2024 Autobacs SUPER GT

round 3 Suzuka Circuit [GT500 CLASS]

In an electrifying showdown at Suzuka, the thrilling three-hour race saw Ukyo Sasahara and Giuliano Alesi clinch their first victory in the Deloitte TOM'S GR Supra, battling both fierce competition and the elements. Despite starting in pole position, they initially lost the lead to Kazuya Oshima and Nirei Fukuzumi in the ENEOS X PRIME GR Supra during the dramatic final stint. However, a penalty for Oshima/Fukuzumi for pit road infringement saw Sasahara/Alesi reclaim the top spot and secure a spectacular win.

CHALLENGING CONDITIONS AND FIERCE BATTLES

The day started under complex conditions, with ambient and road surface temperatures rising sharply just as the morning's practice session got underway. By the time qualifying commenced in the afternoon, the heat had intensified, setting the stage for a fierce battle for pole position. Sasahara and Alesi demonstrated exceptional skill and coordination, navigating through the qualifiers with a blend of speed and tactical acumen. They not only topped the timesheets in Q1 but managed to secure pole position after Q2 by posting the third fastest time and capitalizing on their earlier performance.

FINAL RACE KICKED OFF UNDER WET CONDITIONS

The final race kicked off under initially wet conditions due to a brief rain shower before the warm-up run, but conditions quickly transitioned to dry, adding another layer of challenge to the competitors. Sasahara/Alesi, starting from the pole, maintained their lead early on, with Oshima/Fukuzumi closely tailing and advancing to second place swiftly.

No. 37 Deloitte TOM’S GR Supra maintains their lead early on, with No. 14 ENEOS X PRIME GR Supra closely tailing and advancing to second place swiftly.

QUALIFYING ROUND

PO.	NO.	MACHINE	DRIVER	BEST LAP
1	#37	Deloitte TOM'S GR Supra TOYOTA GR Supra GT500	Ukyo Sasahara Giuliano Alesi	1'45.434 1'46.439
2	#16	NARTA MUGEN CIVIC TYPE R-GT Honda CIVIC TYPE R-GT	Ren Sato Hiroki Otsu	1'45.759 1'46.450
3	#14	ENEOS X PRIME GR Supra TOYOTA GR Supra GT500	Kazuya Oshima Nirei Fukuzumi	1'46.387 1’45.836
4	#8	ARTA MUGEN CIVIC TYPE R-GT Honda CIVIC TYPE R-GT	Nobuharu Matsushita Tomoki Nojiri	1'45.700 1'46.923

A STRATEGIC TRIUMPH

The race witnessed multiple rain spells, though not enough to significantly alter the course conditions. Stability in the top positions remained until the decisive moments post the second and final pit stop when Oshima/Fukuzumi seized the lead during a tense outlap. However, their advantage was short-lived due to a drive-through penalty for a pit road infraction deemed a road obstruction.

This critical turn of events allowed Sasahara/Alesi to retake the lead and power towards victory. Oshima/Fukuzumi, after dropping to fourth, mounted a robust chase, narrowing the gap significantly, yet finished ten seconds behind the leaders. The victory was a significant milestone for Sasahara and Alesi, not only marking their first win but also solidifying their reputation with a memorable and strategic triumph at Suzuka. This race will undoubtedly be remembered for its dramatic shifts and the fierce rivalry that underscored the resilience and skill of the victors.

ACTUAL RACE

PO.	NO.	MACHINE	DRIVER	BEST LAP
1	#37	Deloitte TOM'S GR Supra TOYOTA GR Supra GT500	Ukyo Sasahara Giuliano Alesi	1'49.687
2	#14	ENEOS X PRIME GR Supra TOYOTA GR Supra GT500	Kazuya Oshima Nirei Fukuzumi	1'50.473
3	#16	ARTA MUGEN CIVIC TYPE R-GT Honda CIVIC TYPE R-GT	Ren Sato Hiroki Otsu	1'50.476
4	#12	MARELLI IMPUL Z Nissan Z NISMO GT500	Kazuki Hiramine Bertrand Baguette	1'48.752

WORDS FROM THE PODIUM

“Until now, the attention was always on my teammate's car No. 36, but this time I was able to get the pole position and win. I owe this to my team, engineers and mechanics who have always supported me, and I'm also grateful to Bridgestone. I believed that if I could drive as well as I could and hand it over to Giuliano, he would definitely be able to get the result. I feel a little sorry that we were able to take back the lead because of the penalty of the same Toyota car No. 14, but I would like to be honest and happy about this victory."

Ukyo Sasahara, Winning Driver (Deloitte TOM'S GR Supra/Bridgestone)

"I'm happy. We won. I'm really happy to have won thanks to a super team and a super partner. Ukyo kept the lead with no mistakes, and this time our car had good pace. We dropped in the position during the second pit stop, but we were able to take the lead again due to the penalty of our rival. Until now, I just couldn't get a good result because of my flow. But I think I've been able to reset my flow. The next race at Fuji will be difficult because the car will be heavier, but I'll do my best.”

Giuliano Alesi, Winning Driver (Deloitte TOM'S GR Supra/Bridgestone)

"This time, the three-hour race proceeded without the introduction of a safety car, with only two full-course cautions, and the Sasahara/Alesi team took their first victory. Congratulations! Once again, Bridgestone users were able to take the top spots. The tyres we supply are tailored to each car, even within a wide range, with small differences in specifications, which are reflected in the differences in performance, and each car has been able to demonstrate good performance. As each car enters the middle stage of the series where the success weight will increase rapidly, we will continue to provide our full support."

Takahiko Yamamoto, Bridgestone Motorsport Tyre Development Manager

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