SUPER GT 2005

Race Report

Nissan Motor Co, Ltd
Nissan Motorsport International Co Ltd

SUPER GT 2005 Rd. 2 "FUJI GT 500km RACE"
Date:   May 4, 2005
Place:  Fuji Speedway (Shizuoka, Japan)
Weather:  Cloudy (20c) (dry)

On May 4, the 2nd round of SUPER GT 2005 series was held at Fuji Speedway (4.563km/ lap). Nissan's Motul Pitwork Z (#22, Michael Krumm / Masataka Yanagida) started the race from 3rd place and finished 2nd, making its first podium finish this season. Xanavi NISMO Z (#1, Satoshi Motoyama / Richard Lyons) started from 11th and after fierce pursuit, made 4th place overall.

G'ZOX HASEMI Z(#3, Toshihiro Kaneishi / Erik Comas) started 13th after qualify and made 9th place finish. Calsonic Impul Z (#12, Benoit Treluyer / Yuji Ide) started from 8th and once climbed up to 3rd, the car failed in problems with fuel line, finishing in 15th position.

Clear sky and refreshing May weather, 52,400 spectators filled the stands of the new Fuji Speedway to witness the white hot battle of GT race. With the new course layout sacrificing the width at the first corner, it was considered the confusion may occur, but the cars managed to make turns in a very clean manner.

Krumm on car #22 started the race from good position, creating gap from behind, was still 3rd in the beginning until #39 Supra caught up and overtook #22 to 4th place. On lap 39, he returned to pit and switched to Yanagida, and with the swift pit work of NISMO team crew, the crew returned to track being 2nd place. Yanagida was a rookie, but he held out a good race with other cars and kept the position until he returned to pit on lap 77 to make the 2nd stop. Krumm went back on the track again, and scored the best lap on lap 81, continued to make hard push. The last part of the race was a white hot battle between #35 Supra, maintaining high pace. On the final lap, #35 Supra came very close as #22 struggled with the backmarkers, but Krumm managed to finish the race in 2nd place eventually.

Satoshi Motoyama started the race for #1 Z. He climbed positions overtaking cars in high pace to 10th on lap 1, 9th on lap 2, 8th on lap 3. By the time he retuned to pit on lap 37, the car was in 6th place. Lyons returned to the track after quick pitwork by the team, he kept the run in 4th place. On lap72, the car pitted again for refuel, Lyons remaining in the cockpit. Lyons improved position by one to 3rd place, and although it seemed that the car will keep the position until the end, #35 Supra took advantage, and Lyons received the checkered flag in 4th place.

"My resolution this week was that 'podium, at least' so, I was able to make it happen," said Hiroshi Degawa, NISMO Team Director. "I think Z cars held out a good fight against Supras with powers. #35 Supra was on pursuit with amazingly high pace, and we told Michael (Krumm) on the radio to be cautious not to let them catch us. It was Michael's determination that brought us that result and we are grateful. Yanagida did a good job for a rookie and being under such pressure. He says he still has more to learn, but being on the podium on the second race for GT500, He could've been lucky, but still, it was a passing mark."

Michael Krumm said, "I couldn't concentrate on ahead because of the pressure from Hattori (#35). So I could never relax or enjoy the race at all. The car didn't have good balance at first when the temperature was high, but the final stint was perfect. I think the fact that super lap went well led to good result. It was very tough battle in the end. If the finish line was 2m ahead, we could've lost. I am very grateful of the fabulous support from Nissan fans."

"I think Michael worked so hard to achieve this result," said GT500 rookie Masataka Yanagida. "I am getting better lap time when driving alone, but I really have to work harder on handling the backmarkers. We were lucky today, but for the next race, I want to make more satisfying result in driving. Every lap, I was encouraged by the red Nissan flags waved by our fans. I thank you all!" 

[Results]after 110 Laps

[Series PointsDriver's Ranking]

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Contact:
Shingo Suzuki / Shotaro Ogawa, Communications Dept., Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
Yasuko Onishi, Communications Group, Nissan Motorsports International Co., Ltd.

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Results and reports:
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Organiser:
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