Jun 24, 2008
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| Super GT round 4（Sepang International Circuit／5.542km） SUPER GT INTERNATINAL SERIES MALAYSIA Main race 22 June/ Main race 1604-1753hrs Condition in Main race =1359-1701hrs Weather/ overcast with some sunshine Course Condition/Dry Air temperature/31→29℃ Surface temperature/39→36℃ |
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| Making perfect pole-to-win with leading from the start, CUSCO RACING got long-waited the first victory in last 10 yrs! |
| The main race of the fourth round of Super GT series, “Super GT International Series Malaysia” got undertaken on 22 June at Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia. Due to gruelling hot condition, Malaysia round of the series usually has main race on early evening time. This year also, the start of main race was started from 1600hrs. Over 30,000 spectators gathered at the circuit over this weekend and had exciting moment with all teams and machines from the morning of today. |
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Following supporting race in early morning, 30 minutes free run started
from 1045hrs. CUSCO RACING’s driver, Yamano started the run, and handed
to Sasaki once, and he backed to Yamano again with doing several task i.e.
making better condition with brake. Under this scheme, team would be accepted
to try two pattern of driver’s change; Yamano to Sasaki and vice versa.
So both drivers can have chance to simulate to be starter. Of course team
has basic order which Yamano will make start and Sasaki will take wheel
for second stint, but it can be changed until closing of registration of
starting driver. It meant that team always concern every possibility for
number of aspects which proved team’s strength. |
 After setting machine on front row of grid, Yamano got off the machine and got some refreshment |
Team also showed its speed on warming up run in the morning. Sasaki who
took the wheel on all attacks from Friday’s free run set fastest time with
0.4 second ahead of second fastest. Meanwhile Yamano who drove to make
setting for long run recorded early of 9 seconds some. At this point, they
were not able to compare their speed because other teams also still under
progressing of preparation, but it was no doubt that team’s Impreza had
plenty of speed. After the free run, finally main race got undertaken. Starting driver, Yamano complete warming-up run and baked to pit once, then left pit to dummy grid. When all machine locked each position on and Impreza which is pole sitter of the race stood on most front of the grid, back-stand built their excitement. Under intense heated condition with air/surface temperature 31℃/39℃, formation lap started on 1600hrs. Just after it, Lexus IS 350 which was second on qualifying and Ferrari F430 touched each other and both were off the course. In other hand, Yamano made smooth start and made 2 seconds gap to second on opening lap. He kept to build his space up after 2nd lap and made almost 10 seconds margin to Shiden which positioned in second on after 10 laps. Yamano made pit in after 26 laps. At that time, their GT300 class was 2laps behind from top of GT500 which but had been heated their eventful battle up with two of top runners of the class hit each other. |
| Team’s “CUSCO DUNLOP SUBARU IMPREZA” had been kept their run with big margin
to second positioned machine which didn’t push extra pressure to pit-work.
Team’s staff complete their work almost perfectly and sent machine back
to the course with full of fuel and refreshed tyre with handed driver to
Sasaki with minimum time loss. Due to some of machine tried to drive first
stint as long as possible, team was not able to back in the course to keep
lead, but after all team made each pit-in, Sasaki naturally clawed back
the lead. Sasaki who took the wheel second stint run every lap smoothly.
Although they made their pace down to maintain their machine some time,
however there was no space that other team clawed the lead. CUSCO RACING
got checker with no drama and gained long waited their first time victory
in last 10 years, also first victory for the team with Trans-axle Symmetrical
AWD system machine. |
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| The white board in pit, there was message of team’s determination “We will win!” | Team staff made form to attend to hear national anthem of Japan and Malaysia. | With getting pole-position, team got many interview from media. |
Team quote: Team director, Toshio Omizo “We have been waiting this victory for 10 years, and finally it came through, It rewarded from not only our drivers, team staff, but also from employee of Carrosser group who support team from office, all of related company who have been supporting CUSCO RACING, and of course from our fans who have been supporting us with strong passion and enthusiasm. I would like to thank every one!” Driver quote: Tetsuya Yamano “The Sepang circuit is kind of my home course. This victory is my third wins at this circuit (including during JGTC era), so I think this is my course. Our machine also has been improving much, so I was determined to react it. On qualifying, Kouta (=Sasaki) got pole position, so I was able to took easy to start. I made good start and pulled rivals away. Before start, I was ordered to make margin at least 15 seconds (until pit-in), and I completed it eventually, so the race was perfect. Last season, we had so much trouble and machine was unstable even we made big effort; therefore we couldn’t make respectable result. But this season, machine showed excellent stability with not much damage and we made huge step on setting. Now team can concentrate to think how we can win. It accepts us to come to Sepang for win. Every team’s staff made very good job all together, that’s why we made pole-to-win victory, I think.” Driver quote: Kouta Sasaki “I had big margin when I was handed from Yamano-san, but honestly, the margin was not so comfortable. In fact, I was bit scare to be passed from Shiden (of second positioned) when they was out from pit, so it was pretty close battle. However, I knew that our Impreza had speed, so I felt not so serious. With using unique AWD system which no other machine using, I think we showed speed on dry condition as well, but in other hand, it’s true that we have number of elements which we don’t know yet. Also we had not completed the race with such speed so far, so I took care much with using every five-sense during driving. I joined this team from season, so simply I’m happy with this win, but when I think about long time period during Team, Subaru and Yamano-san had been making their effort, I had deep emotion.” |
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| Before start, Yamano throw CUSCO RACING cap in stand. | Yamano and Sasaki attended post event media conference as winning drivers. |
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