2008 Super GT Round 6/Suzuka Circuit [Main race]
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2008 Super GT Round 6 37TH INTERNATIONAL POKKA 1000km (Suzuka circuit :5.807km) [Main race] 24 August/ Main race Condition in Main race =1305hrs- Weather/ overcast with some sunshine Course Condition/Dry Air temperature/29→31→26℃ Surface temperature/32→30→38→29℃ Number of spectators on 24th August: 37,000(organiser’s statement) |
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CUSCO RACING completed the race under hard circumstance with having weight handicap 2008 Super GT series which has total nine rounds was getting into second half of the season with its round six, annual summer event in Suzuka circuit “Pokka 1000km” which undertook from 1300hrs, 24 August. The classic summer event which is well known as intensive heat condition, however this year, the race saw relatively cool weather with rising road surface temperature maximum only 38℃ even air temperature rose over 30℃ in mid-day. Moreover, it was even cold in night session after sunset. Although under those unusual condition, over 54,000 spectators gathered the circuit which proved its popularity of exciting 1000km long battle. |
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 The Sunday pit walk was excited with no rain. Yamano gave autograph to fans. |
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Due to cancellation of afternoon session of qualifying on Saturday, Sunday’s free run which started from 8.30 am saw busy on the course. Some drivers who failed to clear standard time wanted to take this opportunity to pass the assignment. On this session, Cusco racing driver Kouta Sasaki marked 2”11.416 while his team mate Tetsuya Yamano set earlier 12 seconds consistently. Those time were quite similar with Friday’s practice run as the gap to top runner was around over 2seconds. On long mile endurance race on the afternoon, the key point for the team would be how they would be patient the gap and competing each lap, and how they should be positioned. |
 Cusco ladies were having busy time during the pit-walk |
 Cusco’s Impreza finally came to starting grid after all rivals |
 Team got pole-position first time since Sepan |
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The sky was getting crowd deeply when the race was undertaking with expecting some rain during the race, now formation lap to setting grid started. Cusco Racing’s CUSCO DUNLOP SUBARU IMPREZA which marked fastest lap on official qualifying proudly welcomed to the grid on final order together with Nissan GT-R, pole-sitter of GT500 class. This is recent custom of starting ceremony of the series which meant to praise pole-sitters. The moment gave the team full feeling of their proud. When Cusco racing’s car set its grid, team asked to give comment by TV program. Yamano, Japanese motorsport veteran performed interesting talk nicely meanwhile Sasaki who was going to make the start for the race showed his nervous feeling with sitting right next to Yamano. |
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Once the race started officially after completing one lap as rolling lap, Sasaki made excellent pole-shot. Second runner Garaiya struggled to showed speed and made close battle with third or later. This gave Sasaki better situation to extend his lead. However it was still obvious that the weight-handicap was hard task to keep natural speed and it started that Sasaki was passed other rivals who passed Garaiya. When he passed by #26 Taisan Porsche after completed lap 8, Sasaki allowed the second Shiden passing him. After then, Sasaki braced up and maintained third position. However, after further four laps when he was passed by #95 MR-S, he was also passed by #19 Weds Lexus, #46 Mola Z and #11 Ferrari continuously. With having over 100kg weight of performance adjustment and additional performance adjustment, Cusco racing’s machine tried to show its best effort. Sasaki kept being within 10th position by his main force to drive and completed first stint. Sasaki baked to pit and handed the steering over to Yamano. When Yamano was out from pit, the position was moved back further, but he made patient driving and maintained similar position until he handed Sasaki over again. |
 GT500 class was just in front of Cusco. That’s pole position! |
 Team succeed to complete the race. Good job! |
 It’s custom of the SUZUKA 1000km to praise winner by fire works |
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During Sasaki drove second stint, everyone of whole team had been having same thought. “We had to be patient for here”. Also “We may be able to get some points if we completed the race patiently.” But the wish was destroyed when team’s Impreza appeared on screen in the team’s pit with facing opposite direction on the circuit. And then circuit announcer shouted “The machine span on hairpin corner!” Actually the spin was occurred due to machine trouble as the machine’s front right drive shaft was broken. Driver brought the damaged machine back to pit and team’s mechanics maintained it with changing the parts. However after backed to the course, next drama happened when front left drive shaft broken! By the moment, almost battle was decided, but team had never gave up and continued to make their best effort. Both drivers, Yamano and Sasaki completed each laps until very end. The fact that team got checker was well deserved for big effort of whole team. |
 Yamano talking to TV program on starting grid. |
Team quote: Team director, Toshio Omizo “I have mixed feeling with thankful and pity. I would like to thank to everyone who supported us during the bad weather of qualifying and the long 1000km six hours main race. Also our mechanics who maintained the machine twice during the main race during limited time. Additionally both drivers showed their best driving under hard condition of qualifying. I would like to thank to them that they brought our machine to finish consistently. In other hand, I’m quite pity that we can not make actual step up which we have been looking for. We are aiming to be faster, stronger and being more attractive as a team. Please keep you support us.” Driver quote: Tetsuya Yamano “We are faster than we expected the first 10 laps with nice driving by Kouta. However it that we worried was happened from around 10 laps. On Friday’s practice run, our machine was not too bad anyway, Actually it was even good and seemed enabling to improve. But we were not able to find best balance eventually. I think the weight-handicap is too tough for us. However we found right direction now, so from now, we are going to see further development to clear next assignment. Well actually I’m not worry about it because I know team has been working very hard. Yes, there is not much time to next round in Motegi while we have got more things to do, we will do our best with whole team’s effort.” Driver quote: Kouta Sasaki “It was all about the trouble on drive shaft. Apart from that, there was not much problem on the machine. On main race, we were able to show best performance under that tough condition over the weekend with weight-handicap. I would like to see further step up from current balance. Although we’ve got pole position, I want to improve the performance of wet condition.” |
 Sasaki made the start for team |
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