2018.11.02

[Round 8 Preview] This is the battle for 2018 championship crown! Don't miss the final showdown at Motegi!!

Round 8 Twin Ring Motegi : Preview

2018 AUTOBACS SUPER GT is reaching its last race of the season at Round 8 "MOTEGI GT 250km RACE GRAND FINAL" taking place on November 10th (Saturday, Qualifying) and 11th (Sunday, Race) at Twin Ring Motegi. This is where the champion of this season will be decided, which No.100 RAYBRIG NSX-GT, No.1 KeePer TOM'S LC500, and two other teams in the GT500 class and No.55 ARTA BMW M6 GT3 and five other teams in the GT300 class are in the position to battle for the privilege to claim the title. Without a doubt, the main focus of the event would be the outcome of the battle among above teams, but winning or finishing in a higher position is also on everybody's mind as this will be the last race of this season. You can't take away your eyes from every moment from the practice session to post-race podium ceremony of the race which is expected to showcase fiercest battle at every position on the field.

 

 

With their first win of the season at the previous Autopolis race, No.1 KeePer TOM'S LC500 (Ryo Hirakawa / Nick Cassidy) is tying with Driver Ranking leader No.100 RAYBRIG NSX-GT (Naoki Yamamoto / Jenson Button) at 67 points with the same number of wins, one win. Although No.100 car is higher in terms of the ranking due to the deficit in the number of second place, No.1 car can take away the title solely with their effort if they can finish the upcoming final race at Motegi at third or higher and in front of No.100 car.
Third ranked Yuhi Sekiguchi of No.36 au TOM'S LC500 (his teammate Kazuki Nakajima is ranked at fifth due to a race absent) must finish at second or higher at least plus have No.100 and No.1 cars finishing at eighth or below (Ninth or below if either car gets pole position [PP]), which means that the situation is very tough for Sekiguchi. No.8 ARTA NSX-GT (Tomoki Nojiri / Takuya Izawa) ranking at fourth in points needs to win and have No.100 and No.1 cars finish at eighth (ninth with PP) or below and No.36 ending the race at second (third with PP) or below.
Considering all above, the title contention in a practical sense can be said as a matchup between No.100 and No.1 cars. No.36 and No.8 cars would want to keep the top position from the qualifying and put pressure on the rivals hoping that they would fall behind themselves. That's how much of intensity building up as they take on the decisive race.

 

 

Looking from a different perspective, which out of NSX-GT and LC500 has more advantage at Motegi in terms of machine? Considering the impressive lap times the LEXUS LC500 fleet marked at the official test held at Motegi in October as well as their second and third finishes at Motegi last year, LC500 seems to be more fit to the track. However, there is a rumor that the Honda NSX-GT squad was using an engine for test use only or one with limited horsepower at the official test. Above all, huge rooting from the Honda fans at the home track of Honda for the first title in eight years would give a boost to the squad.
Will it be a first crown by RAYBRIG NSX-GT or a consecutive title by KeePer TOM'S LC500? Or a big upset by au TOM'S LC500 or ARTA NSX-GT? Title contention is for sure no easy game until the finish line.

 

 

With No.23 MOTUL AUTECH GT-R (Tsugio Matsuda / Ronnie Quintarelli) and No.12 CALSONIC IMPUL GT-R finishing with no point at Autopolis, there is no more chance for a season title by a NISSAN GT-R NISMO GT500 this year. However, the spirit of the squad would not allow to end the final race as a throwaway match, especially with the frustration they have for this season. In an extreme opinion, their cars would only need to cross the goal line and a few more meters, therefore, they can set up their engine to the maximum without worrying too much about durability. In fact, No.23 was just unstoppable last year and made the stand roaring with a pole-to-win, so we can expect to see never-give-up spirit again from the GT-R squad.
In addition, it does not mean that the battle for title equals the battle for race win, which means that there will be many teams including No.23 car wanting just the win no matter what at the last race of this season. No.19 WedsSport ADVAN LC500 (Yuji Kunimoto / Kenta Yamashita), which concluded the Motegi test at top overall with second fastest lap time, and No.12 car are definitely the cars to watch closely, especially No.19 car carrying momentum from a third finish at the previous race at Autopolis. No.38 ZENT CERUMO LC500 (Yuji Tachikawa / Hiroaki Ishiura) with no win yet this season and No.17 KEIHIN NSX-GT (Koudai Tsukakoshi / Takashi Kogure), the winningest in GT500 this season with two wins, would be another teams to keep the eyes on.

 

 

 

Top place of the GT300 class Driver ranking is currently occupied by No.55 ARTA BMW M6 GT3 (Shinichi Takagi / Sean Walkinshaw). There are gaps of 12, 14, and 15 points against the second to third places, No.65 LEON CVSTOS AMG (Haruki Kurosawa / Naoya Gamou), No.31 TOYOTA PRIUS apr GT (Koki Saga / Kohei Hirate), and No.0 GOODSMILE HATSUNE MIKU AMG (Nobuteru Taniguchi / Tatsuya Kataoka), respectively.
No.55 car can clinch the title on its own by finishing on the podium at third or higher. On the other hand, No.65, No.31, and No.0 cars would need a second place finish or higher and have No.55 car scoring only one or two points. Fifth ranked No.96 K-tunes RC F GT3 (Morio Nitta / Yuichi Nakayama) and sixth ranked No.11 GAINER TANAX GT-R (Katsuyuki Hiranaka / Hironobu Yasuda) are still remained with an opportunity for obtaining the title, but they would need to win the upcoming race and depend on the outcome of the cars above in the point ranking.

 

   

 

It is indeed not an easy situation, however, No.55 car is in an advantageous position with a comfortable margin in terms of points. Takagi himself seems confident also as he explained, "the track suits MS GT3", after No.55 car finishing at second last year at Motegi. However, there is also a bit of concern as the team seemed to have a difficulty in setting up the car during the official test held at Motegi, which they concluded with 14th fastest time overall. Also, the team ended DNF after crashing the car at Round 3 of two seasons ago held alternatively on Saturday at Motegi, which cost them the chance for the title. Biggest enemy of No.55 car may be the pressure arising from being called as "top favorite."

Unlike No.55 car that does not necessarily have to win at upcoming race, other five rival teams must be keen to score a win more than anything else. There are also some other teams that might cut in the battle and steal the victory, which are Round 6 SUGO winner No.61 SUBARU BRZ R&D SPORT (Takuto Iguchi / Hideki Yamauchi), No.25 HOPPY 86 MC (Takamitsu Matsui / Sho Tsuboi), which is still winless this season, and No.21 Hitotsuyama Audi R8 LMS (Richard Lyons / Ryuichiro Tomita) with winning experience at Motegi. No.34 Modulo KENWOOD NSX GT3 (Ryo Michigami / Hiroki Otsu) should also be aiming for the win backed by cheering supporters at the home of Honda after finishing at third on the podium in the previous Autopolis race.

 

  

 

 

Round 8 Twin Ring Motegi will be the last page of 2018 SUPER GT. Final round has always been a race filled with thrills and dramatic events every year, but, with more exciting elements and situation this year, it is likely to become a historical race of the series. It is absolutely a don't-miss race for the SUPER GT fans as well as race fans.

 

 

 

 

≫ 2018 GT500 Driver Ranking

≫ 2018 GT300 Driver Ranking

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