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Podium Finish for Nissan Z at Opening Round of Super GT


March 2006
 Filed under: NISSAN Car News | NISSAN Headlines
March 20, 2006

　The opening round of Super GT series 2006 was held at Suzuka Circuit. "XANAVI NISMO Z" (car #23) driven by Satoshi Motoyama and Tsugio Matsuda finished in 2nd place, making their first way to the podium this season.
SUPER GT 2006 Rd.1 "SUZUKA GT 300km"
Date: March 19, 2006
Place: SUZUKA CIRCUIT (Mie) 5.807km
Weather: Fine, scatterd rain and snow (8c) (Dry)

30,500 race fans gathered to watch the start of the new season in the strong wind and snowy-rain. Motoyama on #23 started the race from 4th grid and safely kept position for first few laps. After dropping position to 6th, Motoyama managed to fill the gap, and returned to pit on lap 22. Matsuda then took over the car, and after swift pit stop, the car was in 3rd place by the time most cars finished their pit stops. Matsuda managed to capture #8 NSX at the Casio Triangle on lap 42, and took over their position to be 2nd place. Although the car reached the tail of #36 on lap 48, it could not overtake the car, and finished 2nd overall. Matsuda became the first receiver of the “Most Exciting Driver Award”, started this season, for this remarkable performance.

"MOTUL AUTECH Z" (#22) with Michael Krumm and Sakon Yamamoto started the race from 3rd place. Yamamoto, a newcomer to Nissan, was the starting driver. After dropping to 6th place at the opening lap, Yamamoto quickly climbed to 5th and made an impressive overtaking on #18 NSX at the end of the straight on lap 20. The car returned to pit in 4th place. Yamamoto, however, spun the car on the pit lane shortly after and lost the advantage. The car was on the track as 13th after this pit stop. Krumm’s experienced driving helped the car to recover position gradually, and became 9th by lap 43. Krumm came close to the car ahead, but the car lost balance and spun out when he was about to overtake. Since it struggled to return to track, the car finished the race being 12th place receiving the checkered flag.

Kazuki Hoshino started his debut race in GT500 on "CALSONIC IMPUL Z" (#12). The expectations were high since it was fast at the free practice before the race. When the signal turned green after formation lap, however, the car was pushed out of the track as the competitors stormed into the first corner. The car dropped position from 8th and kept the head down low until it was passed over to Benoit Treluyer on lap 32. Treluyer took over the latter half of the race, and marked the fastest lap record on lap 34. Still, despite showing its potential and speed, the car was not able to recover position. The car finished the race in 13th place.

"YellowHat YMS TOMICA Z" (#3) had another new Z driver, Naoki Yokomizo behind the wheels to start the race from 7th grid. Although the car reached 6th place after Joao Paulo de Oliveira -- also rookie -- took over, but was given a 10 second pit stop penalty for overtaking under yellow flag. The car lost position to 11th, and eventually finished being 9th overall.

The new team "WOODONE ADVAN Z" (#24, Erik Comas & Masataka Yanagida) started from 13th and finished 10th. Even when the set up was not perfect on their very first race, the car managed to finish without any major problems.

Meanwhile, in GT300 class, “Kicchouhouzan DIREZZA Z” (#46) with drivers Kota Sasaki and Taku Bamba grabbed the pole position in the qualifying session, proving the potential and speed of the Z car.

“We had a good race," said Satoshi Motoyama (#23). "The whole team including us drivers were well organised from driving to the pitwork. The car is definitely faster than last year. We will further enhance overall speed and strength.”

“We had good tests and I took some long runs, so I knew exactly what I should do at race. Still, I was so nervious being the first race on the Z for me. I was glad I could overtake the NSX (#18)," said the team mate Tsugio Matsuda (#23).

“My first race as a rookie director went well," recalled Yoshitaka Iijima, NISMO team director. "I would like to thank all our fans today for their support. I am pleased we were able to show aggressive race, as we promised. The two drivers on #23 did a great job performing an exciting competition. Sakon (Yamamoto) was sorry of his mistake, but he pledged he will win the next race. That’s one thing to look forward to!”

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