2008 Super GT Round 8/Autopolis [Main race]
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2008 Super GT Round 8 |
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Productive 6th finish after perfect race with no mistake and no trouble The over weekend on 8th round of Super GT series saw clear sky at Autopolis in Oita. Like this beautiful autumn weather, Cusco racing completed this main race with having a bright smile. Gaining 6th which is first drivers point scoring since the victory in Sepang after having difficult time including unclassified race in Suzuka 1000km event clinching only three point by pole position hunting. |
 Carlo concentrated to analysing rogger data even during lunch break. Staff are impressed his earnest behaviour. |
On free run on early morning, team finished in only 17th. Although the gap between the fastest was about 3 seconds which looked to get larger than qualifying, team just had done their scheduled task consistently. Carlo van Dam who debuted GT race in AWD Impreza from Cusco racing made progressing of machine learning well and set good time with just comma 4seconds behind Yamano which was big benefit of this free run. For this race, team decided to relay starting and stint of first half on Carlo, and second stint on Yamano. Carlo had been driving only formula machine for last few season, but has racing kart career before stepping up to proper racing machine, so quite used to do rolling starting. “As being European champion, he may knew the process of rolling start naturally” As team’s managing director Hisashi Matsuda analysing and expected, Carlo made great start dash. When backed to home straight after one lap rolling run, he made maximum acceleration at miraculously good timing. He passed several machine until first corner, and finished this opening lap with positioned up to 10th! |
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| Fan in Kyushu area are also enthusiastic for photographing. | “We are Cusco Racing, nice to meet you! Carlo appeared on supporters service. | Drivers had communication with their supporter. |
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| Having final check in cock pit before start of main race. | Carlo chatting with Kunimoto, TOMS’s team mate at F3 seriese. | ”Good luck!” Yamano cheered up Carlo in cock pit. |
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Since then, Carlo continued to giving his best effort to drive. The early on, he recorded his best lap time 1’’54.861 which was 1.5seconds quicker than the morning free run. However, the making push would cause in struggling with tyre management on later. On the tyre management process, drivers have to control wearing tyre with considering bringing full performance of tyre out with complete scheduled laps which was hard task for Carlo who competing the machine first time. After he found the fact during the stint, he cared the tyre wearing through his driving. He completed scheduled 30 laps with maintain his positioned and finished his stint in 9th. With taking the steering over from Carlo and looking his struggling with tyre, Yamano decided to have conservative run for first half and would push on second half. When he backed the course on 13th positioned, he continued his driving with position keep. He showed his real ability to maintain own position with caring tyre with even having charge from behind by #52 IS or #95 MR-S. Eventually he never allowed passing his position and went on second half of his stint. On remaining 16 laps when #62 Vimac who battled top of the class was crowed out by GT500 machines, Yamano started his hard charge. He passed #31 MR-S on lap 49, also passed #4 Vimac as well. Some fortune visited the team and Yamano as #7 RX-7 and “26 Porsche was slowed down by trouble on lap 45 and 58 respectively. Team got checker with 7th , but moved up to 6th after then as one of machine was occurred 30 seconds penalty. Team got better result than expected after having the race exactly planned. Team quote: Team director, Toshio Omizo “That’s really great. This success rewarded us for efforts of engineer, mechanics and each of all staffs. I would like to thank to TOMS team who arrowed to give Carlo opportunity to drive from our team. When analysing the race this time, first of all, Carlo made great start with positioned up to 10th after escape from starting confusion. He was struggling with tyre wearing, but from this fact, Yamano was able to judge to care tyre for first half and push after then. It made best conclusion with showing plenty of our performance. It was perfect race first time since Sepang. We have been having hard time, but now it feels like we can see something for the future. It’s like climbing bit higher area. We would like to climb further higher place on final round.” Team quote: Managing director, Hisashi Matsuda “This time everything had been done as planned as or better than that. We have benefit from other machine’s troubles, but we also done well. After great start of Carlo, Yamano made excellent conclusion with well tyre management. Also we have no trouble on the machine, so I’m very satisfied.” |
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Driver quote: Tetsuya Yamano “It’s the race to our satisfaction. I found that every tyre was tend to wear much, so I decided to have conservative run some laps after pit out. I had push from behind, but continued to caring tyre while maintain the position. It may be 16 laps to go, I started push and passed two machines. I could pass one more if we have another 4 or 5 laps. Anyway it was perfect race. Carlo, who teaming first time, is the kind of driver who I can entrust. He never did over capacity. He is very honest person and understanding very well what he can or can not. He only needs to learn tyre management with production car more. But he definitely will be quicker next time, I’m sure.” |
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Driver quote: CARLO VAN DAM ”I had good experience as part of Cusco racing member. With new machine, new tyre, it’s been nice practice which I had been enjoying much. Passing by quicker machine is the experience which I have never had so far, but I’ve been used to. I eventually set fastest lap which made me good confidence to show plenty of performance at this category. With this good result, I’ve got good momentum going into next round in Fuji which elevated my motivation. That’s really nice.” |
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