00-06-24 JAPAN GT FESTIVAL in MALAYSIA Qualify Report The speed of Wakisaka and Honda unchanged even in very hot conditions ! Mazda RX-7 took the pole in the GT300 class The qualifying sessions of the "JAPAN GT FESTIVAL in MALAYSIA" were held on June 24th at Sepang International Circuit. Twenty-three GT cars (No.55 Viper GTS-R could not take part in the sessions due to problems with the car) were on hand to compete for the pole in tropical hot conditions. Different from usual championship races, two sessions were held with the GT500 and the GT300 combined format for 45 minutes respectively. It was cloudy in the afternoon, however, the track temperature rose to 48C and the ambient temperature to 38C. Immediately after the beginning of the second session, the No.36 Toyota Supra, the No.16 Honda NSX and the No.18 Honda placed high on the timing monitor. The No.16 Honda especially, driven by Ryo Michigami, set a fine 2'01.656 to take first place. Provisional pole sitter after the first session, Juichi Wakisaka in the No.18 Honda drove well too, setting 2'01.901 to take second place. But all the circuit stared in wonder when Tetsuya Tanaka in No.3 Skyline GT-R set a fine 2'02.286 to take sixth place as the fastest Nissan driver. Tanaka fought a good fight in his 99 version Skyline. In the middle stage of the session, a battle for Pole between Wakisaka in the No.18 Honda and Michigami in the No.16 Honda grew more and more heated. Michigami improved his best to 2'00.616 with 11 minutes to the end of the session, but Wakisaka in the No.18 NSX set first 2'00.431, then 2'00.426 to take a historical pole position. In the GT 300 class, the No.7 Mazda RX-7, and the No.31 Toyota MR-S heatedly battled for the class pole position. The Toyota drastically improved its best lap set in the morning session to record 2'13.392. But the No.7 Mazda recorded 2'12.630 to take the pole position. POLE POSITION GT500 POLE POSITION No.18 TAKATA DOME NSX 2'00.426/J.Wakisaka Juichi Wakisaka :"Our car ran very quickly. I think there will be no problems for tomorrow's race. If there is no trouble with the car and we run steadily, we will be able to win the race. Our rival ? It is the No.16 car which is same car as ours". Katsutomo Kaneishi :"Rival? The No.16 car and problems with the car. Because it will be very hot and hard not only for the drivers but also for the car" GT300 POLE POSITION No.7 RE Amemiya MatsumotoKiyoshi RX7 2'12.627/T.Yamano Tetsuya Yamano :"The RX-7 is very stable on the high speed corners where we could take advantage. The hot conditions of Sepang are no problem for me. I'm comfortable, as if I were back in my hometown (laugh)". Haruhiko Matsumoto :"The RX-7 ran well on this circuit. I think the mechanics made a good effort for the qualifying sessions which was an important factor in getting the Pole" Report by GT INSIDE REPORT TEAM