【Lexus Dominates Podium: #38 ZENT CELUMO LC500 got pole-to-win】
The second round of Super GT 2017 was held at Fuji Speedway in Shizuoka Prefecture on May 5, 2017 marking the beginning of Japan’s Golden Week holidays. The Fuji 500km race was viewed by over 58,000 spectators under clear skies.
During the last Super GT race in Okayama, the Lexus LC 500 showed its strength by filling the top six positions. However, at Fuji, the GT-R proved its capabilities at Fuji and the issues of the NSX were solved after Okayama.
However, the results from the Fuji 500km race still proved the LC 500’s dominance with the podium consisting of the #38 ZENT CERUMO LC 500 in first place, the #6 WAKO’S 4CR LC 500 in second, and the #37 KeePer TOM’S LC500 rounding it up in third.
Like qualifying day before, it was dry and sunny weather on race day. The Fuji 500km started from 14:10 with #38 Yuji Tachikawa in pole position. Tachikawa, an expert at Fuji Speedway, ran smoothly and consistently. #23 Ronnie Quintarelli, who started in 2nd, had a more aggressive driving style but didn`t go up in position but went backwards instead.
The pace of the Lexus kept on going with the race developed between them. Within 30 minutes into the race yellow flags were waved from the first corner due to the stop of the GT300 class vehicle at the end of the main straight.
The 5th place fight between #37 Nick Cassidy and #6 Kazuya Oshima intensified. Oshima waited carefully for the end of the yellow flag and overtook Cassidy at the home straight chasing the lead.
After 50 laps, #36 Daisuke Ito and #1 Kohei Hirate were battling it out for 2nd place. At the Panasonic Corner on the 52nd lap, the two cars were running alongside GT 300 cars. Hirate made contact with the GT 300 car, which in turn also made contact with Ito forcing him off the track. Hirate received a drive-through penalty and dropped to 8th position.
The results of the LC 500’s dominance at the podium mirrored that of the last round at Okayama. Four of the top five positions were held by a Lexus LC 500. Even with the weight handicaps, it proved the car’s incredible performance. The highest placed Nissan GT-R was in 4th position while the Honda NSX had to make do with placing 6th.
In the GT 300 class, #4 Kataoka/Taniguchi who started in pole position, carried out a stable run but were hit with bad luck twice as their front tire blew. The final results were the #1 JMS P.MU LMcorsa RC F GT3 taking 1st place. It started in fourth and put up a strong battle for first. Second place went to the #11 GAINER TANAX AMG GT 3 with third place going to #33 D’STATION Porsche 911 GT3, driven by Tomonobu Fujii/Sven Muller, who battled their way to the podium from last place due to a penalty at qualifying.
The third round of Super GT will be held on May 20 (Saturday) and 21 (Sunday) at the Autopolis in Oita Prefecture. It’ll be the first in a Super GT race will be held here in two years due to the cancellation last year after the damage from the Kumamoto Earthquake.