Session 3 Weather : Sunny, Air : 11°C, Track : 14°C/Dry

The morning session ran for two hours, from 9 to 11am. Thirty minutes into the session, the No. 100 RAYBRIG NSX went top, followed by the No. 23 XANAVI NISMO Z and the No. 8 ARTA NSX rounding out the top three. The first cars to run the 1:53 bracket were the No. 8, No. 23 and No. 18 TAKATA DOME NSX, showing the pace of the Z and NSX over the three days.
Celebrating his birthday on this day was No. 23 driver Satoshi Motoyama, who set a time of 1:53.880 early on, running consistent lap times thereafter.
Meanwhile, Ralph Firman in the No. 8 set a quickest time of 1:53.360, for the best time of the morning. Driver partner Daisuke Ito took over, running in the 1:54 - 1:56 bracket to the end of the session.

In the GT300 class, No.2 Privée Zurich Shiden had steering problems before the beginning of the morning session and the team spent an hour to repair the car. No. 10 JIM GAINER FERRARI DUNLOP driver Hiromi went off track at the entrance to the chicane 35 minutes into the session, destroying the rear of the car. Further running on the day was deemed impossible as a result of t he collision. Following on from posting the previous day's top time, the No. 13 ENDLESS ADVAN Z of Masami Kageyama was again quickest, this time with a 2:05.559. The No. 7 Amemiya Aspara Drink RX-7 of Hiroyuki Higuchi was second at 2:05.809.
Running a temporary entry was the pair of Shinichi Yamaji, now participating in Porsche Carrera Cup Asia, and last year's GT300 champion, Tetsuya Yamano, taking his place, back in the car he first drove in 2001.

Session 4 Weather : Sunny, Air : 12°C, Track : 21°C/Dry

The afternoon session ran for 2 hours, from 2pm to 4pm. Again it was the NSX that proved to be strongest, setting the top times of the session, the No. 8 and No. 100 RAYBRIG cars both running in the 1:54 bracket to take a 1-2.

Next up was the No. 51 Maserati MC12. The team encountered unexpected trouble when driver Jan Magnussen had to return quickly to his home country Denmark with a sudden illness after the test in Okayama two days before.
Driver Seiji Ara thus ran alone throughout the two days, setting consistent lap times in the 1:55 bracket from the beginning to end of the session. His best time in the morning was a 1:55.523. As the car is quicker on the straights than domestic GT cars, the key to the machine's success will be its speed in the corners.
At the top of the leader board after 20 minutes it was the No. 100 and the No. 8 machines. This is how they would remain. With 25 minutes left, a car running off track interrupted proceedings for 15 minutes while the track was cleaned of debris. The session ended 10 minutes late, to finish at 16:10 as a result.
After the session re-start, there was a scramble for the last 20 minutes that resembled qualifying for the opening round. First, it was the No. 23 machine, setting its quickest time of the two days, recording a 1:53.389. Then, with only three minutes remaining, the No. 8 car with Daisuke Ito at the wheel set a 1:52.761, for the first car to break the 1 minute 52 second barrier during the test.
This was followed by the No. 12 CALSONIC IMPUL Z and the No. 100 RAYBRIG NSX, both cars trying but failing to match the pace of the No. 8 machine, instead settling into the lower 1:53 bracket. The No.8 ARTA NSX , aiming for victory in the opening round at its home track, amazed spectators with its attack run to the top spot of the day.

In GT300, all eyes were on the No. 110 TOTALBENEFIT GREENTEC BOXSTER as it set blistering times in this test. Its best was a 2:05.249, set in the middle of the session and good enough for the top spot in the class. Next up was the No. 46 Kiichou Houzan DIREZZA Z. The two MOLA Z entries have switched to Dunlop rubber for this season, and feature a completely new driver lineup also. At the test, the No. 46 car featured last year's GT300 class champion Kouta Sasaki and Taku Banba; and it is expected they will form the regular lineup for the season ahead.

With only one minute left in the session, driver Tetsuya Tanaka took the No. 11 JIM CENTER FERRARI DUNLOP to a 2:05.163, the closest anyone came to the 2:04 mark. It was the best time of the test.
This season the No. 11 car uses the engine it returned to mid-season last year, switching from the Mugen MF458S to the Ferrari F131B powerplant. Consultation between the team and Ferrari brought the decision that the engine change would provide better car balance.

After engine trouble in the morning session, the No. 777 Ryozanpaku apr MR-S managed only four clear laps in the afternoon. Also, the No. 111 Porsche GT3 entry from Team LEYJUN ran a VEMAC RD320 R at this test. It is expected the team will compete this season with the Vemac.

Comments

GT500 Class

Daisuke Ito No. 8 ARTA NSX

The time we set at the end of the session was a simulation done on new tires, and it wasn't too bad. The size of the front tires has changed from last year, though we've increased the grip level a good deal. However, we still have places where the car is nervous so it is important for us to make small adjustments before the opening round.

GT300 Class

Tetsuya Tanaka No.11 JIM CENTER FERRARI DUNLOP

We are top, but don't know about the others are so it's difficult to say where we really stand. However, to be top sure feels good. Today, after the No. 10 car crashed, the mood in the team was pretty dark - so for us to run at the front has been very good for the team. We've changed the car and the engine from last year, and this has resulted in much improved balance throughout. As we've got a car that's easy on tires now, I want to make the most of this opportunity.