The final round of the 2005 AUTOBACS SUPER GT got underway today, Friday November 4th. In typical SUPER GT form, the championship hasn't yet been decided - and in an upset, could go to one of as many as five protagonists. The reality is however, rather more straightforward. Barring some serious misfortune on Sunday afternoon, the #8 ARTA NSX looks set to bring Honda their first Teams Title since 2002, and their first driver's title since Ryo Michigami was victorious in 2000.

Even though it was weighed down with 90kilos of success ballast due to its win in Autopolis three weeks ago, the #8 ARTA NSX showed all-comers just how tough it's going to be for anyone to get close on Sunday. The car was third in the morning session, posting a fastest time of 1:56.045, less than four tenths behind the leader. In the day's second session, run from 14:15 to 16:00, the bright orange machine dropped one position to fourth, but had taken more than a second off the car's morning session best.

Bright and sunny conditions greeted fans and teams to Suzuka Circuit for both Practice sessions, the afternoon warming up slightly - though a light autumnal breeze blew across the circuit throughout the day.

The morning saw the #6 ESSO Ultraflo Supra top the timesheets, followed closely by the #1 Xanavi NISMO Z - both cars relatively light on 'weight-handi'. Next up, a pair of rather heavier NSXs were third and fourth, (the #8 ARTA NSX ahead of the #32 EPSON machine) with the #38 ZENT Cerumo Supra fifth, and the #3 G'ZOX Hasemi Z sixth.

Presently second in the Driver's Championship battle, James Courtney and Takeshi Tsuchiya had the #36 Open Interface TOM'S SUPRA in 9th, two places ahead of its sister car.

GT300 was led by the #2 Privee Zurich Apple RD320R Vemac, with the #31 Kicchouhouzan MR-S and #30 TEAM RECKLESS MR-S machines sandwiching the #43 ARTA Garaiya in third place. The only other car as heavily-laden with success ballast was the #0 EBBRO M-TEC NSX, its 100kilos meaning the car could go no higher than sixth in class.

Newly-arrived in GT300, the #86 JLOC Murcie RG-1 was a promising seventh in class, ahead of the #62 Willcom ADVAN Vemac350R. The sister #87 Lamborghini Murcielago was further back in the pack, running 20th in class.

By the time the day's second session got started at 14:15, the air and track temperatures had both risen. Lap times therefore were expected to get quicker - and this they did!

The early part of the session was interrupted by two red-flag periods; the first when the #5 Promiu MACH 5B-1320 R Team Kyushu Vemac made heavy contact with the foam barriers at the exit of the chicane, sending debris all over the track.

The session had no sooner got underway again (after a 15-minute delay) when only 100 meters further down the track, the #10 MACH-GO Ferrari Dunlop (F360) had a violent spin into the barriers directly after the approach to the main straight. Another delay ensued, with only one hour now remaining in which teams had to set their respective times for the day.

Honda came to the fore, though this time it was the #18 TAKATA Dome NSX that led the way. The car was followed by the #1 Xanavi NISMO Z, matching its second place from the morning session.
The head of the leaderboard wasn't much changed from the morning as the #8 NSX led the identical #32 car, thought this time the pair were 4th and 5th, right behind the #38 ZENT Cerumo Supra.

In terms of the driver's title fight, the #36 Open Interface TOM'S Supra fell to 11th overall, directly behind the fourth of the NSXs, the #100 Raybrig machine.

GT300 witnessed the #2 Privee Zurich Apple RD320R again at the top of the timing monitor - showing just how effective the 'Rank-up' provision within the Sporting Regulations is. Just as 'weight-handi' helps avoid a run-away winner, the 'Rank-up' provision allows less successful cars to run larger air restrictors, thus generating more horsepower - and speed in events subsequent to their less than glorifying results.

The #0 M-TEC EBBRO NSX was second, followed by the #19 WedsSports Celica and the #31 Kicchouhozan MR-S. Leading the championship in GT300, the #30 RECKLESS MR-S was seventh, just behind the #27 direxiv ADVAN R320R Vemac (fifth) and the #43 ARTA Garaiya.

If tomorrow's action is anything like today, the top of the qualifying tables will show a clear favorite for Sunday's race - and that potential winner could well be walking away with the driver's champion silverware as well as his race victory chalice.