midship
07-19-2010, 07:29 AM
NISSAN GT-R Entries Finish 1-2
-- SUPER GT Round 4 Race Report --
June 20th, Sepang International Circuit (Malaysia)
Round 4 of SUPER GT took place on June 20 at Malaysia's Sepang International Circuit (5.543km). Starting from pole position, the CALSONIC IMPUL GT-R (#12 Tsugio Matsuda/Ronnie Quintarelli) took the win. Qualifying in 3rd spot, the MOTUL AUTECH GT-R (#23 Satoshi Motoyama/Benoit Treluyer) finished 2nd, meaning a 1-2 result for NISSAN.
After an interval of some seven weeks since the previous race at Fuji Speedway, the SUPER GT teams got ready for the series' only event on foreign soil this year, at Sepang. The 54-lap race got underway at 16:00 on the 20th with the mercury reading 31 degrees, and the track surface 43 Celsius, conditions just like the middle of summer in Japan. Despite the dry conditions underfoot, there was some concern that rain would fall at the halfway-point of the 2-hour race, though this never materialized.
http://www.nissan-newsroom.com/JPN/en/MOTORSPORTS/2010/images
In the previous day's Super Lap session, the #12 GT-R put on a resounding fight to come out on top with driver Tsugio Matsuda behind the wheel, the same man who would start the race.
All cars got away cleanly when the lights went out, the #12 GT-R and the 2nd-placed machine quickly pulling away from the chasing pack. After 10 laps, a minor accident with another competitor wasn't enough to slow Matsuda's progress and on the 24th tour, he came in to hand the car over to his teammate Ronnie Quintarelli.
The car challenging the #12 GT-R for the top spot was the #100 HSV-010. Over the course of about 6 laps, the rival machine came up on the rear of the #12 GT-R, and at the second corner of the 37th lap, jumped the kerb. At this point the machine hit the rear of the #12 GT-R, forcing Quintarelli into a spin. This foolish mistake allowed the #23 GT-R, also approaching from behind, to get past, and in an instant the #12 GT-R was third.
The now leading #100 HSV-010 and the #23 GT-R were both handed drive-through penalties for the incident, and by lap 44 the #12 GT-R was back in the lead of the race. From this point, controlling the race and protecting its position was without incident and after 54 laps, the car duly crossed the finish line in first position.
http://www.nissan-newsroom.com/JPN/en/MOTORSPORTS/2010/images
Since 2008, NISSAN GT-R entries have taken a trio of successive victories at Sepang. The maker also won in 2007, on that occasion with a Fairlady Z.
Starting the race from 3rd place, Satoshi Motoyama took the wheel of the #23 GT-R, carefully managing the machine's tyres, and as a result, briefly falling to 6th. From this position, he made his pit stop on lap 22, handing the car over to teammate Benoit Treluyer. With a fresh set of rubber on the car, Treluyer kept up a vigorous pace as he chased the cars in front, and 8 laps later, on lap30, had moved up to third. With the incident between the #100 HSV-010 and the #12 GT-R taking place on lap 37, the #23 GT-R was promoted to 2nd.
http://www.nissan-newsroom.com/JPN/en/MOTORSPORTS/2010/images
Later on, while waiting for the chance to get by the #100 HSV-010, he made contact with the rival machine. The coming-together resulted in a drive-through penalty.
However, the car returned to the track in 5th position, Treluyer putting in a spectacularly spirited drive. By lap 47 he was fourth, and on lap 52 had risen to 2nd, making for a well-deserved 1-2 finish for the NISSAN GT-R.
http://www.nissan-newsroom.com/JPN/en/MOTORSPORTS/2010/images
- #12 GT-R driver Tsugio Matsuda's comment:
"Having started from pole position, anything less than the win today would have been pretty miserable in my opinion. We were able to maintain a strong pace right from the opening stages, and I was relieved to take the car from Ronnie in the top spot. As for the win, it's not only because of the drivers, but also due to the support of all the fans and the unflinching efforts of the team in the off-season, and everyone related to the car's engine development, not to mention the leadership of Mr. Hoshino. It is something appreciated from the heart. As this is my first victory since 2008, it builds my self-confidence.
- #12 GT-R driver Ronnie Quintarelli's comment:
"When I returned the car to the track after the driver switch, I was embroiled in a battle with the #100 HSV-010, and perhaps there was a little less space, which may have contributed to the accident. I thought that was the end of it, but after that the pace did not drop and the #100 and #23 GT-R were given drive-through penalties, allowing me to lead - which was a relief. The last 10 laps seemed to take forever. The moment when I won was like a dream. To all the fans who have supported us, I want to thank you."
[Race Results] 54Laps Pos No Machine Driver Time / Gap
1 12 CALSONIC IMPUL GT-R Tsugio Matsuda / Ronnie Quintarelli 1:50' 54.084
2 23 MOTUL AUTECH GT-R Satoshi Motoyama / Benoit Treluyer +13.333
3 18 Weider HSV-010 Takashi Kogure / Loic Duval +16.673
4 6 ENEOS SC430 Daisuke Ito / Bjorn Wirdheim +28.242
5 100 RAYBRIG HSV-010 Takuya Izawa / Naoki Yamamoto +30.809
6 38 ZENT CERUMO SC430 Yuji Tachikawa / Richard Lyons +54.074
7 35 MJ KRAFT SC430 Hiroaki Ishiura / Kazuya Oshima +55.339
8 1 PETRONAS TOM'S SC430 Juichi Wakisaka / Andre Lotterer +1' 07.541
9 24 HIS ADVAN KONDO GT-R Joao Paulo De Oliveira / Hironobu Yasuda +1' 20.339
10 39 DENSO DUNLOP SARD SC430 Andre Couto / Kohei Hirate +1' 24.343
Related URL: NISSAN MOTORSPORTS
-- SUPER GT Round 4 Race Report --
June 20th, Sepang International Circuit (Malaysia)
Round 4 of SUPER GT took place on June 20 at Malaysia's Sepang International Circuit (5.543km). Starting from pole position, the CALSONIC IMPUL GT-R (#12 Tsugio Matsuda/Ronnie Quintarelli) took the win. Qualifying in 3rd spot, the MOTUL AUTECH GT-R (#23 Satoshi Motoyama/Benoit Treluyer) finished 2nd, meaning a 1-2 result for NISSAN.
