2018.03.18

[Official test at Okayama: Day 2] KEIHIN NSX-GT clocks fastest! GT-R standing strong too with best time in afternoon. SYNTIUM Apple LOTUS tops GT300.

SUPER GT's official test continued on with Day 2 (last day) at Okayama International Circuit on March 18th as moderate climate continue to provide another suitable day for testing. Cloud extended over the area in afternoon, but the track surface stayed dry throughout the day. Fan appreciation day of the circuit was also held along with the official test during the two days, and the Day 2 held on a Sunday saw more fans showing up at the venue.

 

 

 

As the official test moved on to the second day, more teams appeared to be focusing on finding the race setting rather than improving lap time. Cars were sent out for a long stint and brought back in for tire check. The session was already in the second half when No.19 WedsSport ADVAN LC500 (Yuji Kunimoto / Kenta Yamashita) came to a halt on the side of the track at the last turn. Red flag was brought out to suspend the session. Oil was spilled over the track from the incident which seemed to be caused by an engine problem. Quick work by the team to change the engine on No.19 car allowed them to resume testing at early stage of the afternoon session.

No.17 KEIHIN NSX-GT (Koudai Tsukakoshi / Takashi Kogure) held the top time most of the time of morning session. Kogure marked 1 min 18.177 sec during the middle part of the session, which eventually became the top lap time of the morning. Button in No.100 RAYBRIG NSX-GT (Naoki Yamamoto / Jenson Button) was showing good run and marked a second fastest time with 1 min 18.256 sec to complete one-two by NSX-GTs. Defending champion No.1 KeePer TOM'S LC500 (Ryo Hirakawa / Nick Cassidy) was third fastest.

 

 

Race-start practice took place at the opening minutes of the afternoon session where the cars lined up in the order of overall lap time result from the first day. Acting-pole sitters, No.6 WAKO'S 4CR LC500 (Kazuya Oshima. Felix Rosenqvist continued to be absent on Day 2) and No.25 HOPPY 86 MC (Takamitsu Matsui / Sho Tsuboi), headed to their respective position. After carrying out the start practice, the cars continued on to begin with their testing runs. Most of the teams kept on working on race simulation like in the morning and the session came to an end with no car running faster than the best time from earlier session.

Meanwhile, all the interest in the afternoon was pour into GT-R squad. The squad was not very noticeable in terms of lap time from previous day, but No.12 CALSONIC IMPUL GT-R marked top time with 1 min 18.542 sec. Sasaki looked relieved as he commented, "We found good tires and, overall, it turned out to be a good test." No.23 MOTUL AUTECH GT-R (Tsugio Matsuda / Ronnie Quintarelli) also placed in the top group at third position. NISMO Team manager Yutaka Suzuki was saying after the session on Day 1 that there is nothing to be pessimistic about, and if you take him at his word, this can be a glimpse of the GT-R known to be strong at race. Nonetheless, the top positions were shared by three models with KeePer TOM'S LC500 and No.8 ARTA NSX-GT (Tomoki Nojiri / Takuya Izawa) at second and fourth, respectively, and 12 cars crowded within one second from the top car.

 

 

 

 

 

 

In the GT300 class, the speed shown by the mother-chassis and JAF-GT300 cars were prominent again on Day 2. Top time of the morning session was marked by No.2 SYNTIUM Apple LOTUS (Kazuho Takahashi / Hiroki Katoh) which lapped faster than Day 1 quickest No.25 HOPPY 86 MC (Takamitsu Matsui / Sho Tsuboi) at 1 min 25.584 sec. No.25 car placed second to complete one-two by the MC cars.

In the afternoon, No.61 SUBARU BRZ R&D SPORT (Takuto Iguchi / Hideki Yamauchi), a JAF-GT300, sat on top with 1 min 26.082 sec and No.5 TEAM MACH's TOYOTA 86 MC (Natsu Sakaguchi / Kiyoto Fujinami / Yuya Hiraki) followed. Defending champion No.9 GOODSMILE HATSUNE MIKU AMG (Nobuteru Taniguchi / Tatsuya Kataoka) clocked third fastest lap time, but the team started packing before the session end time came since, according to the team, they were able to complete test menu smoothly.

No.48 shokumou.jp GT-R which crashed on previous day did not run at all on Day 2. Trouble hit No.52 SAITAMA TOYOPET GreenBrave MARK X MC soon after the car started its run in the afternoon, and the team eventually have to call off the day without a lap time.

Despite drawing attention, Honda NSX GT3, fielded by No.34 Modulo KENWOOD NSX GT3 (Ryo Michigami / Hiroki Otsu) and No.777 CARGUY Racing NSX GT3 (Naoki Yokomizo / Takeshi Kimura), and this season's new model NISSAN GT-R NISMO GT3, fielded by No.10 GAINER TANAX triple a GT-R (Kazuki Hoshino / Hiroki Yoshida) and No.11 GAINER TANAX GT-R (Katsuyuki Hiranaka / Hironobu Yasuda), appeared to face a little bit of difficulty at this Okayama test. Considering how the options are limited in setting up GT3 cars, the important factor would be how to reduce the gap against the rivals who already have accumulated know-how. "It's difficult because the things we can do are limited." Michigami frowned as he commented. But there is another official test at Fuji and if they can find more options in the setting, including tire selection, even in small detail, then they should able to see the top positions in a closer distance. We should keep our eyes on their progress too.

 

   

 

 

 

Fan appreciation day of Okayama International Circuit was also held along with the official SUPER GT test at the circuit. SUPER GT circuit announcer Pierre Kitagawa visited different pit boxes with a microphone in his hand during the open pit and entertained the fans by interviewing drivers right on the spot.

 

 

 

 

 

It was really good test in terms of how it went and also the lap time. We have been able to consistently run at a good lap time recently, and this is not because we found some big idea, instead, this is a result of accumulating small ideas one by one. I think this is the outcome of improvement we made as a team not only in this offseason but also from the achievement from last one year. One-shot lap time was not bad at this test, but we struggled a bit in running at a consistent good lap time when we were doing race simulation. But that was because we were trying different sets, too. If we can combine good set and good part we saw, then I think that will lead us to a good result in the series. For the season opener, we will do detail checking at next test at Fuji. I think we can take on the season opener with a good set based on the data we captured today, and hopefully keep this momentum and win the race.

 

I got the top time? Honestly speaking, I didn't pay attention that much on the position or lap time today and just focused on completing the menu we brought. We were able to complete the menu we had to do and also the whole menu we prepared, and found good set as well as good tires while we did it. If I got the best time in addition to that, then there is nothing more I can ask for (laugh). I heard (FIA GT3 teams are saying that) the mother-chassis cars have advantage, but I think the story would be different if we go to a different circuit. Actually, if we (MC cars) were not fast at Okayama, then we would be in trouble. That's how much we fit to this track. But, although one-shot lap time was good, I think GT3s still have advantage in racing situation. Anyways, we need to try to run at front at the season opener no matter what it takes.

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