2010 Super GT weekend in Sepang

The Japanese Super GT race series recently thrilled the crowds at the Sepang International Circuit once again.

OneShift Editorial Team

01 Jul 2010

2010 marks the tenth year the Japanese Super GT race series visit to Malaysia's Sepang International Circuit. Since 2000, racing fans as well as fans of lovely Japanese race queens flock to Sepang to enjoy the Super GT festivities. Only in 2003, the race was cancelled due to the SARS outbreak.

One of this year's highlights was the debut of Honda's HSV-010 GT race car in the GT500 class at Sepang. The HSV or Honda Sports Velocity to name it in full is actually based on Honda's cancelled new generation NSX road car. While the road car was caned by Honda's board, the race car project went on to replace the NSX in Super GT racing as mid-engine cars are banned from the 2010 season. The HSV's front engine coupe layout has a hint or two of the Lexus LF-A in terms of proportions but what is most amazing about it is the noise its V8 engine makes - the high pitch shriek of the HSV's V8 pierced through the Sepang air like a banshee, winning it many fans and admirers, including myself. It sounds closer to an F1 motor rather than an engine that was supposedly meant for a road car. Why on earth did Honda cancelled the new NSX project, I simply could not understand.

For the uninitiated, there are two racing classes in the Super GT series - the GT500 class and the less powerful, more road car based GT300. In the GT500 class, the no.12 Calsonic Impul Nissan GTR took pole position in the race on Saturday. In Sunday's incident packed car, the blue GTR lost the lead several times but mistakes and incidents on its competitors' part meant it beat the no.23 Motul Autech GTR and the no.18 Weider HSV to the chequered flag.

The fight for the GT300 win was no less exciting than the GT500 class battle. At the end of it all, the no.7 SGC7 based on the FD3S Mazda RX-7 persevered to take the victory as its closest rivals clashed on the track.

The Super GT race itself was supported by some really exciting support races including GT3 and GT4 Asia championship rounds, a Vios/Yaris one make race from Thailand as well as Volkswagen China's Scirocco Cup. The support races together with the main Super GT event certainly put smiles on every petrol head's face!