2008.06.19
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| Super GT round 3（Fuji Speedway／4.563km） GT FUJI 500km RACE Practice run & Qualifying 3 May/ Qualifying Condition in QF1=1000-1100hrs Weather/Rain Course Condition/Wet Air temperature/18→18→17℃ Surface temperature/21→22→21℃ Condition in QF2=1510-1705hrs Weather/ overcast with some sunshine Course Condition/Dry Air temperature/20→22→21℃ Surface temperature/23→25→27→23℃ Set fastest time on first qualifying in wet On even dry condition got 4th grid |
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The annual event during Japanese Golden Week (long holiday) of the Fuji
Speedway, round 3 of Super GT series “Fuji GT 500km” is getting undertake.
Teams had official practice on Friday 2 May, also having qualifying in
following day and Main race on Sunday 4 May. Even during earlier period
of GW, team showed excellent form from the practice. On this day, team would have driving session as 1.5 hour in the morning and 2 hours in the afternoon. Condition in the morning session was getting from half wet to dry. But just before finish of morning session, rain was started which made changeable condition in the afternoon. Although under difficult condition, team made attack with wet condition basically. They recorded second fastest time in the morning session and in following the afternoon session, marked fastest time with having huge half of second margin to second fastest time which brought high expectation to team. |
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 Yamano is waiting back Sasaki in Avoiding get wet on shoes would be important in wet condition |
The condition on Saturday was also unstable and having intermittent rain from early morning. The first qualifying started from 1000hrs with some shower or rain some time. Under these circumstances, there was possibility that condition would be change during a session. On normal tactic for qualifying, attack driver would made time attack during exclusive run and then another driver would clear compulsory time during mix run with GT500 class. But there was some risk to fault clear the compulsory time if the condition would get worse during mix run. In fact, Sasaki who took the wheel for time attack made his run immediately when the exclusive run for GT300 started. He backed to pit when set respectable time and handed Yamano to give him opportunity to attack during exclusive run. With this scheme, the risk that one of driver fault to clear compulsory would be less. Additionally if the condition during mix run would be better, team could send both drivers to attack of the period. It’s kind of difficulty with having more than one driver in one team. Sasaki made immediate pit-out with green flag and marked fastest time in 1”52.259 on first lap. He continued to build pace up and backed to pit with set 1”51.740 eventually. After handed from Sasaki, Yamano marked time in 1”52.000, then exclusive run finished when Yamano backed to pit. Team sit on top of the class at this stage. |
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 Team got new tool, “trolley” Which accept transfer machine quickly |
 Crew made driver change in busy exclusive run period |
On the period of exclusive run for GT500, condition seemed to be better therefore some of team choose to wore slick tyres. CUSCO RACING was waiting with preparing slick tyres as well. |
After that, team faced to final 1hour session and 20 minutes mix run. Condition was getting better, but still it was tricky to attack with slick tyre, that was team’s judgement. With under condition, team choose intermediate tyre (rain tyre with shallow groove) rather than neither slick nor normal rain tyres. With this choice, eventually Team maintained top time and advance to Super Lap in the afternoon. In the afternoon, condition was completely dry. The second session of qualifying scheduled 15 minutes exclusive run in first and team would check matching with dry tyre. Finally SL started. Sasaki who marked fastest time in the morning would start from the last in order of the class. Sasaki warmed tyre carefully. However, in fact, team choose slick tyre with harder compound to look for main race which has 500km distance, so Sasaki had attack lap of third lap before tyre still not warmed completely yet. He attacked the course and broke record of split time on sector 3 when his tyre was getting warm. But unfortunately he couldn’t take back late of sector 1 and 2, and marked only 4th fastest in whole the lap. However, with choose hard tyre, team got more option with tactic for main race. If team could do best drive, getting podium would be quite possible. |
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 Enthusiastic fan visited opened scrutineering in the early morning. |
 There was very long queue of families for photo session during Kids-walk time |
 Cusco Circuit ladies are very popular among number of photographers! |
Team quote: Managing director, Hisashi Matsuda “We have total 70kg weight handicap which are 20kg success ballast from 3rd finishing in Okayama , and 50kg ballast for individual performance adjustment, so worse time is understandable. We have very strong drivers and they help much for the team, but in other hand, too much relaying on their skills would be hard to keep being in front runners. This time, tyre supplier made big effort and they complete to product the tyre which we judged as best at test in Sugo. This time in dry condition, we got this position with this tyre. So this time, we are helped by drivers and tyres very much. Because with the weight handicap, fuel consumption is also getting worse, so we need to make pit time twice for 500km race this time. We have to see how the battle will be going at mid-point of the race, and we can finish in how high position with such as strong drivers. Lap time is still not too bad, so also we have to see how we can take this advantage. We are going to do our best, only that.” Driver quote: Tetsuya Yamano “This time we got good position by big effort of team. On Friday and first run of Saturday, we set good time under unstable weather, so it proved potential of AWD I think. For main race, we have to make pit-stop twice, so getting victory is not going to be easy. More importantly, we had many trouble and not so good in long distance race last season, so we are aiming at least complete the race with effort of whole of team. To be honest as a driver, I wish to say my aim is win, however I know we are not in the level yet and need to have object as complete each race at a moment. So I’m going to take careful approach for the main race. I would like to see where we were when we completed to run 500km. And then we can go ahead to next step, I think. It will be key that where we are among teams who take two-time pit-stops. I have good feeling now. It’s still not easy to beat rivals, but being this position with current team structure and getting good setting for dry condition, so there are a lot of positive things for main race, I want to keep this optimistic mood until finish.” Driver quote: Kouta Sasaki “We marked fastest time at latest testing, also we had been having good mood since last round in Okayama. This time with unstable weather on Friday, we marked good time on both dry and wet condition, so I think we are having good stream. We choose hard compound tyre for SL, so I was not able to get enough warm on sector 1 and 2. But split time on sector 3 was good, so if we made warm tyre properly, I think we will be strong on main race, We couldn’t run enough on Friday and still thinking about setting, but everyone has same situation. However we need to make pit-in twice, so we will concern how we can fight with one-stop teams, and more important, our main object will be complete whole of the race in 500km. If we accomplish our tactic, then result will come I think. Also it would be good experience for team, so I think complete to run 500km would be much more important than thinking battle with rivals.” |
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