2020.09.04

【Round 4 Preview】Don't miss the chance! Season completes first half at Motegi clash.

2020 AUTOBACS SUPER GT Round 4 "MOTEGI GT 300km RACE" will be staged at Twin Ring Motegi (Tochigi Prefecture) on September 12th (Saturday, Qualifying) and 13th (Sunday, Race). Motegi race had been the final round in recent years and held in November, but, this season, it is held at the turning point of the 8-race season as the fourth round. Three manufacturers have split the wins in last three races in the GT500 class, and the outcome of the upcoming race could have an impact on the direction which the series would be heading to as well as the title contention. The competition in the GT300 class is also very tight, and many teams are keen to snatch whatever the chance they can get for a win. As summer heat still lingers in early September, the race could also become hot and fierce at Round 4 Motegi.

 

 

　Although missing the pole position at Round 3 Suzuka, the speed is back in the NISSAN GT-R NISMO GT500 as seen in No.23 MOTUL AUTECH GT-R (Tsugio Matsuda / Ronnie Quintarelli) capturing the second highest position in the qualifying. The No.23 car went on and fought pretty much perfectly in the race to bring in the first win in two years, making a strong impression of "a comeback of GT-R".
　The situation of cars other than No.23 car is worrisome, but the data from positive result should help in making other cars faster. It is also encouraging for the squad that the result was accomplished with the second engine they deployed to the No.23 car ahead of any other cars. Considering the Motegi track suits the characteristics of GT-R, No.3 CRAFTSPORTS MOTUL GT-R (Kohei Hirate / Katsumasa Chiyo), also wearing Michelin tires like No.23 cars, as well as No.24 Realize Corporation ADVAN GT-R (Mitsunori Takaboshi / Jann Mardenborough), which has won at Motegi before, must be coming in with a strong focus on winning the race. The handicap weight increased on the No.23 car, but it is still not at a level to be pessimistic, therefore, the car should have a good chance for a consecutive win. If the GT-R squad becomes overwhelmingly dominant at Round 4, then that could ignite the rivals which could then lead to adding more excitement to the second half of the season.

 

 

   

 

 

　The season opening round didn't turn out in a way they would expect for, but the Honda NSX-GT fleet bounced back at Round 2 and captured one-two in the qualifying and then the win, which was brought in by No.17 KEIHIN NSX-GT (Koudai Tsukakoshi / Bertrand Baguette). The fleet was able to keep the momentum to consistently output good result in Round 3 where No.64 Modulo NSX-GT (Takuya Izawa / Hiroki Otsu) captured the pole position and No.100 RAYBRIG NSX-GT (Naoki Yamamoto / Tadasuke Makino) finished the race in second place. They would want to clinch the win at Round 4 hosted at the home track of Honda, and, of course, they would want to do it dominantly. Back in 2009 and 2018, ARTA NSX completed a pole-to-win. Despite showing the speed throughout the weekend, the race has been difficult to concur for No.8 ARTA NSX-GT (Tomoki Nojiri / Nirei Fukuzumi) in last two races, nevertheless, the team should be wanting to present a win this time for sure to the home crowd. When ARTA completed the two pole-to-win, Izawa, now with the No.64 car, was one of their drivers. Izawa as well as the team must be looking for an opportunity to pay back for the win they lost at previous race. With a lighter handicap weight, No.16 Red Bull MOTUL MUGEN NSX-GT (Hideki Mutoh / Ukyo Sasahara) could be a dark horse.

