Sportsland SUGO

This weekend sees the return of SUPER GT to Japanese soil after its fifth foray to Malaysia, the wildly successful Round 3 event at Sepang International Circuit held at the end of last month.

The main story of that race was the alarmingly strong resurgence of Honda Racing, with formula One returnee Ralph Firman topping five of the weekend's six sessions, before the car went on to a 2nd-place finish at the hands of driver partner Daisuke Ito in scorching 40-degree heat.

This weekend's race at SUGO, located just north of Sendai city about two hours from Tokyo, should prove to be as different as one can expect two races could be. Normally held in early May and often victim to gloomy weather and occasional typhoon-like conditions, the 2005 race should prove to be clear, bright and sunny - with temperatures to match.
While generally not quite as humid as Tokyo, it can get a little sticky - but that's a far cry from last year when dense fog and frigid temperatures threatened to cancel the event altogether!

Expect temperatures this time to hover around the low-thirties (85 - 92 Fahrenheit for U.S. enthusiasts), with middling humidity - far more pleasant than the 'Big Toe' at this time of year.

For fans traveling from the nation's capital, it's only slightly over two hours' drive, depending on the traffic (and possibly your skill behind the wheel) north of the city; and is easily accessible through the superb network of highways linking the Kanto conurbation with destinations north.

The track itself is one of the most interesting in the country in terms of viewer accessibility - and that's saying something! From the main grandstands you can see the first five corners of the circuit, all exciting and in complete contrast to each other.

Imagine if you will: You're sitting in the, sorry on the (bring something soft for your girlfriends to sit on) grandstands looking right - right at the cars as they pop into view beneath the Dunlop bridge located at the top of a very steeply-descending hill - a hill that, three-quarters of the way down, is the Start/Finish line!

And it gets much better! The cars blast past in a violent roar as they swoop in two separate packs (GT500 and GT300 respectively) past you and all the other screaming nutters (because there are simply no casual observers here!) into a very sharp right-hander that is Turn One.
The downhill turmoil is only beginning as they then descend even further through the second corner (another right-hander), into a double-left before coming back up to one of the sexiest chicanes in Japan! The cars re-appear after having briefly - very briefly (they're traveling at breakneck speed, remember) dipping out of view before they emerge into this switchback, and quickly blast uphill as they reach the highest point of the track (in terms of elevation - not excitement). They then head off along the backstretch to weave around again, making their way under the iconic tire bridge as they come to complete another lap of the 3.704 kilometer circuit (that's about 2.3 miles).

If you don't have a wedding or a funeral this weekend, you've simply no reasonable excuse for missing what promises to be one of the most exciting events in Japan's most popular motorsport series!

Pretty simple isn't it? Just tell your partner exactly that!

The circuit, being of a relatively short length, means that by the time you've digested the intensity of one lap, the cars are back again!

And this is particularly true since there are two separate classes running together. The GT500 cars will be monstering the GT300 competitors within 12 laps of the 81-lap event. This means a greater - and sometimes more ominous - challenge as the quickest machines have to deal with the weakest more often than any other contenders.

Moving chicanes is what we probably shouldn't call them - but it's the nicest thing the lead drivers say after a stint battling the backmarkers!

It's never over till it's over - and SUGO is no exception. The battles rage on until the flag - literally!

Take for example, the 2003 event. Race leader (and double-JGTC/SUPER GT champion) Erik Comas was headed for a clear win - only to be tagged from behind within 300 meters of the line, causing the car to go ever-so-slightly off line, handing momentum - and the win - to young wild-guy Juichi Wakisaka, in one of the series' most controversial finishes in recent memory. (the two machines crossed the line 0.082 seconds apart after two hours' racing)

It's this kind of excitement that keeps the fans coming back year after year.

Developments on the team side is also a major attraction, and this weekend's race is no exception.

As if the 44-car isn't enough...

The #88 JLOC (Japan Lamborghini Owner's Club) Murcielago RG-1 will, for the first time, be joined by a sister car - the #87 machine - though it will be competing in the GT300 class. The cars will be identical to look at - meaning they'll both have just as wild an aero-kit; however, the air restrictors - governing horsepower, will provide vastly different performance.

In what other series can you watch two wildly-developed Supercars take on their peers in two completely different specifications? Only one of the myriad of points unique to SUPER GT.

Also featuring in this race is the brand new chassis of the #77 CUSCO Impreza. The already-successful machine makes its debut in an all-new car with freshly-developed components from the floor up. Expect the car to go well, barring any teething problems.

The championship battle at the head of the field is sure to bring some surprises - and possibly a few spills - as drivers stake their claim on points in the last race before going into the second half of the season.

Leaders Satoshi Motoyama and driver partner Richard Lyons will be fighting fit after the pair's win in Sepang three weeks' back - and there half a dozen interlopers hoping to steal these guys' thunder.

It's going to be the most fun you can (legally) have with your clothes on this Sunday afternoon at Sportsland SUGO - don't miss it!