How the ARTA NSX decides to fight will be a point of scrutiny

No.8 ARTA NSX
It's been said many times, but there are only two races left in the 2007 season. Therefore, this event plays a crucial role in the outcome of the Driver's title. Leading the points' standings at present is the No.8 ARTA NSX (Daiskue Ito/Ralph Firman). After a disappointing result last time out in Motegi where they scored no points, the crew of the orange machine will be eager to add to their tally at this event. In second place, lying 13 points back, it's the No.18 TAKATA DOME NSX of Ryo Michigami and Takashi Kogure, coming off their victory at the last round. In third place, the No.22 MOTUL AUTECH Z (Michael Krumm/Tsugio Matsuda) lies 16 points adrift of the leaders.

If the No.8 ARTA NSX can increase the points' gap to 20 at this event, the battle will have been won without having to wait for the final race of the season. Because extra points for top positions in qualifying and for setting Fastest Lap in the race do not apply to the final round, all that is needed is a margin of 20 points for them to have a mathematical certainty of the title.

However, it's not only this gap we should be thinking about when considering the champiosnhip battle and the ARTA NSX. For those who qualify 5th or better, they will gain points. Currently ranked 8th, the No.38 ZENT CERUMO SC430 (Yuji Tachikawa/Toranosuke Takagi) has what it takes to win, and are a pair who can make it to the podium in extremely difficult conditions. IN addition,. Te ARTA NSX is presently shouldering a ‘weight handi' (success ballast) of 100kgs, which, altough Autopolis is a circuit well-suited to the car, will definitely make things more difficult for the car. That said, if they can pick up a decent haul of points here, the ARTA NSX squad are virtually guaranteed to sew up the Driver's title here. Will they attack or defent? What strategy will they employ? Ewither way, it will be extermely interesting to watch.

Z and SC430 entrants will be making a collective effort

No.22 MOTUL AUTECH Z
What's key here is the condition of the rivals of the ARTA NSX. They're all aiming to catch up in the points to the ARTA NSX and to reverse the situation at the last race at Fuji, not one of the NSX's favored tracks. To better their chances, they'll want to drive in front of the ARTA NSX at Autopolis: That is the minimum requirement for survival in the title battle. In recent years, there has been a trend of supporting teams with the same machine to help it win the title, if you're not in a position to do it for yourself.

For the No.22 MOTUL AUTECH Z and the No.23 XANAVI NISMO Z, ranked 3rd and 4th respectively, they need the lightweight No.3 YellowHat YMS MobaHO! TOMICA Z of Sebastien Philippe and Masataka Yanagida and the No.24 WOODONE ADVAN Clarion Z (J.P. de Oliviera and Seiji Ara) to fight on their behalf for top spots so they can decrease as much as possible the position of the ARTA NSX and TAKATA DOME NSXs.
Also, the No.1 Houzan TOM'S SC430 (Juichi Wakisaka/Andre Lotterer) and the No.38 ZENT CERUMO SC430 machines are currently trailing the leaders in the ARTA NSX by 25 and 27 points respectively. Neither of these cars has any choice but to go for the outright win here – and that's without even speaking about the final race.


No.1 houzan TOM'S SC430
However, the last race at Fuji is the SC430's home track, so there may still be a chance depending on the results of this weekend's event here at Autopolis.
In terms of the track layout, Autopolis is slightly advantageous for the NSXs and the Zs, both machines that have good cornering capabilities; but that does not necessarily mean that the SC430 is at a disadvantage. Taking into account factors such as weather and track conditions, this will be an unpredictable race.
The previous round at Motegi adopted the knock down qualifying format, but for Autopolis and the final race of the season at Fuji Speedway, the regular Super Lap format will be used.

Will GT300 see a miraculous comeback for the ARTA Garaiya?

No.2 Privée KENZO Asset Shiden
The No.101 TOY STORY apr MR-S (Kazuya Oshima/Hiroaki Ishiura) was predicted to finish the season off well after scoring two wins in the first half of the year in the GT300 class. However, they scored only 1 point at the previous race in Motegi. With that, the No.2 Privée KENZO Asset Shiden (Kazuho Takahashi/Hiroki Katoh) finally reached the top of the rankings.
However, the Shiden and the second-placed TOY STORY MR-S are only three points apart. There really might as well be no difference at all. Both teams are more than aware of the fact that this 8th race is key in the fight for the title.
The Shiden, overtaken to the crown by the Amemiya RX-7 at the final race last year, despite having the same number of points, will without doubt be showing a very gritty and demanding drive here this weekend. On the other hand, the TOY STORY MR-S, driven by pilots in their early 20s, will show their insatiable appetite for racing.
How are the loyalties of the drivers and teams – and their tactics – going to interact?
This is something to keep an eye on.


No.101 TOY STORY apr MR-S
On the other hand, the No.43 ARTA Garaiya (Morio Nitta/Shinichi Takagi) are ranked 3rd, trailing 19 points behind the top-ranked Shiden.
Also, occupying 4th and 5th spots in the rankings, the No.62 WILLCOM ADVAN VEMAC 408R (Shinsuke Shibahara/Haruki Kurosawa) and the No.13 ENDLESS ADVAN SENZAI KAKUMEI Z (Masami Kageyama/Tomonobu Fujii) must also win here in Autopolis to advance up the order.
The ARTA Garajya is not bad with this track, finished 2nd here two years ago, so there is a still pretty good chance to clinch the 2007 title.