SUPER GT Official test Suzuka Day 2
Final day of the fourth SUPER GT official test was held on Saturday, July 9 at Suzuka Circuit in heavy rainfall that hit the region from the morning, contrastingly to the day before. Only 17 cars went on to the track in heavy-wet track condition in the morning session due to the strong rain. Rain eased off in the afternoon session and many teams were putting their effort in testing the rain tires, which the opportunity had been rather insufficient up to this point of the season. Spectator count of the official test at Suzuka Circuit was 4500 people on July 8 in spite of a weekday and the 9th, despite the bad weather, saw more people showing up than the previous day with 6500 fans, and the total number of spectators of two days combined reached 11,000.
Session 3: 09:00-11:10
- Weather: Rain, Track: Heavy wet,
- Temperature: Air 22℃-23℃ / Track surface 23℃-24℃ (22℃ /23℃ at start)
Session 4: 13:40-15:25 (Safety car drill: 13:40-13:55. Extended by 10 minutes from initial schedule.)
- Weather: Rain, Track: Wet,
- Temperature: Air 23℃ Track surface 25 (23℃ / 25℃ at start)
Severe track condition in the morning made even difficult to test rain tires
Day 2 of the official test at Suzuka Circuit started in rain. Pouring rain made the track heavy wet. Session started at 9AM as scheduled, but teams stayed out for a while to wait and see. Cars showed up on the track here and there by the time the session reached the midpoint, but the heavy wet condition that even caused hydroplaning on the straightaway hindered drivers from getting a satisfying lap time. After all, 17 cars made runs during the session across both classes and the 2 min 14.613 sec marked by No.36 au TOM’S RC F (Daisuke Ito / Nick Cassidy) was the top time of the morning session.
Despite the situation, some were actually welcoming the rain. It gave an opportunity to Yokohama and Dunlop which deployed a new tread design this year. Two types of rain tire, the old design and the new tread pattern introduced this year, were brought into the pits of No.19 WedsSport ADVAN RC F and No.24 Forum Engineering ADVAN GT-R, the two teams in GT500 class that use Yokohama. “Testing the rain tires is actually difficult,” said Ichiro Akiyama, Head of Development Division, Yokohama Motorsport International Co., Ltd. which manages entire motorsports activities of Yokohama. “First of all, we cannot assess precisely unless the amount of rain is at a consistent level. And the track surface varies by different circuits, and if the track temperature is different, then, again, we cannot assess correctly. We can simulate the water drainage by using computer, but we cannot make assessment just with that, and even when we test by spraying water on the track, it dries out quickly, so it’s difficult. That’s why, to do a test in rain like this time is actually the best way, but…” Akiyama’s bitter smile indicated how severe the condition was in the morning. Nonetheless, it seemed that Yokohama was able to do a comparative test on their new rain tire when the rain weakened in the afternoon.
Situation improved in the afternoon. Rapid change of positions seen at the end like in a qualifying session
Session 2 started from 1:40 PM. Safety car drill was conducted in the first 15 minutes and then the cars were off to their testing. No.38 ZENT CERUMO RC F (Yuji Tachikawa / Hiroaki Ishiura) driven by Tachikawa came to a stop on the inner-side of the straight a short after the start. The car had a problem in the propeller shaft, but they were lucky to resume their session after quickly fixing the problem. No.24 Forum Engineering ADVAN GT-R (Daiki Sasaki / Masataka Yanagida) was also struck with a problem and slowed down on the track due to a loose nut on the wheel. Yuhi Sekiguchi also brought his No.19 WedsSport ADVAN RC F to a halt at the second turn of Degner. Afternoon session was suspended multiple times with a red flag as the chain of incidents continued with No.31 TOYOTA PRIUS apr GT (Koki Saga / Yuichi Nakayama) crashing at the second turn of Degner.
To make up for lost time due to the multiple suspension, the session was extended by 10 minutes, and the remaining 12 minutes after the session resumed from the last red flag stoppage became like a show time where positions on the timing monitor changed rapidly like in a qualifying situation. Top time at the middle stage of the session was the 1 min 56.240 sec marked by Caldarelli of No.6 WAKO’S 4CR RC F (Kazuya Oshima / Andrea Caldarelli). During the last 12 minutes, Naoki Yamamoto, who drove No.100 RAYBRIG NSX CONCEPT-GT by himself in the afternoon, bettered the top time of No.6 car with 1 min 56.134 sec. And then No.8 ARTA NSX CONCEPT-GT (also driven alone in the afternoon by Tomoki Nojiri) also replaced the top lap time with 1 min 55.503 sec. Kovalainen in No.39 DENSO KOBELCO SARD RC F (Heikki Kovalainen / Kohei Hirate) as well as No.6 car were also looking good in the later minutes, but didn’t reach Nojiri. After all, NSX CONCEPT-GT topped both days of Suzuka test in different conditions.
