2019.11.23

[Sprint Cup: Race1] SYNTIUM LMcorsa RC F GT3' Miyata recovers from 37 sec. back to grab the win in Race 1!

auto sport Web Sprint Cup : Race 1

Race 1was run in difficult conditions with the rain stopped and the track starting to dry out, during which time the pole-starting No. 60 SYNTIUM LMcorsa RC F GT3 (Hiroki Yoshimoto/Ritomo Miyata) lost its lead. But No. 60 was able to fight back at a tremendous pace and win the race. Tomorrow, Nov. 24 (Sun.), Race 2 will be held to determine the overall winner.

 

 

 

 

 

When Race 1 started on schedule at 11:50, the rain had stopped but not knowing if the track would dry out or not, the teams were left with difficult decisions to make. After the Formation Lap, the 12 competing cars started the 50-minute sprint race, which would include a driver change.

From the start the race was a hot one. The pole-starting No. 60 SYNTIUM LMcorsa RC F GT3 (Hiroki Yoshimoto) soon found itself nearly side-by-side with the 2nd-position starter, the No. 25 HOPPY 86 MC (Kimiya Sato). Then at the TGR Corner, the No. 52 SAITAMATOYOPET GB MARK X MC (Shigekazu Wakisaka) pulled in on its inside but then overran the turn so No. 60 was able to keep its lead, chased by No. 25 and No. 52.

However, on the Panasonic Corner of the opening lap, No. 52 passed No. 25 on the inside to move into 2nd position. These leading three were meanwhile increasing their lead over the No. 360 RUNUP RIVAUX GT-R (Takayuki Aoki) in 4th position.

The lead group had started the race on rain tires, but by the end of the fifth lap the track was nearly dry. With this, the No. 48 SHOKUMOU GO&FUN GT-R (Katsuaki Tanaka) that had started the race on slick tires was alone able to run now at a blazing pace and move rapidly toward the front. At this fast pace, No. 48 moved up to catch and pass the top three cars by the ninth lap and take the lead. From there it proceeded to open up a big lead.

Unlike the usual SUPER GT series races, this “auto sport Web Sprint Cup” after the start the teams have to make one pit stop between 20 and 30 minutes from the start of the race, and the time for the stop from the moment the car enters the pit to the time it leaves must be at least 70 seconds (100 seconds from the time the car goes up on the jack in the case of a tire change). By the time the leading five cars had passed the end of the main straight at the end of the 11th lap, there were still more than 30 minutes left in the race, but for the cars after that it was possible for them to make their pit stop. With the track drying out quickly, this was a chance to undercut the competition.

The cars in 2nd to 4th positions made their pit stops on the next lap. Meanwhile, the leading No. 15 waited until the end of the 15th lap to make its pit stop and change drivers from Katsuaki Tanaka to Taiyou Iida. Also, because the team opted not to change tire, it was able to greatly increase its margin over car No. 60 in 2nd position.

 

 

 

By the time all the cars had finished their pit stops, the leader was the No. 48 SHOKUMOU GO&FUN GT-R (Taiyou Iida). In 2nd place 37 seconds behind was the No. 60 SYNTIUM LMcorsa RC F GT3 (Ritomo Miyata). Meanwhile, thanks to its early pit stop and a n0-tire-change strategy, the. 30 TOYOTA GR SPORTS PRIUS PHV apr GT (Manabu Orido) was able to pass the No. 25 HOPPY 86 MC (Takamitsu Matsui) and move into 3rd position.

Now in 2nd position with Miyata at the wheel, car No. 60 was moving up at a fast pace, recording the fastest laps of the race on the 23rd and 24th laps and closing in on the leading car No. 48 at a rate of several seconds per lap. On the 26th lap, with three minutes left in the race the gap was down to less than two seconds. And with two laps remaining, No. 60 was on the leader’s tail.

 

 

 

 

On the TGR Corner of the last lap of the race, No. 60 finally overtook No. 48, and with this the No. 60 SYNTIUM LMcorsa RC F GT3 (Hiroki Yoshimoto/Ritomo Miyata) went on to win the race. Thanks to its successful strategy of starting the race on slick tires, the No. 48 SHOKUMOU GO&FUN GT-R (Katsuaki Tanaka/Taiyou Iida) won its first podium finish in a GT300 race by finishing 2nd.

The battle for 3rd place also came down to the last lap. The battle between the No. 30 TOYOTA GR SPORTS PRIUS PHV apr GT (Manabu Orido) and the No. 52 SAITAMATOYOPET GB MARK X MC (Hiroki Yoshimoto) had heated up in the closing laps and it was the No. 52 SAITAMATOYOPET GB MARK X MC (Shigekazu Wakisaka/Hiroki Yoshimoto) that finally claimed the third spot on the podium.
On the winners podium a lottery was held to decide on a reverse grid for the Race 2 to be held on Sunday Nov. 24. As a result, the No. 37 BH AUCTION CORVETTE GT3 (Shinji Takei/Ukyo Sasahara) that finished 6th in this race will start from pole position for Race 2.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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