After an interval of some seven weeks since the previous race at Fuji Speedway, the SUPER GT teams got ready for the series' only event on foreign soil this year, at Sepang. The 54-lap race got underway at 16:00 on the 20th with the mercury reading 31 degrees, and the track surface 43 Celsius, conditions just like the middle of summer in Japan. Despite the dry conditions underfoot, there was some concern that rain would fall at the halfway-point of the 2-hour race, though this never materialized.
http://www.nissan-newsroom.com/JPN/en/MOTORSPORTS/2010/images
In the previous day's Super Lap session, the #12 GT-R put on a resounding fight to come out on top with driver Tsugio Matsuda behind the wheel, the same man who would start the race.
All cars got away cleanly when the lights went out, the #12 GT-R and the 2nd-placed machine quickly pulling away from the chasing pack. After 10 laps, a minor accident with another competitor wasn't enough to slow Matsuda's progress and on the 24th tour, he came in to hand the car over to his teammate Ronnie Quintarelli.
The car challenging the #12 GT-R for the top spot was the #100 HSV-010. Over the course of about 6 laps, the rival machine came up on the rear of the #12 GT-R, and at the second corner of the 37th lap, jumped the kerb. At this point the machine hit the rear of the #12 GT-R, forcing Quintarelli into a spin. This foolish mistake allowed the #23 GT-R, also approaching from behind, to get past, and in an instant the #12 GT-R was third.
The now leading #100 HSV-010 and the #23 GT-R were both handed drive-through penalties for the incident, and by lap 44 the #12 GT-R was back in the lead of the race. From this point, controlling the race and protecting its position was without incident and after 54 laps, the car duly crossed the finish line in first position.
http://www.nissan-newsroom.com/JPN/en/MOTORSPORTS/2010/images
Since 2008, NISSAN GT-R entries have taken a trio of successive victories at Sepang. The maker also won in 2007, on that occasion with a Fairlady Z.
Starting the race from 3rd place, Satoshi Motoyama took the wheel of the #23 GT-R, carefully managing the machine's tyres, and as a result, briefly falling to 6th. From this position, he made his pit stop on lap 22, handing the car over to teammate Benoit Treluyer. With a fresh set of rubber on the car, Treluyer kept up a vigorous pace as he chased the cars in front, and 8 laps later, on lap30, had moved up to third. With the incident between the #100 HSV-010 and the #12 GT-R taking place on lap 37, the #23 GT-R was promoted to 2nd.
http://www.nissan-newsroom.com/JPN/en/MOTORSPORTS/2010/images
Later on, while waiting for the chance to get by the #100 HSV-010, he made contact with the rival machine. The coming-together resulted in a drive-through penalty.
However, the car returned to the track in 5th position, Treluyer putting in a spectacularly spirited drive. By lap 47 he was fourth, and on lap 52 had risen to 2nd, making for a well-deserved 1-2 finish for the NISSAN GT-R.
http://www.nissan-newsroom.com/JPN/en/MOTORSPORTS/2010/images
- #12 GT-R driver Tsugio Matsuda's comment:
"Having started from pole position, anything less than the win today would have been pretty miserable in my opinion. We were able to maintain a strong pace right from the opening stages, and I was relieved to take the car from Ronnie in the top spot. As for the win, it's not only because of the drivers, but also due to the support of all the fans and the unflinching efforts of the team in the off-season, and everyone related to the car's engine development, not to mention the leadership of Mr. Hoshino. It is something appreciated from the heart. As this is my first victory since 2008, it builds my self-confidence.
- #12 GT-R driver Ronnie Quintarelli's comment:
"When I returned the car to the track after the driver switch, I was embroiled in a battle with the #100 HSV-010, and perhaps there was a little less space, which may have contributed to the accident. I thought that was the end of it, but after that the pace did not drop and the #100 and #23 GT-R were given drive-through penalties, allowing me to lead - which was a relief. The last 10 laps seemed to take forever. The moment when I won was like a dream. To all the fans who have supported us, I want to thank you."
[Race Results] 54Laps Pos No Machine Driver Time / Gap
1 12 CALSONIC IMPUL GT-R Tsugio Matsuda / Ronnie Quintarelli 1:50' 54.084
2 23 MOTUL AUTECH GT-R Satoshi Motoyama / Benoit Treluyer +13.333
3 18 Weider HSV-010 Takashi Kogure / Loic Duval +16.673
4 6 ENEOS SC430 Daisuke Ito / Bjorn Wirdheim +28.242
5 100 RAYBRIG HSV-010 Takuya Izawa / Naoki Yamamoto +30.809
6 38 ZENT CERUMO SC430 Yuji Tachikawa / Richard Lyons +54.074
7 35 MJ KRAFT SC430 Hiroaki Ishiura / Kazuya Oshima +55.339
8 1 PETRONAS TOM'S SC430 Juichi Wakisaka / Andre Lotterer +1' 07.541
9 24 HIS ADVAN KONDO GT-R Joao Paulo De Oliveira / Hironobu Yasuda +1' 20.339
10 39 DENSO DUNLOP SARD SC430 Andre Couto / Kohei Hirate +1' 24.343
Related URL: NISSAN MOTORSPORTS