ARTA BMW M6 GT3 took the top in GT300 to complete dominance by ARTA over two classes
Top lap times changed frequently in the final phase in the GT300 also. JAF-GT300 as well as the mother-chassis cars continued to show good performance on the day and Yamauchi in No.61 SUBARU BRZ R&D SPORT (Takuto Iguchi / Hideki Yamauchi) sat at the top position until the middle phase of the afternoon session. No.31 TOYOTA PRIUS apr GT (driven only by Koki Saga) and No.2 SYNTIUM Apple LOTUS (driven by Kazuho Takahashi and Tadasuke Makino only) followed after the No.61 car. When the session was approaching the midpoint, Lyons driving No.21 Hitotsuyama Audi R8 LMS (Richard Lyons / Tomonobu Fujii) emerged to the top by clocking 2 min 8.228 sec. Surprisingly, it was the first time for an FIA GT3 vehicle to be at the top during the weekend. However, No.55 ARTA BMW M6 GT3 (driven only by Takashi Kobayashi) took over the position at the last moment by cutting it down to 2 min 8.228 sec. After all, two cars of ARTA, including No.8 ARTA NSX CONCEPT-GT of GT500 class, were dominating the highest part of the timing monitor in both classes.
No.7 Studie BMW M6 did not run on Day 1, but the team was planning to run only on the 9th from the beginning and Jorg Muller drove for 25 laps in the afternoon of the day. No.63 DIRECTION 108 HURACAN had an engine problem and could not make any runs after all.
The biggest topic of GT300 class this time at Suzuka must be Tadasuke Makino of No.2 SYNTIUM Apple LOTUS who marked the second fastest lap time of the class in the afternoon session on previous day despite his first challenge in the GT300. “Unbelievable. He drove Hako (passenger vehicle type racing car) for the first time and got 1 min 59 sec-mark in only three laps…. It’s really unbelievable.” Yura Takuya, the president of Mooncraft that maintains the No.2 car, did not hesitate to express his shocking feeling.
Makino also drove on the day in rain for 20 laps. “I heard that since GT car is heavy, you would be in trouble if you put on the brake too late and lose control, so I drove with a lot of margin until the second lap (in the morning of previous day). I began to understand about the car and I was able to drive normally from my third lap. There is a different difficulty if you compare with F3 too. Mr. Kato, who is my team manager in F3, was there by my side, so I was able to drive decently without any hustle or frustration. I will do my best to do a good job at Suzuka 1000km. But before that I should get a good result at Fuji next week in Japanese F3 championship and then come back here (Suzuka) with the momentum.” Makino showed his confidence in his comment.
GT500 class Day 2 top time
Tomoki Nojiri (No.8 ARTA NSX CONCEPT-GT)
Top time just came out as a result and I shouldn’t just believe the result (top time) because everybody could increase lap time if they ran more and more as the track was drying up and, also, I don’t know much about the rivals like what kind of menu other teams were running on. But we were able to run in distance in two patterns, dry yesterday and wet today, and, considering the top time came out after we efficiently carried out the testing menu we prepared, I believe we had good test. Car got a lot better (since the disappointing races in the beginning of the season). People from Honda put continuous effort and improved the car in a short period. Engine has improved, and it’s more powerful and easy to handle. In terms of chassis, the team worked hard, so we were able to make a progress in setting. I want to get a good result so bad at the next race in SUGO, because the car felt good at the test the other day and we found the right direction. And hopefully carry the momentum to Fuji and then to Suzuka 1000km. You know Suzuka is the home track of Honda and I have driven there so many times from my racing school days, so I really want to bring in the result.
GT300 class Day 2 top time
Takashi Kobayashi (No.55 ARTA BMW M6 GT3)
I didn’t think (about top time) at all when I was driving. I was told about it when I came back to the pit. Bridgestone’s rain tire performs superbly in wet, especially in a condition like this where track gradually dries up. I know about it really well because we have been working together in development from the CR-Z days. So the top time today was mostly because of the tire. Car itself was not bad either. But there are still something that we need to work on like to resolve the under (steering) that occurs time to time or to improve the traction because it’s not applied appropriately. We had a little problem yesterday, but I was able to mark a good lap time in dry at the SUGO test, so, I don’t know if we can beat the mother chassis cars or JAF-GT300 cars, but I hope we can run at the top of the FIA GT3 cars and secure points and then finish the race at Fuji with a good result. And carry on to the Suzuka 1000km.