Focus on each team's refined race tactics

The Pokka1000km is an extremely demanding race. SUPER GT races are generally 300kms, but the Pokka1000km is more than triple this distance. The robustness of the cars, drivers' physical strength and rotation (mandatory driver switches), and the five or more occasions where cars have to make pit stops all become significant elements. In all, competitors won't even have a moment to take a breath for the entire 6 hours!

No.12 CALSONIC IMPUL Z
Thus, let's focus on the respective teams' racing tactics. First, the third driver, something that is permitted only in this 1000km race. It is effective in dispersing the workload of each driver, but has its downsides also. There is a possibility that the 3rd driver may make a mistake, due to his lack of driving experience, much like what happened with a particular team last year...
However, last year's winners of the event, the CALSONIC IMPUL Z, brought Jeremie Dufour on board. He will drive the car again this year and has been contributing by showing speed and stability, comparable to the regular drivers.
It will be interesting to see how they use him this time around.

The next element is the number of pit stops teams decide to make and what they do each time in the pits. Considering what we've witnessed in 1000km races until now, 5 would be a reasonable number of times to expect cars to visit the pits.
However, by cutting back on the number of pit stops, teams can save more than a full minute, as well as the possibility of technical mistakes.
However, sometimes there is the need to run with fuel consumption in mind
It may not be possible depending on the driver's technique or the machine's fuel efficiency, and even an extra minute of driving could impact the driver hard.

The most notable aspects are the special modifications made just for the Pokka1000km. These include cooling functions for the driver and the machine to accommodate the intense heat, extra lights for the nighttime run, and functions to make changing oil and brake pads quicker...
Each team comes up with unique ideas, and this is one of the most interesting aspects of the Pokka 1000km

The championship battle

No.8 ARTA NSX
This is the 6th round of the series, making it one of the first races of the latter half of the season. Thus, it's very important in terms of series points.
This season, the Regulations specify that the two weakest results in terms of points received at races up to the 6th round will not be counted in the final series points tally.
But even for the leaders in the points' rankings Daisuke Ito/Ralph Firman (No.8 ARTA NSX, third driver Yuji Ide), their minimum point score was 1 point.
In all, every team wants as many points as possible.
Especially for teams that were unable to get points or got very few points in 2 or more races, this will be their chance to get back into the hunt.
The SC430s have been doing well at Suzuka, especially the No.1 Houzan TOM'S SC430 (Juichi Wakisaka/Andre Lotterer), and also the No.35 BANDAI 00 DUNLOP SC430 (Naoki Hattori/Peter Dumbreck/Ronnie Quintarelli) which came 3rd last year, are both candidates for winning this event.


No.35 BANDAI 00 DUNLOP SC430
Of course, we can't forget the NSXs at Suzuka... Even with 50kg of success ballast, the No.18 TAKATA DOME NSX (Ryo Michigami/Takashi Kogure) is on a roll after scoring no fewer than four Pole Positions in a row this season. Then there are the smart racers at NAKAJIMA RACING, piloting the No.32 EPSON NSX (Loic Duval/Fabio Carbone).
Leading the points' battle, the No.8 ARTA NSX is in a more difficult position as they have a 100kg handicap after winning the last race.
Their focus will be to aim to get even one extra point towards their first SUPER GT series title.

The biggest presence of the race however, will probably be the Zs. NISMO's No.23 XANAVI NISMO Z (Satoshi Motoyama/Richard Lyons) not only has a low weight handicap, but is famous for its excellent pit work. They definitely have the chance to win. Especially after finishing their last race with no points, winning here will be crucial for them in terms of the title battle. They may finish on the podium with their friends in the No. 22 NISMO entry for the first time since the 3rd round at Fuji.
And we mustn't forget last year's winners in the No.12 CALSONIC IMPUL Z. They will once again be using the proven driver lineup of Treluyer, Hoshino and Dufour; and while there is some concern about Treluyer after he had to skip the last round due to injury from another race, the trio should be considered a strong candidate for victory.

Watch out for Kumho tires - winners of the Pokka1000km last year!

No.5 Kumho Proµ Mach 320R
In the GT300 class, a Celica won last year's 1000kms on Korea's Kumho tires. This year, Kumho tires, Takeuchi, and Keita Sawa have joined the No.5 Kumho Proµ Mach 320R led by veteran Tetsuji Tamanaka.
This combination of factors makes the No. 5 a serious candidate for the win.
Also using Kumho tires is the No.110 GREEN-TEC KUMHO BOXSTER-GT (Takuya Kurosawa/Hidetoshi Mitsusada) and is another team to keep a close eye on.

Other than that, we expect a good battle from the No.101 TOY STORY apr MR-S (Kazuya Oshima/Hiroaki Ishiura), presently doing very well in the points. Also, the No.2 Privee KENZO Asset Shiden (Kazuho Takahashi/Hiroki Katoh/Hiroki Yoshimoto), and the No.13 ENDLESS ADVAN Senzai Kakumei Z (Masami Kageyama/Tomonobu Fujii)

Either way, this is the most demanding event of all SUPER GT races.
What kind of drama is waiting? Who will cross the finish line first in the dark? There is a lot to look forward to.