JGTC Round 3: Denso Sard Supra GT and Amemiya Aspara Drink RX7 claims victory
Article contributed by Chan Eu Jin – with thanks.
19th June ’04 Sepang: Denso Sard Supra GT claims victory in GT500 class during the 2004 Autobacs JGTC Japan GT Championship Malaysia in Sepang International Circuit. Under the scorching sun, 24,270 spectators braved the heat to witness the intense race proceedings.
Off the starting line, Woodone TOM’S Supra was battling it out with pole position sitter Calsonic Impul Z while a collision behind between Dynacity TOM’S Supra and Yellow Hat YMS Supra keeps them at bay.
Portuguese born Andre Couto drove the Calsonic Impul Z strongly for the first 25 laps until a pitstop and driver change to Yuji Ide. Ide’s forey into race unfortunately ends soon at lap 32 when he collided with Fields Gaikokuya ADVAN Porsche from the GT300 class. The retirement of the lead car makes way for the interesting 3-way battle between Woodone TOM’S Supra, Denso Sard Supra GT and Yellow Hat YMS Supra. The trio of Nissans from Xanavi NISMO Z, G’ZOX SSR Hasemi Z and Motul Keyvalue Z was having their own fight for position behind the leading Supras.
For a moment Italian Marco Apicella of Woodone TOM’S Supra looks set to winning the race until a spun on the 45th lap passed the lead to Jeremie Dufour of Denso Sard Supra GT. At the end of the 54 laps, Jeremie Dufour held the lead and passed the chequered flag in 1’53:47.096 followed by Naoki Hattori in the Yellow Hat YMS Supra 2.113 seconds behind. Richard Lyons in the Xanavi NISMO Z took the last spot on the podium at a distant 23.583 behind the race winner.
On another note, Amprex Murcielago R-GT’s maiden race in the JGTC was impressive considering Genji Hashimoto and Norman Simon piloted the new car to finished 12th position, three laps behind the race winner even after a drive through penalty for a jump-start.
In the GT300 class, Endless Advan Daishin Z started from pole position ahead of Amemiya Aspara Drink RX7 and M-TEC NSX. However, the lead was soon taken away by Leyjun Dunlop 320R and then by M-Tec NSX all within the first 5 laps! Eventually Shinichi Yamaji of Amemiya Aspara Drink RX7 took the chequered flag at 1’55:33.427 followed by M-TEC NSX a lap behind and Project u B-1 March-Go GT320R a fraction of a second later at 0.711 seconds to clinch third position.
Endless Advan Daishin Z’s Kazuki Hoshino finished a respectable 7th position even after a blackout on the final lap of the race. The short encounter with the gravel bed jolted the Hoshino conscious and he carried on to finish line.
The next round of the 2004 Autobacs JGTC, the Hokkaido Gran GT Championship will be held on the 17th and 18th July in Tokachi International Speedway, Hokkaido. It will prove to be a close race with only three points separating the top teams in GT500; NISMO at 36 points, Toyota Team Sard at 34 points and Toyota Team Cerumo at 33 points.
Points standings for GT300 is getting closer with M-Tec NSX closing in to Team Gainer at 37 points, 3 points behind. Re Amemiya Racing’s win in Sepang International Circuit has helped to propel the team to 3rd at 31 points.
