2008 Super GT Round 7/Twin Ring Motegi [Main race]
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| 14 September/ Main race Condition in Main race Weather/ Sunny Course Condition/Dry Air temperature/→31→27℃ Surface temperature/44→36℃ Number of spectators: 39,000(Organiser’s statement) |
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| Finishing in 14th after overcoming unexpected difficulties, Team now becoming to see the way to having weight handicap The main race of round 7 of 2008 Super GT, “MOTEGI GT 300km RACE” was undertaken on 14 September at Twin Ring Motegi. The Sunday saw sunny sky rather than rain which forecast said. Team had done free run not for this main race, but also seeking for next round in Autopolis. |
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| Yamano preparing in cockpit. | Pit in simulation during free running. | Sasaki waiting start in cockpit |
As usual, progress of starting for main race was started after completing support races. This time Sasaki makes starting the race and first half of stint and then Yamano takes over for second half of stint. When official start made after one lap rolling run, Sasaki allowed the car just behind to pass him, however still completed opening lap well. On fourth corner of lap 3, Vemac who was running on third spun solely. Boxster who was running just behind of Vemac made slow to avoid to be involving Vemac’s incident. But Sasaki through the muddle and succeed to move up to third. However, the pace of top 2 was clearly faster than Impreza. Also, even was passed by Sasaki once, the Boxster and following MURCIE RG-1 made hard charge. |
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| Yamano communicate with fans on pit walk | Cusco ladies on pit walk time. | They had communication with fans on straight. |
 Machine was covered to avoid unnecessary sunshine and heating on grid. |
Sasaki made hard effort to keep position, however allowed again to be passed by Boxster and even MURCIE RG-1 too. Actually his cooling suit had problem and he was not able to have drink. Additionally the electrical problem extended to fuel pomp. Lack of fuel will cause of the situation like running fuel out. Under tough circumstance with no drink and no fuel, he had nothing which he could. Eventually Sasaki made pit in on mathematically lap 29 bit earlier than planned. On pit working, fuelling and swapping tyre was done smoothly, however team made mistake on driver’s change. Also tried to fix electrical failure, team spent 61 seconds from pit-stop to re-start. After pit out, second driver Yamano immediately found that the problem on cooling suit and drinking was still occurring. Although the situation was extremely tough, he made consistent driving with setting 58th seconds, even 57th seconds sometime by main force. He passed slower machine and machine, with making position up steadily. He moved up to seventh on lap 42 and was going to final section. Around last 10 laps, the machine showed same fuel problem which Sasaki had. Yamano regrettably made pit in with remaining 6 laps for only fuelling. He move down to 14th when he backed to the course, but kept his pace and position until finish. Yamano proudly was given checker and completed the race one lap behind from the top, but showed dehydration and was taken to medical centre directly after race. Those drivers’s effort was reserved by bringing two points for team. It’s only two points, however very valuable as gaining under several difficulties and against hot condition. Also team had extremely good feeling on machine setting. Now motivated team is focusing on round 8 at Autopolis. |
 Machine was covered to avoid unnecessary sunshine and heating on grid. |
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Team quote: Team director, Toshio Omizo “I have no idea how thank to drivers who made big effort under difficulties on cooling suit and drinking system with having dehydration. Also staff of Carrosser made machine well condition even schedule was so tight. For reaping their effort, we have only way that is becoming stronger team. We will try our best to report good result at Autopolis!” Driver quote: Tetsuya Yamano “The machine was best condition since getting weight handicap (for extra performance adjustment). We got better position than we expected on qualifying, and also made good pace on main race. That’s why I’m really pity the electrical problem. Also we had another trouble later on, so I made pace bit slower. I heard the problem on cooling suit from Kouta by radio, but I was optimising because I thought I could drink if I suck straw. But actually I was not able to drink at all, so it was very hard.” Driver quote: Kouta Sasaki “The problem on cooling suit or drinking was hard, but I think we made good race under difficult situation with the tough weight handicap. The machine balance was not so bad, and our tyre choice was very nice! On the main race, our rival was also struggling, so I think we could get good result on Autopolis if we could avoid any trouble.” |
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