 

 

   

 

 

　The TOYOTA GR Supra squad has not been able to make the scene impactful in last two races as they did at the season opener. Nonetheless, although it has not scored a win, No.36 au TOM'S GR Supra (Yuhi Sekiguchi / Sacha Fenestraz) finished on the podium in three races in a row and stands at top of the driver point ranking. It will be a tough road ahead for the team with the handicap weight accumulating, but they should be looking at a strategy to try to pick up as many point as possible until the final two races of the season where the handicap weight will be reduced by the regulations. Another Toyota team No.37 KeePer TOM'S GR Supra (Ryo Hirakawa / Nick Cassidy) is at second place in the point ranking after winning the season opening race. The handicap weight situation is also difficult for the No.37 car, but the Motegi has been a favorite track for Hirakawa/Cassidy duo. Their chance of scoring a second win could be pretty high if they can get a good spot in the qualifying.
　Motegi is a perfect match for not only the duo of No.37 car but the TOYOTA/LEXUS squad as a whole as they have won 6 out of last 10 races held at the circuit. No.38 ZENT GR Supra (Yuji Tachikawa / Hiroaki Ishiura), No.39 DENSO KOBELCO SARD GR Supra (Heikki Kovalainen / Yuichi Nakayama), and No.19 WedsSport ADVAN GR Supra (Yuji Kunimoto / Ritomo Miyata) would want to win here to stay in the title contention.

 

 

   

 

 

　Q1 of the qualifying has been carried out by splitting the GT300 class teams into Group A and B with 15 cars in each group this season. The new system enabled the cars to have a clear lap on the less crowded track which consequently raised the level of attack lap and the gaps are much closer between the cars. Q1 of Round 4 Motegi will be in the same form, thus, you must tune in from Q1 at Round 4 Motegi especially since the starting position is said to be an important factor to be successful at Motegi track.

 

　The season is reaching its midpoint with Round 4. The handicap weight is increasing on the teams that have been successful up to this point. The heavier weight on the cars in the upper group of the point ranking could open up an opportunity to bounce back for the teams that have been facing disappointing result due to unfortunate reasons. To identify the candidates, we should first look at the teams that are fielding Mercedes AMG GT3 which has a good track record at Motegi. Among them, No.4 GOODSMILE HATSUNE MIKU AMG (Nobuteru Taniguchi / Tatsuya Kataoka) deserves the top attention. Motegi round is a critical point for them if they were to put themself in the title contention. No.25 HOPPY Porsche (Takamitsu Matsui / Kimiya Sato) won the race and clinched the title at Motegi in 2016. Although the car is different, the team would want to capture their first win in 3 years especially since RR Porsche suits the track of Motegi. No.31 TOYOTA GR SPORT PRIUS PHV apr GT (Koki Saga / Yuhki Nakayama) couldn't output the result they hoped for at previous race despite clinching the pole position, but they could be a candidate for the winner.

 

 

　The NSX GT3 teams are also expected to show a strong performance especially since the race is on Honda's home track. Defending champion No.55 ARTA NSX GT3 (Shinichi Takagi / Toshiki Oyu) as well as No.34 Modulo KENWOOD NSX GT3 (Ryo Michigami / Jake Parsons) have been fast at key points. After finishing the previous race in second place, No.18 UPGARAGE NSX GT3 (Takashi Kobayashi / Kosuke Matsuura) may have a good chance.

 

　In contrast, the upcoming race will be difficult for the teams that already have won races up to this point, No.52 SAITAMATOYOPET GB GR Supra GT (Hiroki Yoshida / Kohta Kawaai), No.2 SYNTIUM Apple LOTUS (Hiroki Katoh / Masataka Yanagida), and No.11 GAINER TANAX GT-R (Katsuyuki Hiranaka / Hironobu Yasuda), considering the amount of handicap weight they have to carry. They just need to hang in in Round 4 as the season enters its second half.

 

   

 

 

　Upcoming Round 4 "MOTEGI GT 300km RACE" will be held without spectators again. However, we can expect the same magnitude of the heat and intense battle. Enjoy the excitement of SUPER GT at full through the broadcast by J SPORTS on live, recorded, and on demand, SUPER GT Plus, a TV program broadcast via the network of TV Tokyo, or here on the SUPERGT.net as well as our official app (all channels offered only in Japan. For overseas, it will be viewable by The Race, a YouTube channel).

 

 

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