EPSON NSX records top time at 1st Official Test
NSX, Z and SC430 split the top three times by a very slim margin
A nice start in GT300 for the ADVAN ENDLESS Z
The SUPER GT Official Test was held at Suzuka Circuit on March 2nd. During the pre-season, private tests have already taken place in Malaysia and other locales, but this was the first Official Test organized by the GTA. Up to now, many cars ran with their carbonfibre bodies showing provisional color schemes; but with the first race of the season only two weeks away, all teams raced heatedly.
Ace NSX and Z cars had a troubled start to the session
The first of the day's pair started at 09:30, but within 10 minutes, the No.18 TAKATA DOME NSX stopped at the end of the S-curves, spilling oil onto the track surface. It appeared the culprit was engine-related. A fire extinguisher was needed to put out the flames licking up from under the car, and the session was thus interrupted.
No.38 ZENT CERUMO SC430
There was no damage to the driver, but the car was quickly sent to the team garage, and would not run again during the course of the session. Meanwhile, the No.8 ARTA NSX had transmission trouble and could manage only a couple of laps before it too was brought back to the garage.
The session was re-started in a little over 10 minutes, after collecting the remains of the stricken No.18 machine.
It was the No.38 CERUMO SC430 that had led the times up until the oil spill. The car would continue to improve after the session once again got underway, marking a best time in the 1:53 bracket. The No.32 EPSON NSX followed in second. The No.32 EPSON machine, sporting a sparkling new paint scheme, was shown to the public for the first time at this test. It did not disappoint its supporters either, setting the quickest time of the session with a 1:53.387. With 15 minutes remaining in the session, the No.23 XANAVI NISMO X went off track at the last corner. The car rolled after making contact with the tire barrier. Driver Richard Lyons managed to escape by himself, but the car was badly damaged.
The cause of the accident was the fact that several undesirable conditions occurred, such as getting too close to the car in front and the ensuing rapid loss of downforce. It wasn't due to any major problems with the car itself.
Favorable afternoon sees EPSON NSX record even better time!
No.23 XANAVI NISMO Z
The second session began at 14:30. In this session, most of the cars ran in the 1:54 and 1:55-second bracket in order to get a feel for the tires and the cars.
After crashing the No.23 car in the morning, NISMO decided to bring up the test and development car, switching decals with the No.350 machine, and continue the test with that chassis. The car recorded the second-best time for the session at 1:53.631. The No. 8 ARTA NSX and No. 18 TAKATA DOME NSX machines, after experiencing trouble in the morning, ran without incident in the afternoon, ending the day with times in the lower 1:54-second bracket.
The No.32 EPSON NSX, which did so well in the morning session, was quick in the afternoon too, marking a best time of 1:53.110, good enough for the top of the timesheets once again.
On the other hand, for the SC430 runners, the No.38 ZENT CERUMO SC430 and the No.1 Hakuten Houzan TOM'S SC430 were third and fourth respectively.
At the end of day one, it was three different cars taking up the top three positions. The No.32 EPSON NSX was top, the No. 38 ZENT CERUMO SC430 second, and the No. 23 XANAVI NISMO Z in third place. Cars from different makes recorded very close times behind the first three as well, foreboding a very close opening race.
No.13 ENDLESS ADVAN SENZAIKAKUMEI Z
Some teams in GT300 are still holding driver auditions
In the GT300 class, the No.13 ENDLESS ADVAN Z recorded the best time with a 2:04.384 in the first session. No faster time was recorded even in the second session, and the No.13 car held onto the top time throughout the first day. The fact that the No.46 Tomino Houzan car ran to second was indicative of the improvements that have been made in the aerodynamics of the car, such as extending the overhang of the Fairlady Z machines.
Ranked third was the No.43 ARTA Garaiya, a car that surfaced after a spell away. Despite the break, the car is just as fast as it used to be.
The completion of the No. 66 triple a Gallardo RG1, which was supposed to make its first appearance of the season, was delayed; the car still in the pit garage being assembled. Therefore the car did not run on this day of the test.
The No.19 WedsSport Celica, still without an official driver, was piloted by Yasushi Kikuchi, Akira Iida and Masaoki Nagashima on this day.
Who will partner Hiroyuki Iiri in the No.7 RE:Amemiya Racing machine is still undetermined, so on this first day of the test, the car was driven by Ryo Orime and Ikuto Shimoyama.
No.43 ARTA Garaiya
No.66 triple a GALLARDO
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