurable jump up the order from tenth in the morning - to fourth. It was followed by the #8 ARTA NSX, the #39 DENSO SARD SUPRA GT and the #3 G'ZOX Hasemi Z. Two more Supras lined up before the quicker of the factory Nissan entries, the #1 Xanavi NISMO Z, in tenth.

Returning to the series as a spot entry, the #20 Tajimax McLaren F1 GTR rounded out the GT500 category, behind Round 5 winners (and consequently saddled with 80kgs of success ballast), the #100 Raybrig NSX.

Some shuffling in GT300 too, as the #0 EBBRO M-TEC NSX went top, ahead of the #46 Dream Cube's ADVAN Z. The #11 Jim Gainer Ferrari Dunlop, sister machine to the #10 car which had been so strong in the day's first session, lined up third, ahead of the #27 direxiv ADVAN 320 R Vemac. Again, the # 87 JLOC put in a strong showing, dropping one spot from its morning session position to fifth. Meanwhile, showing that the 'Rank up' provision in the Sporting Regulations really makes a difference, the #5 Promiu MACH 5-1 320R Vemac took sixth, just ahead of the leaders in the morning, the #62 Willcom ADVAN Vemac 350R.

Well down the order were the generally strong #43 Garaiya, the pair of MR-S entries, and the #13 Endless ADVAN Z, though tomorrow's Official Qualifying sessions will surely see these - and a few other competitors - move up the order when it matters most.

Tomorrow's Official Qualifying sessions get underway at 10:20, with the Super Lap session starting at 2:35 in the afternoon.