Fuji Speedway

The 2005 AUTOBACS SUPER GT returns to Fuji Speedway the weekend of September 24-25 for the series' second visit to the track this season.

This coming weekend's race features a total of 47 cars competing - the additional machine (to the regular entry of 46) being the ever-popular McLaren F1 GTR from Hitotsuyama Racing. The supercar will be competing alongside the team's other entry, the Ferrari 550 Maranello GTS with its ever-wilder aero-package.

The story of the weekend will surely belong to the Toyota competitors however, the manufacturer's track a perfect fit for the SUPRA, much as the Honda NSX is so well-suited to that maker's track - Twin Ring Motegi - site of Round 5, held three weeks ago.

Toyota SUPRAs took 1st and 3rd the last time the series visited Fuji Speedway; this, before the well-fancied new N.A. engine powered the NSX. Developments at both Toyota and Honda (not to mention NISSAN) since the Golden Week event at the beginning of May should confound even the most informed sources as to just who - or what manufacturer - will walk away with the silverware this Sunday afternoon.

Retaining their grip on the driver's standings, TEAM TOM'S lead driver pairing of James Courtney and Takeshi Tsuchiya in the #36 machine are expected to go well at the circuit located literally in the shadow of the great mountain.

The title chase is really heating up in the second half of the season, and with three rounds to go, there's any number of driver pairings who could come away victorious after the final round at Suzuka Circuit on November 6th.

More immediately however, the NISSAN Fairlady Z entries will be hoping to claw back some of the points deficit they presently face in the championship, and this weekend's race may well be the venue where they do it.

In terms of weight handicap, the heaviest car in GT500 is the #100 Raybrig NSX, winners of Round 5, carrying 80kgs of success ballast. Next heaviest are the #1 NSIMO and #18 Team Honda Racing entries at 60kgs; followed by their sister cars, the #22 Motul Pitwork and #8 ARTA NSX cars, both carrying 40kgs.

After unparalleled consistency so far this year, the points' leaders sit with a mere 30kgs of lead in the car. The #36 machine is matched by the second TOM'S SUPRA entry, the #37 car, carrying an equal amount of weight. One other SUPRA that is bound to be quick is the #6 ESSO Ultraflo machine at the hands of veterans Akira Iida and Juichi Wakisaka. With only 20kgs on board, these guys will be a threat for sure.

Meanwhile in GT300, the 28-car field sees the #43 ARTA Garaiya entry saddled with a whopping 85kgs of success ballast, followed closely by the reigning champions in the category, the #0 EBBRO M-TEC NSX with 80kgs. Winners of Round 4 at Sportsland SUGO, the #31 Kicchouhouzan MR-S carries 60kgs, while the #46 Dream Cube's ADVAN Z car has 50kgs on board, reflecting the freshman car's very strong performance all season. Another strong GT300 entry, the #13 Endless ADVAN Z sits on 40kgs, while the #30 Reckless MR-S has 35. Having had less than perfect performances of late, the usually strong #7 Amemiya Aspara Drink RX-7 is weighed down with a scant 10 kilos - and should be very quick at the high-speed track as a result.

Conversely, the 'Rank-up' provision in the Sporting Regulations means that a few of the less successful machines of late will have the advantage of larger diameter air restrictors at this race. The change means more horsepower - and a greater chance of success. Cars include the #34 Bandai entry in GT500, with a Plus 1 ranking; as well as the #2 Privee Zurich APPLE RD320R Vemac from GT300. This will be particularly pleasing for the team as they managed to finish 6th in class the last time out.

Receiving a Rank 2 performance enhancement are the #5 Proµ Mach 5B 320R Team Kyushu Vemac, the #47 CCI Recaldent ADVAN Z, and the #77 CUSCO SUBARU ADVAN Impreza entries.

Some more visible changes this weekend too. Popular German driver Dominik Schwager will be replaced by Hideki Noda in the #25 Team ADVAN Tsuchiya SUPRA, while veteran Italian driver Marco Apicella switches from the #88 JLOC Murcie RG-1 to the team's sister entry in GT300, the #87 machine. Both TEAM TOM'S SUPRA entries will run with new, Open Interface liveries on their cars; while the #20 McLaren F1 GTR is set to feature Tajimax coloring for the event.

Official Qualifying for Round 6 of the 2005 AUTOBACS SUPER GT takes place on Saturday, September 24th; with race action getting underway the following day, Sunday, September 25th.