Monday June 11, 2012
Japanese and Dutch combo give Honda Sepang thrill
SEPANG: The Japanese-Dutch combination notched two straight victories in Malaysia for Honda Weider HSV-010 by winning the Japan Super GT race from pole position at the Sepang International Circuit yesterday.
Team Weider HSV-010 completed the 53-lap race with a total time of 1’47:52.531.
Joining the Honda team on the GT500 podium are Zent Cerumo SC430, who finished second with a time of 1’:47:55.547 and Eneos Sustina SC430, third in 1’48:02.173.
Thrills and spills: The Japan GT race at the Sepang International Circuit Sunday. — MOHD SAHAR MISNI / The Star There were no cheers for ‘home’ team Lexus Team Petronas Tom’s as their podium quest ended prematurely on lap 44 after the car piloted by former F1 driver Kazuki Nakajima was hit by a trailing car.
Starting the race fifth on the grid, the team showed early signs of putting in a strong performance at the 5.543km track when French driver Loic Duval muscled his way past the Motul Autech GT-R to place fourth within the first 10 laps.
Pitting on lap 24, Duval handed the wheel to Kazuki who continued to maintain the team’s pace within the top five.
However, Nakajima’s efforts came to nought on lap 44 when an exploded tyre caused the S Road Reito Mola GT-R behind him to spin out of control, knocking into the Japanese in the process.
“It was a disappointing result, especially to end it this way. For the first stint, Loic did a good job. When I took over, I was struggling with a lot of understeer and this really compromised my pace,” said a disappointed Nakajima.
The fourth round will take place in Sugo on July 28-29.
RESULTS
GT500
1. Takashi Kogure-Carlo Van Dam (Weider HSV-010) 1’47:52.531, 2. Yuji Tachikawa-Kohei Hirate (Zent Cerumo SC430) 1’47:55.547, 3. Daisuke Ito-Kazuya Oshima (Eneos Sustina SC430) 1’48:02.173, 4. Juichi Wakisaka-Hiroaki Ishiura (Denso Kobelco SC430) 1’48:13.101, 5. Tsugio Matsuda-Joao Paulo de Oliveira (Calsonic Impul GT-R) 1’48:30.019.
GT300
1. Masami Kageyama-Tomonobu Fujii (Hankook Porsche) 1’47:57.011, 2. Kyosuke Mineo-Naoki Yokomizo (Endless Taisan 911) 1’48:21.278, 3. Hiroki Yoshimoto-Kazuki Hoshino (Triple A Vantage GT3) 1’48:23.554, 4. Yuhi Sekiguchi-Katsumasa Chiyo (Road NDDP GT-R) 1’48:23.927, 5. Kazuho Takahashi-Hiroki Katoh (Evangelion RT Test-01) 1’48:43.035.
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