1. Day #1
  2. Day #2

Astonishing speed sees ARTA NSX break lap record
NSX, NSX... new NSX machines monopolize the top spots
ENDLESS ADVAN Z fastest in GT300 on day two as well

The second day of the Official SUPER GT Test was held at Suzuka Circuit in Mie Prefecture on March 3rd. This being the last day of the test, each car conducted repeated runs aggressively in preparation for the opening round of the season, to be held here on the 17th and 18th of March.


NSX records fastest time early in the session


No.18 TAKATA DOME NSX
At around 9am, as blue skies started peeking out from behind the clouds, the first of the two two-hour sessions got underway. Amidst rather peaceful weather conditions, with an air temperature of 10 degrees Celsius and a track temperature of 14 degrees, the No.8 ARTA NSX recorded a time of 1:52.081 a mere 15 minutes into the session.

Not only did the No.8 ARTA NSX improve on its top time from day one, it was also better than the car's Suzuka track record from last year, a 1:52.663. As a result, the total time for the two days turned out to be the best, but being unable to set the car up for the season as planned after the transmission trouble on the first day, driver Daisuke Ito commented: "It's not just a case of: 'Oh hey, we've had a good time - Hooray!""

After being interrupted by red flags (to recover cars that went off track in the early part of the session), the second day of the test went well.

The No.18 TAKATA DOME and No.100 RAYBRIG machines closely followed the No.8 ARTA car for a domination of the top three spots by NSX machinery. Again, among the SC430 entries, it was the No. 38 ZENT CERUMO car that led, and among the Z cars, the No.22 MOTUL AUTECH Z, both machines setting top times during the session.

The No.23 XANAVI NISMO Z, after getting damaged from going off-track on the first day, was replaced again by the factory's development car, the No.350 machine for this final day of the test.

Trouble Hits the Afternoon Session

The second session of the final day started at 2:00pm, in temperatures of 17 degrees (ambient) and 20 (track surface). The SC430 entries led in the beginning, but soon the NSXs replaced them at the top of the leaderboard one by one.
After about an hour in to the afternoon, the No.12 CALSONIC IMPUL Z smacked the far side of the track, doing damage to the rear left of the car. In addition, after setting the top time in Sector 1, the No.18 TAKATA DOME NSX loses control at the second Degner curve, going off track. Luckily, there was little or no damage and the No.18 car resumed running after a machine check.

Even towards the end of the session, there were no improvements on the top times set previously. This was probably due to the lowering air temperature, now at 15 degrees (air) and 21 (track surface) - which was warmer than predicted.

The No.17, starting its inaugural season, improved its time to run among the top slots for a complete dominance of NSXs at the front. The No.38 SC and No.23 Z followed them.



No.13 ENDLESS ADVAN SENZAIKAKUMEI Z
Promising new duo in MR-S takes top time in the morning


No.31 apr
Some teams in the GT300 class were still holding driver auditions. In the morning, the No.31 apr, driven by Kazuya Oshima and Hiroaki Ishiura, both rookies in their 2nd year in SUPER GT this season, was leading with a time of 2:04.727. They were followed by yesterday's leaders, in the No. 13 ENDLESS ADVAN Z.

The much-anticipated debut of the No.66 triple a Gallardo RG-1 was finally able to show its performance in the afternoon. Only four laps were completed by the No.66 machine, but it certainly made a presence in the day's proceedings. As for those fighting for the top time in the class, the defending champion No. 7 car from RE: Amemiya Racing was doing well in the beginning but the No.13 ENDLESS ADVAN Z improved its best time to wards the end of the day, leading for the second day in a row.

New driver Yuhi Sekiguchi joined the No.19 WedsSports Celica crew with the driver from day one.


No.7 RE AMEMIYA

No.66 triple a GALLARDO

Comments

Daisuke Ito / No.8 ARTA NSX (GT500 - Top Time)
We couldn't drive much because of the problems we encountered yesterday, so I drove with a new set-up today, based on the data that we got during the last 15-20 minutes yesterday. We set good times, but I think we were lucky because the conditions were right. The balance of the car also was not perfect. We wanted to practice long runs, but ran out of time due to the problems we had on the first day. As a result, we tested tires without even having time to test the car set-up.
Masami Kageyama / No.13 ENDLESS ADVAN SENZAIKAKUMEI Z (GT300 - Top Time)
I wanted Fujii to get time in the car, so I didn't drive in the afternoon. I wanted him to drive this improved machine after going through all the set-up menus for the past week. In the dry, it's working very well. I think we were able to test the things we wanted to in preparation for the beginning of the season.