2020.08.22

GT500: Modulo NSX-GT Completely Dominates the Qualifying to Win Pole Position! Izawa Gets First Pole of his 13-year Career

The qualifying for the FUJIMAKI GROUP SUZUKA GT 300km RACE, Round 3 of the 2020 AUTOBACS SUPER GT series took place at Suzuka Circuit in Mie Prefecture on August 22 (Sat). In the GT500 class, the No. 64 Modulo NSX-GT (Takuya Izawa/Hiroki Otsu) won pole position, which for Izawa was a personal first PP in his 13-year GT500 career. In the GT300 class, the No. 31 TOYOTA GR SPORT PRIUS PHV apr GT (Koki Saga/Yuhki Nakayama) won pole position. These two cars will start at the front of their respective classes in tomorrow’s race starting at 1:00 in the afternoon.

 

 

 

　This day saw the running at Suzuka Circuit for the first time this season. Rising air and track temperatures made competitive conditions tough for all.

　The first GT500 teams to take to the track with about 8 minutes remaining in the Q1 session were the No. 36 au TOM'S GR Supra (Sacha Fenestraz) and the No. 3 CRAFTSPORTS MOTUL GT-R (Kohei Hirate). As for the No. 23 MOTUL AUTECH GT-R team, they took their time and mounted their tires only after the session had started. Driving car No. 23 for Q1 was Tsugio Matsuda. Unlike the other NISSAN GT-R NISMO GT500 teams, No. 23 had already installed the second of the two engines that are allowed in the season, and it appeared they were confident in its speed.

　The other GT500 teams were entering the track one after another as the clock approach the final seven minutes of the session. And car No. 23 was among this group. With the air and track temperatures already very high at this point, the effect on the tires would be severe, which is why all of the drivers decided to run only one warm-up lap after their entry lap before beginning their time attacks on their third lap.

　The first to post a fast lap time of 1’46.764 was the No. 17 KEIHIN NSX-GT (Koudai Tsukakoshi). But immediately after that, it was the No. 64 Modulo NSX-GT (Hiroki Otsu) that recorded a lap of 1’46.160 to move to the top of the time board.

　Following in 3rd position with a time of 1’46.992 was the No. 16 Red Bull MOTUL MUGEN NSX-GT (Ukyo Sasahara), and as the teams entered the final stages of the session it was the No. 38 ZENT GR Supra (Hiroaki Ishiura) that moved up into the 2nd spot with a time of 1’46.631. However, this time was soon bettered by a lap of 1’46.500 by car No. 23 MOTUL AUTECH GT-R (Tsugio Matsuda), which move it up ahead of cars No. 16 and No. 38 to secure the 2nd position on the time board. The checkered flag ended the session went the No. 19 WedsSport ADVAN GR Supra (Ritomo Miyata) came in with a time of 1’46.931.

　Of the five Honda NSX-GT cars competing, four succeeded in advancing to Q2 while showing their consummate speed. The season’s current point ranking leader, the No. 36 au TOM'S GR Supra (Sacha Fenestraz) only managed to finish 12th in the Q1 session, while the 2nd-ranked No. 37 KeePer TOM'S GR Supra (Nick Cassidy) also showed the effects of the weight handicap they were carrying, as both TOM’S teams failed to make it to Q2.

 

 

 

　With eight minutes remaining in the GT500 Q2 session, the Honda NSX-GT cars took to the track in quick succession and were soon beginning their time attacks at an early stage.
　In contrast, [Ronnie] Quintarelli in the No. 23 MOTUL AUTECH GT-R waited until just 5 min. 30 sec. remained on the session clock before entering the track. The last to take to the track with just 4 min. 30 sec. remaining was the No. 14 WAKO'S 4CR GR Supra (Sho Tsuboi).

　The two Honda cars No. 17 KEIHIN NSX-GT (Bertrand Baguette) and 100 RAYBRIG NSX-GT (Tadasuke Makino) that had taken to the track earliest failed to impress with times of 1’47.635 and 1’48.122 respectively. But again, the standout was the No. 64 Modulo NSX-GT, now driven by Takuya Izawa, recording a top time of 1’46.239.

　Having begun his timed laps a bit later, Ronnie Quintarelli in the No. 23 MOTUL AUTECH GT-R ran the fastest time yet in the first sector of the course but eventually fell just short of Izawa’s top time with a lap of 1’46.699 that moved him up to the 2nd spot on the time board. So, once again it was car No. 64 that showed its complete dominance by following up on its fastest times in the official practice and Qualifying Q1 session to claim the top time in Q2 as well. Meanwhile, on its final time attack, the No. 14 WAKO'S 4CR GR Supra (Sho Tsuboi) grabbed 4th position with a time of 1’46.899.

　With these results, the GT500 class pole position went to the No. 64 Modulo NSX-GT (Takuya Izawa/Hiroki Otsu). For Izawa, this was his first personal pole position since he debuted in the GT500 class at Round 6 of the 2007 season at Suzuka.

　Qualifying in 2nd position came the No. 23 MOTUL AUTECH GT-R (Tsugio Matsuda/Ronnie Quintarelli). This stellar performance gave new inspiration to the NISSAN GT-R NISMO GT500 teams that had struggled in the first two rounds of the season, while proving the speed of the new engine. Qualifying 3rd was Tachikawa in the No. 38 ZENT GR Supra (Yuji Tachikawa/Hiroaki Ishiura). This means that one car each of the three auto makers will start at the front of the grid for tomorrow’s race, making for what will certainly be an exciting rivalry.

 

 

 

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