2018.03.10

Brand new GT500 machines appearing on track! SUPER GT featured in Suzuka's Fan Thanks Day

Staple preseason event "Motorsports Fan Thanks Day" was held at Suzuka Circuit on March 10th and 11th with both days blessed with a pleasant weather. SUPER GT drivers, including Kamui Kobayashi (No.38 DENSO KOBELCO SARD LC500) and Jenson Button (No.100 RAYBRIG NSX-GT), who will be competing in the SUPER GT full time from this year, made appearance in the event. The huge crowd of fans gathered at the venue also enjoyed SUPER GT machines running on the track in a demo run that mocked the Round 3 Suzuka (scheduled on May 19th - 20th).

 

 

On the first day of the Suzuka Fan Thanks Day, a warm up session with five GT300 cars attracted the eyes of many fans who showed up at the circuit from early morning. Opening ceremony started at 10:00AM with all drivers and motorcycle riders, who were going to participate in various events scheduled for the day, appearing all together in front of the grandstand. Along with 2009 F1 world champion Jenson Button, who will compete in the SUPER GT full time this season, active drivers as well as legendary drivers who showcased exciting battles in numerous big races at Suzuka appeared and welcomed the fans. Suzuka Fan Thanks Day kicked off in festive atmosphere.

 

Being a preseason event at renowned Suzuka Circuit, many drivers and riders from not only SUPER GT
but also open-wheel races and motorcycle races came together for the event.

In the part one of "Legend F1 Talk", Kamui Kobayashi, who became a regular in the 500 class from this season, appeared on the stage. SUPER GT team managers Satoru Nakajima and Aguri Suzuki also joined Kobayoshi on the stage. Fans were wowed by the stories which the three told about Suzuka from their F1 as well as SUPER GT times.

 

Kamui Kobayashi, Team manager Aguri Suzuki, and General manager Satoru Nakajima (from right to left) appeared on stage during Legend F1 Talk Part 1 as Japanese drivers who sparked the excitement at Suzuka.

 

Button, who was only participating in the first day, was busy making appearances from one event to another. Button appeared during the part two of Legend F1 Talk along with Heikki Kovalainen (No.38 DENSO KOBELCO SARD LC500), who also competed in F1, and they shared their memories on Suzuka from their F1 days as well as thoughts on the SUPER GT this season. Kovalainen gave an early warning to the "new face" by saying "I may not have a good result at Suzuka in F1, but I think I can run in front of him (Button) in SUPER GT." On the other hand, Button was already talking about winning, "I have good partners who I can rely on (GT expert TEAM KUNIMITSU and Naoki Yamamoto), and Suzuka will be third race and I like the track, so I want to win it." Fans gave a round of big applause from the grandstand as they witnessed the "battle" already starting up.

 

Active GT drivers Button and Kovalainen as well as Giancarlo Fisichella and Jean Alesi (right to left) appeared in Legend F1 Talk Part 2.
 

"I will be running in front of Button" said Kovalainen, Button responded "I want to win at Suzuka."

Three GT500 cars of this season, No.12 CALSONIC IMPUL GT-R, No.39 DENSO KOBELCO SARD LC500, and No,100 RAYBRIG NSX-GT (photo at top), lined up on the starting grid on the main straight during Grid & Pit Walk held during midday. GT300 cars were also put on display in front of the fans: No.0 GOODSMILE HATSUNE MIKU AMG, No18 UPGARAGE 86 MC, No.55 ARTA BMW M6 GT3, No.88 MANEPA LAMBORGHINI GT3, and No117 EIcars BENTLEY.

 

Many fans reached up close to this season's GT500 cars lined up on the grid to take pictures.


Last year's GT300 champion No.0 GOODSMILE HATSUNE MIKU AMG was also popular here.
 

Huge crowd of fans who are longing for the motorsports season to start gathered at Suzuka in a beautiful weather.

