|
The second round of the 2007 SUPER GT series was held at Okayama International Circuit.
The two cars that use ADVAN tires in the GT500 class, car no.25 ECLIPSE ADVAN SC430 and car no.24 WOODONE ADVAN Clarion Z, qualified in the eleventh and sixteenth positions respectively.
Meanwhile, in the GT300 class, seven cars with ADVAN tires including ENDLESS ADVAN Senzai-Kakumei Z, the winner of the season opener, got through to the Super Lap session. The pole sitter of the class in this race was Privee KENZO Asset Shiden.
The venue of this eighty-two lap race, Okayama International Circuit, is comparatively narrower and tighter than Suzuka where the opening round was held. Therefore, the track was crowded with cars from both classes from the beginning of the race, providing very close battles everywhere on the track.
ECLIPSE ADVAN SC430 steadily came up through the order in this eventful race. The car made a relatively late pit-stop among the GT500 contenders on lap 30, when the car was on the interim top spot, to change over from its starting driver, Manabu Orido, to Takeshi Tsuchiya.
Tsuchiya resumed in sixth position and, at the end of the race, fought hard to stay ahead of a HONDA NSX that was delayed by an accident on the opening lap. This tail-to-nose situation lasted until the finish, but Tsuchiya made a cool and faultless drive to keep his position and eventually took the checkered flag in sixth.
In the GT300 class, Privee KENZO Asset Shiden driver, Hiroki Kato led the race from the pole position. Setting the fastest lap of the day on the route, he built a large cushion as usual, and came back to the pit on lap 52 with a 21 second margin.
After the routine work and driver change, Kazuho Takahashi continued at a steady pace. Unfortunately, he couldn't keep the lead position and finished second two races in a row.
Yunker Power Taisan Porsche driven by Shinichi Yamaji and Mobuteru Taniguchi
made a vigorous chase by the latter driver in the end of the race. He come
up to third position and only nine seconds behind Shident, but he failed
to overtake the forerunner as his car was running out of fuel. Nonetheless,
getting on the podium as third place finisher in only their second race
was quite a promising performance..
|
|