Honda NSX monopolized top 3 of GT500, they are ready to counterstrike against Lexus.
#8 ARTA NSX-GT
On July 22th, the qualifying races of SUPER GT 2017 「SUGO GT 300km RACE」 was held at Sportsland SUGO (Miyagi-pref.). After a 2 month interval from Round 3 at Autopolis (Oita Pref.), the SUPER GT was moving on to the middle phase of the season. “Midsummer triple” races will be held in the middle phase of the season between late July and the end of August. First of the “midsummer triple” was started from SUGO.
#30 #31 TOYOTA PRIUS apr GT
In SUPER GT of 2017, 45 cars (in GT 500 classes and GT 300 classes) have been entered, but in this round the number of participating is limited to 43 cars due to the number of pits and so on. The attention point of GT 500 is that the ranking top four Lexus LC500 machine # 6 WAKO’S 4CR LC 500, # 36 au TOM’S LC 500, # 37 KeePer TOM’S LC 500, # 38 ZENT CERUMO LC 500.
They were adjusted by weight and fuel flow restrictor. However, of course they have to win the race to get points. Whether the NISSAN GT-R with new engines or HONDA NSX can counterattack the Lexus… it is no exaggeration to say that this round could be one of the most important race in SUPER GT 2017.
#25 VivaC 86 MC
The qualifying races were held from 14: 10 per class and the weather was cloudy. Before the qualifying races started, SUGO had rain but stopped soon. Every team selected slick tires. The qualifying races (Q1 and Q2) of GT300 turned out rough.
In the Q1, # 2 Synthium Apple Lotus (Kato) got out of the course at turn 3. In the Q2, # 88 Manepa Lamborghini GT 3(Orido) spun in UMANOSE turn, so Q1 and Q2 were both stopped by the red flag. By this, the lap time of #2 Kato and #88 Orido has been deleted.
Also, during the free practice session, #5 Mach inspection car MC86 GTNET crashed, then they were not able to run qualify race. Meanwhile, # 86 VivaC 86 MC (Matsui / Yamashita) got pole. Matsui got pole position for his 2nd consecutive race. He said “I was able to get the pole, because of Yamashita’s setup and mechanic” and shows thankful for team. 2nd: # 18 UPGARAGE BANDOH 86 (Nakayama / Kawabata) and 3rd:#60 SYNTIUM LMcorsa RC F GT 3 (Iida / Yoshimoto).
#8 ARTA NSX-GT Nijiri, Tsuchiya, Kobayashi
In the GT 500 class, Honda NSX stood out from Q1. Meanwhile, the Nissan GT-R had high expectations with the new engine, but they were struggling. #23 MOTUL AUTECH GT – R had become a knockout at Q1, Ronnie look back him qualify and he said the setting of the GT-R new engine and the tire did not go well.
As the result after Q2, #8 ARTA NSX-GT (Nojiri / Kobayashi) won Paul.2nd: #100 RAYBRIG NSX – GT (Yamamoto / Izawa), 3rd: #17 KEIHIN NSX – GT (Tsukagoshi / Kogure). The NSX got a monopoly in the top three.
Incidentally, # 4 WedsSport ADVAN LC 500 (Sekiguchi / Kanamoto) is in the 4th place. It is also notable how the raced develop by Kunimoto who entered in the Le Mans 24 Hour race in June.
#100 RAYBRIG NSX-GT
The final race will start at July 23th (Sunday) 14: 30 ~ (61 LAPS).
We will see if the NSX can succeed tomorrow, or if the GT-R will make a comeback or whether the LC 500 will win a podium four times in a row. It will be a really important race.