2008 Super GT Round 2/Okayama [Main race]
OKAYAMA GT 300km RACE
13 Apr/Main race
The evolution brought the long waited result
Making hard charge from 10th start with no trouble
Cusco got on Podium with finishing in third!!
The main race of round 2 of Super GT series on Sunday, 13 Apr met gray sky with overcastting. Although CUSCO RACING regrettably finished in 10th on qualifying, it’s no doubt that team’s AWD machine has been hugely improving its speed and reliability. Again on main race as well, team proved those potential and delightedly finished in 3rd. It’s first podium finish since 2004 when team finished in 2nd at as all-stars race, also as proper race, 3rd in round 6 at Autopolis in same year. It’s also first podium for current Trans axel Symmetrical AWD machine.
 Sasaki built concentrate in his machine |
 Mechanic keep checking machine until just before start. They are trying to get more clearance for computer screen. |
 Pit welcomed number of spectators. A husband and wife took pictures with drivers. |
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Team drove well on free run in the morning and marked well deserved third
fastest time which brought their expectation higher. After free run, today’s program move to one-make support race, pit-walk and another support race as semi-final. Then finally highlight race of the event, Main race for Super GT would start. During pit-walk, team personnel keep maintenance work, therefore machine stayed inside of pit. For spectators, both drivers and newly teamed CUSCO Circuit ladies are attending in front of pit and keeping in touch with fans. Semi-final of support race was one make race of CIVIC which established from this season. Some of those machines wore Cusco brand’s equipments, however there was no time to spectate them for team to still kept work on final checking. Driver’s order of team was Sasaki for starting and Yamano would drive second half of race. Refreshed their feeling from the unexpected accident in SL, team made perfect preparation on machine with overnight working and it was proved by good pace as Sasaki made hard charge from very beginning of the race. He complete opening lap in 9th and overtook Vemac on following lap. Then he caught Shiden on the sequence from Hairpin to revolver corner third lap of same as second lap, and passed MR-S at approach to hairpin on fourth lap. He rose his position up gradually. When top runners reached single file of front, he stayed in 6th for a while, but overtook slower cars and moved third place up in 23rd lap. Also in 37th lap, he led the class thank to front runners who made pit in earlier than expected. During the period, Sasaki had comfortable drive and made routine pit-in when complete 46th lap. |
 Team staffs gather to attending for national anthem |
 Starting chaotic10th grid |
Although after having overnight working of everyday and night, pit staff did great job at the scheduled pit-in. They completed routine work in 45 seconds and sent the Impreza which handed to Yamano from Sasaki back to the course. Yamano who took the wheel for second half of the race backed to the battle in 6th position and made cautious approach until warm tyres up. However he made position up at each opportunity when other machine made their pit-in after long run, and moved 4th up. Also he passed Z which was running in 3rd at Mike Knight corner on 57th lap. Yamano maintained the podium position with consistent pace and got checker in the 3rd position which CUSCO RACING had been waiting for three seasons. |
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Team quote: Team director, Toshio Omizo “It’s absolutely deserved every effort from whole company. Staff in the event had been working very hard in every day and night. Also other staff who had been in office and supported us, our fan who had been supporting us all time… everyone’s hope reached to this result. I hope this result came up to their expectation at least. Of course I have to concern the thing which happened yesterday, so it’s hard to appraise as whole this weekend, but for this main race solely, I would like to give them perfect score!” Team quote: Managing director, Hisashi Matsuda “It’s result of all effort of every staff. I think good luck is coming to close us as we were helped by some rain. We started from 10th, Sasaki brought it up to 3rd and Yamano maintained the position. It’s exactly the well job by drivers, but also mechanic did good job. I would like thank to everyone’s effort.” Driver’s quote: Tetsuya Yamano “We got eventually 3rd which is good. With getting on podium, we can keep our motivation I think. We had been having hard time in last season, but now feels like thing is getting positive. It’s first podium since we had been waiting quite while, so purely I’m happy. But also I would like to make machine much much faster. We still have several area where we can work, so I think we can faster with them. Driver’s quote: Kouta Sasaki “Because team had hard time last year, I think the result proved their effort. I joined team from this season, so I determined that I’m required the speed, and I think I was able to showed my potential this time. I think I was able to take advantage of good traction by AWD in dry condition and of Dunlop tyres well. I’m released bit now, but I know team called me to make win and I also would like to win, become champion, so am aiming to make our machine faster.” |
 Crew smiled with having champagne after podium ceremony |
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