 

Eight GT cars on the grid moved on and took part in "New start! Suzuka GT - 300km x Suzuka's new challenge-". This year's race at Suzuka has undergone reform from what used to be known as "Midsummer Suzuka 1000km" and will be held as Round 3 on May 19th and 20th. Fans should have larger expectation now towards the new race after they watched the demo race.

 

In the demo race mocking the Suzuka race that will be held as Round 3 this year, Button in RAYBRIG NSX-GT and Kamui Kobayashi in DENSO KOBELCO SARD LC500 went head-to-head in a battle.

Other five GT300 class race cars were also showcasing wheel-to-wheel battle behind the leading GT500 cars.

 

 

Legendary drivers of all time. Surprise announcement came from the organizer that this year was the last battle to see Team manager Hoshino and General manager Nakajima engaged in the "Rivals forever -Kazuyoshi HOSHINO vs. Satoru NAKAJIMA-". In past five years (11 battles), General manager Nakajima scored six wins against Team manager Hoshino's four wins. A win today would have put General Manager Nakajima ahead overall, but, believe it or not, Team manager Hoshino committed a jump-start! And then he escaped and outran till the end. "It's under investigation by the stewards!" Race announcer Pierre Kitagawa quickly called out to the audience, but huge applause from the fans on the stand pushed Team manager Hoshino to the victory.

The battle between Kazuyoshi Hoshino and Satoru Nakajima finally came to an end. First, the two legendary drivers battled it out in talking. The talk-battle was MCed by famous Pierre Kitagawa.


Today's battle concluded with General Manager Nakajima losing by a decision.
 

 

Next battle was between Team manager Suzuki and Executive advisor Keiichi Tsuchiya in "Revenge! Forbidden GT300 battle" in ARTA's GT300 cars. "Revenge" in the title was added because last year's battle ended in no contest. This year Team manager Aguri and Advisor Tsuchiya drove No.55 ARTA CR-Z GT (2015-model) and No.55 ARTA BMW M6 GT3, respectively. Two cars ran side by side and received a checker flag almost at the same time. Race announcer Kitagawa left the decision to the stand, but it was decided "dead heat" after the applause given to the two contenders.

Battle between Aguri Suzuki (CR-Z GT) and Keiichi Tsuchiya (M6 GT3) in ARTA's GT300 cars ended with two cars crossing the finish line at the same time!


So the curtain came down with both in triumph pose.

Last program on the track of the day was "Suzuka 8 Hour x SUZUKA 10H Twilight Demo Run". After a demo run starting from Le Mans-style start by JSB1000 motorcycle that competes the Suzuka 8 Hour, it was time for another SUPER GT demo run by GT3 car, which is expected to participate in "Suzuka 10 Hour Endurance Race" reformed from Suzuka 1000km, and GT300 car. Fireworks lighted up the sky after the checker flag and reproduced the familiar scenes from the two big midsummer races.
The race should become one of the races which SUPER GT fans must see since cars from SUPER GT's GT300 class are allowed to compete in the race. As of now, Audi Team Hitotsuyama, CARGUY Racing, CarsTokaiDream28, D'station Racing, GAINER, GOOD SMILE RACING&TeamUKYO, JLOC, Modulo Drago CORSE, and TEAM UPGARAGE (in alphabetical order) from GT300 teams have announced their intention to participate in the "Suzuka 10 Hour Endurance Race".
 

Suzuka 10 Hour Endurance Race (Aug 24 -26) will also see participants from GT300 teams.
Nobuteru Taniguchi (right) from GOODSMILE RACING & TeamUKYO and Kamui Kobayashi (center), who will join and compete with the team at the race, appeared during the talk.
 

 

Cockpit Experience was held exclusively for children in late afternoon at ARTA pit box which offered an opportunity to sit behind the wheel of team's BMW M6 GT3 and Honda CR-Z GT. Another Cockpit Experience was set up in the area behind the main stand with an NSX in the livery of No.34 Modulo KENWOOD NSX GT3 debuting this year. Many SUPER GT fan kids with sparkling eyes showed up at both places and put a smile on their face as they grabbed the steering wheel.
 

Page Top