One of the highest level categories of domestic motor sport and the greatest tin-top race series (which attracts more spectators than any other race series in Japan), the 2008 Super GT series has raised the curtain.

The venue was Suzuka Circuit where the official test days were held a fortnight ago. But, in contrast with the low temperatures during the test days, it got much warmer when the race weekend came. On top of this, as the practice sessions on Friday were soaked with rain, the qualifying session was the first opportunity for everyone to run on a dry surface, which perplexed the drivers, team crew and tire engineers.

As with last year, ADVAN supplies the tires to TOYOTA TEAM TSUCHIYA (car no.25) and KONDO Racing (car no.24) in the GT500 class. The former continues to run a Lexus SC430, but the latter switched from a Fairlady Z to a Nissan GT-R, so the tires had to be adjusted for KONDO Racing's new car in addition to a few updates for the 2008 specifications.

ADVAN also introduced new spec tires for a large number of users in the GT300 class. The new tires are improved in traction and durability.

Nissan GT-Rs were the fastest cars in the qualifying session on Saturday and the first session in the morning was dominated by two factory cars entered by Nismo. KONDO Racing's sister car, WOODONE ADVAN Clarion GT-R, was sixth fastest in that session and proceeded to the Super Lap session, but it had to settle for eighth with a slightly stagnating performance in the deciding SL session. On the other hand, the Lexus SC430s were struggling. TOYOTA TEAM TSUCHIYA's ECLIPSE ADVAN SC430 failed to qualify for the SL and sat on the fourteenth grid for the race.

Many ADVAN users in the GT300 class performed well. In particular, Privee KENZO Asset Shiden (car no.2) took the top slots in both sessions, followed by OCR Amemiya SGC-7 (car no.7). As a result, ADVAN equipped cars made up a 1-2-3-4 formation on the grid and an intensified battle between them was expected in the race on Sunday.

The race started at 14:00 on March 16th. Just as they did on Saturday, the two Nismo entered GT-Rs led throughout the race and finished in first and second, easily outpacing their rivals. The race wasn't entirely eventful in the GT500 class and the two ADVAN shoed cars, WOODONE ADVAN Clarion GT-R and ECLIPSE ADVAN SC430, finished in fifth and eleventh respectively after gaining a few positions during their steady runs.

On the contrary, the race by the GT300 class contenders was filled with some very tight battles and its highlight was the contention for the top slot which was extremely close throughout the race. The early leader was Privee KENZO Asset Shiden which started from the pole position and OCR Amemiya SGC-7 followed, gradually drawing away from other competitors.

In the 2006 season, these two cars contended for the championship title until the final round. Even after more than one year, their performance levels were almost equal and the close battle between them was totally unpredictable.

The Shiden was faster in corners, but the RX-7 was superior in top speed on the straightaways. After a long lasting seesaw match, Amemiya's car headed for the pit on Lap 25 to change the driver from the ace Hiroyuki Iiri to the promising youngster, Ryo Orime.

Meanwhile, the Shiden driver, Hiroki Kato, went on to Lap 31 and Kazuho Takahashi took over during their routine work stop. As soon as the car left the pit, Orime's RX-7 appeared on the pit straight and started to cut down on the gap because Shiden's tires weren't properly warmed up yet after replacing with the new set.

Takahashi endured a hard time with cold tires on his out-lap but Orime continued to push him hard from behind. After some dog fights, the latter made a decisive move on Lap 39. When the Shiden was lapped by a GT500 car at the chicane, Orime nosed into a tight space and managed to overtake his rival. The younger of the two, now the leader of the GT300 class, pushed even harder to build the gap. The owner/driver of the Shiden tried to keep up with him but it clearly wasn't his day.

Orime gradually expanded the lead to Takahashi and took his first ever win in the Super GT. Following the second placed Shiden, YUNKEL POWER Taisan Porsche and Daishin ADVAN Z finished with just a 2 second gap after a close battle between them. This meant that the top four slots were occupied by ADVAN equipped cars.

　[Result : the winner of the GT300 class]
"I won three times in the Super GT races in the past, but I couldn't stand on the podium last year. So I am really happy to win the opening round of this year and feel somewhat relieved.
"The surface temperatures were much higher today, compared with that in the official test days two weeks ago, but ADVAN tires performed well, adapting to the very different conditions.
"Because of the weight handicap system, it won't be easy for us to get another win soon. However, we will give it a shot in close cooperation with ADVAN."

"Our target of this season is to produce 'strong tires.' Last year, we were looking at a higher grip level for speed in the qualifying session, but we sometimes suffered from degradation in the closing parts of races. Therefore, the right direction for us is to gain more consistency in the race, maintaining the grip level from the previous season. Since the construction of the tires comes to maturity to a certain extent, we are in search of better rubber that gives us enough grip and durability at the same time.
"As for the GT500, the tires for SC430 were the same from last year, but those for GT-R required some minor adjustments because of the difference between Z and GT-R. "We introduced the new 2008 specifications tires for the GT300 class. Based on last year's specifications, the new ones have better traction and durability.
"The result in the GT500 wasn't very good for us, but the overall performance in the GT300 class was satisfying."