GT500 NAKAJIMA RACING winning after 10 years!!
#64 Epson Modulo NSX-GT (Bertrand Baguette / Matsuura)）
2017 AUTOBACS SUPER GT Round 6 “46th International SUZUKA 1000km” was held at Suzuka Circuit on Sunday, August 27th. “Traditional” Suzuka 1000 km is more than three times the usual 300km race, it is the longest race distance of Super GT in this season.
More points are given than other rounds, with 25 points (usually 20 points) are given to victor. Moreover, at least five pit stops are required, so not only is the driver’s skill important but also the strategy of the team. As the result, in the GT500 class # 64 Epson Modulo NSX-GT (Bertrand Baguette / Matsuura) and in the GT300 class # 65 LEON CVSTOS AMG (Kurosawa / Gamo) won the race.
#17 KEIHIN NSX-GT
The race took place over 173 laps (1000 km) from 12:30 pm, and the number of spectators reached 45,000. The temperature got as high as 33 ℃, the road surface temperature reached 50 ℃, and it struggled on through the heat, too. At the beginning of the race, accidents and tire bursts followed one after another, and also the Safety Car was sent out twice. In the final 30 laps it become anyone’s race.
#23 MOTUL AUTECH GT-R
GT 500: # 17 KEIHIN NSX-GT (Tsukakoshi / Kogure) who was leading the race in the last stage, withdrew from race with a burst tire. In addition, # 1 DENSO KOBELCO SARD LC 500 (Heikki Kovalainen / Hirate) machine crashed in the final lap.
As a result, the # 64 Epson Modulo NSX-GT (Bertrand Baguette / Matsuura) won the race. For NAKAJIMA RACING, it is their first victory in 10 years since the final race of 2007 series in Fuji round. For the Baguette, it was the first winner in the 4 years, “It was perfect with the machine and the tires”, he commented with excitement.
#23 MOTUL AUTECH GT-R (Matsuda / Ronnie Quintarelli) got 2nd. The 3rd is #100 RAYBRIG NSX-GT (Yamamoto / Izawa) who succeeded to push in the final race.
#19 WedsSport ADVAN LC 500 which was drive by Kamiu Kobayashi at the third stint, and #19 was 4th position.
Meanwhile, #16 MOTUL MUGEN NSX-GT received two penalties due to dangerous pit-outs and overtaking during SC. But Jenson Button had a battle with #37 KeePer TOM’S LC 500’s Hirakawa. The spectators were excited that battle. #16 finished the race in 12th place.
#65 LEON CVSTOS AMG
GT300: # 25 VivaC 86 MC (Matsui / Yamashita / Kondo) was the top position with the team’s strategy succeeding at the race nearing the end but they caught by #65 LEON CVSTOS AMG (Kurosawa / Gamo). After that #25 VivaC 86 MC machine went off the road and rolled over. “Mother Chassis vehicle”couldn’t get to the podium, as the previous Fuji round, the “GT3 vehicle” monopolized the podium. It was unexpected result.
#64 Epson Modulo NSX-GT
The next round “2017 AUTOBACS SUPER GT Round 7 Chang SUPER GT RACE” will be held on October 7th(sat) and 8th(sun) at Chang International Circuit.