Nissan GT-R runs alone to dominant victory

In SUPER GT's sole event outside Japan, the mid-season Round 4 (54 laps) saw the HASEMI TOMICA EBBRO GT-R (#3 Ronnie Quintarelli / Hironobu Yasuda) take control to lead the early stages after starting 2nd on the grid. The Nissan GT-R then went on to build up a huge gap, leaving all others far behind as it claimed its first victory of the season.

With a month-and-a-half gap since Round 3 in Fuji, the fourth race on the SUPER GT calendar was run under severe conditions with temperatures and humidity levels higher than those seen in the height of the Japanese summer. In addition, typically unstable weather conditions added to the spectacle. On the 21st, the skies overhead has an ominous look as the race was about to get underway. However, the track surface never got wet for the duration of the race.

After taking its third successive pole position with Satoshi Motoyama, the #1 MOTUL AUTECH GT-R was scheduled to start from the front. However, trouble in the drive train was discovered during the warm-up lap, and the car had to make its start from the pitlane after repairs. With the #1 car gone from the front, the #3 GT-R with Quintarelli at the wheel quickly took over the position. While keeping a steady pace, he gradually built up a gap to the chasing pack. The tyres were well matched to the track conditions, and the car was able to maintain its pace without dropping too much time until its stop and driver switch on lap 30.

After a quick stop, Yasuda brought the car back on track and right away set blistering times, pulling a gap of some 10 seconds in just five laps over his rivals. Maintaining this powerful pace, Yasuda brought the #3 machine across the finish line first after 54 laps of racing. The 25-year-old Yasuda joined the NISSAN Driver Development Program (NDDP) in 2006, and was selected as a rookie in GT500 from the beginning of this season.

After winning in Sepang in 2007 and 2008, there was considerable attention paid to the HIS ADVAN KONDO GT-R (#24 Joao Paolo Lima di Oliveira / Seiji Ara). However, the car's strength has already been proven this season with its win in the opening round in Okayama.

The anticipated fight for the front here in Round 4 did not materialize as the car was saddled with 62kgs handicap weight. Qualifying 6th, the car quickly moved up to third place in the opening laps. This brought the many NISSAN fans in the stands to their feet. However, the heavy weight of the car eventually took its toll when the wheel was handed over to Ara, and the car came home in 5th place.

Starting from the pits, the #1 GT-R entered the track after all other cars had passed by. Within eight laps, the car had passed all of the GT300 machinery, and was battling for 13th position amongst the 14 GT500 entries. The car's subsequent cracking pace saw it picking off places from the surrounding machines. Taking charge in the latter half of the race, Benoit Treluyer kept up the pace to usurp his rivals and take more positions. In the end, the car finished 8th and was awarded three championship points for its efforts.

Qualifying 9th, the IMPUL CALSONIC GT-R (#12 Tsugio Matsuda / Sebastien Philippe) also set a lightning quick pace, start driver Matsuda soon getting the car up to 6th position. He had the car up to fourth before the driver switch. However, contact was made with another car during Philippe's stint. A penalty was imposed, knocking the car back. It eventually finished the race in 7th place.

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Credits: JRC