2020.11.29

Rd. 8 Race GT300: SAITAMATOYOPETGB GR Supra GT takes the win from a pole start! Realize Nissan Automobile Technical College GT-R finishes 2nd to grab its first series title!

The Takanokono Hotel FUJI GT 300km RACE, Round 8 of the 2020 AUTOBACS SUPER GT series, was held at the Fuji Speedway (one lap 4,563m×65 laps) in Shizuoka Prefecture on November 29 (Sun). In the GT500 class, the No. 100 RAYBRIG NSX-GT (Naoki Yamamoto/Tadasuke Makino) won the race, and in doing so won the series Drivers and Team titles as well. In the GT300 class, the SAITAMATOYOPET GB GR Supra GT (Hiroki Yoshida/Kohta Kawaai) won the race from pole position, while the class title went to the No. 56 Realize Nissan Automobile Technical College GT-R (Kiyoto Fujinami/Joao Paulo de Oliveira).

 

 

 

　During the pre-race warm-up run, the No. 5 MACH5G GTNET MC86 MACHSYAKEN developed transmission trouble. This prevented the team from competing in the race.

 

　Just after the start of the race, the No. 61 SUBARU BRZ R&D SPORT (Hideki Yamauchi) starting from 2nd position on the front row of the grid was able to pass the pole-sitting No. 52 SAITAMATOYOPETGB GR Supra GT (Kohta Kawaai) to take the lead. This set up a nose-to-tail battle at the front in the early stages of the race between two cars that needed to win the race in order to keep their title hopes alive. Behind this came the No. 6 ADVICS muta 86MC (Ryohei Sakaguchi) and the No. 96 K-tunes RC F GT3 (Morio Nitta), while behind them developed a tense battle between the three top-ranked cars with a chance for the Drivers title, namely No. 11 GAINER TANAX GT-R (Hironobu Yasuda), No. 56 Realize Nissan Automobile Technical College GT-R (Kiyoto Fujinami) and the No. 65 LEON PYRAMID AMG (Togo Suganami).

 

　On the third lap, there was a collision between the No. 34 Modulo KENWOOD NSX GT3 (Jake Parsons) and the No. 87 T-DASH LAMBORGHINI GT3 (Tsubasa Takahashi), evidence of more fierce battles going on in the middle of the field. Meanwhile, in the battle for the lead, Kawaai in car No. 52 succeeded in passing No. 61 on the 9th lap to regain the lead. No. 52 continued to lead the field as it had done in the season opener.

 

　Among the cars that returned to make their routine pit stops as soon as the regulation allows (1/3rd of the race distance) was car No. 65, running in 6th position at the time. The team changed drivers from Suganami to Gamou and returned to the race as quickly as possible without making a tire change. Among the top-ranked teams, No. 56 made its pit stop on the 24th lap, changing drivers from Fujinami to Joao Paulo de Oliveira and all four tires. And on the 28th lap, the leading car No. 52 made its stop and changed drivers from Kawaai to Yoshida but also opted not to change its tires. Then on the next lap, car No. 61 that had been chasing No. 52 in 2nd position. They changed drivers to Iguchi and all four tires.

 

 

 

　By the time all of the teams had finished their routine pit stops, once again the No. 52 SAITAMATOYOPETGB GR Supra GT (Yoshida) was in the lead. In 2nd position was the No. 65 LEON PYRAMID AMG (Gamou) that had opted for no tire change in a bid to grab a series title. Running in 3rd position was the No. 6 ADVICS muta 86MC (Kotaka). Meanwhile, the No. 56 Realize Nissan Automobile Technical College GT-R (de Oliveira) that now found itself in 4th position knew that it needed to move up one more place in order to win a series title. Also going out for a title from positions of greater disadvantage were the No. 61 SUBARU BRZ R&D SPORT (Takuto Iguchi) now running in 6th position and the No. 11 GAINER TANAX GT-R (Katsuyuki Hiranaka) in 7th position.

 

　Pushing forward, car No. 56 was gradually closing in on car No. 6, running in 3rd position. No. 56 closed the gap from 5 sec. on lap 46 to 3 sec. on the next lap. On the 52nd lap, Oliveira overtook and passed No. 6 on Corner 13. With this, No. 56 was in a position where all it needed to do to win a title was keep 3rd place, but rather than letting up on its pace, Oliveira pressed on and closed the gap on car No. 65 in front that was struggling to hold its pace due to its decision to go the second half with no tire change. At the TGR Corner of the 55th lap, No. 56 passed No. 65 to move into 2nd place. With the leading car No. 52so far out of reach with more than a 40-sec. lead, No. 56 only had to run steadily in its present position.

 

 

　After an impressively strong run in the lead, the No. 52 SAITAMATOYOPET GB GR Supra GT (Hiroki Yoshida/Kohta Kawaai) was still unable to win a series title, but it did manage to win its second race of the season, following the one in Round 1. And, by finishing 2nd in this race, the No. 56 Realize Nissan Automobile Technical College GT-R (Kiyoto Fujinami/Joao Paulo de Oliveira) succeeded in winning this season’s GT300 class Drivers and Team championship titles. For the team, both the Drivers and Team series titles were their first.

 

　Finishing the race in 3rd place by passing car No. 65 was the No. 6 ADVICS muta 86MC (Ryohei Sakaguchi/Kazuto Kotaka). The No. 65 LEON PYRAMID AMG (Naoya Gamou/Togo Suganami) ended the race in 4th place. Finishing in 5th place, the highest finish for the team this season, was the No. 9 PACIFIC NAC D'station Vantage GT3 (Tomonobu Fujii/Takuro Shinohara).

 

 

 

 

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