OYAMA, Japan – The NISSAN GT-R NISMO GT500 grabbed two top 10 finishes in the SUPER GT’s GT500 class as the 2020 season finally got under way following a long hiatus caused by the effects of COVID-19.
The opening round was held at the iconic Fuji Speedway on Sunday where Kohei Hirate and 2015 Blancpain Endurance Series Pro Cup champion Katsumasa Chiyo drove the No. 3 CRAFTSPORTS MOTUL GT-R to a 7th placed finish under sweltering conditions that were almost unthinkable following the fog and rain that plagued practice on the previous day.
Despite losing two positions in the first lap and being hampered by an early dispatch of the safety car, Hirate battled fiercely to regain their position before handing the wheel over to Chiyo who managed to bring them back up to 8th place by lap 36. Chiyo then steadily reeled in the #8 NSX-GT following a second safety car run and made a solid pass at the final corner before powering onto the finish line and greeting the checkered flag in 7th.
The #24 Realize corporation ADVAN GT-R – driven by Nissan e.dams Formula E test and reserve driver Mitsunori Takaboshi and Nissan e.dams Formula E simulator driver Jann Mardenborough – started from 15th place and boldly weaved through the pack to finish in 10th and make it two top 10 finishes in the GT500 class for the GT-R.
In the GT300 class, the #11 GAINER TANAX GT-R driven by Katsuyuki Hiranaka and Hironobu Yasuda immediately leapt into the lead from a 2nd place starting position and held onto the top spot for the first 17 laps of the race. Despite dropping back slightly at the race’s midpoint, the pair ultimately secured the second step on the podium. With the #56 Realize Nissan Automobile Technical College GT-R and the #10 GAINER TANAX ITOCHU ENEX with IMPUL GT-R following not far behind in 4th and 5th, it was a solid start to the 2020 season for the NISSAN GT-R NISMO GT3.
The SUPER GT series action will be back once again at Fuji Speedway on August 8 and 9.
Check out our top images from round 1 of @SUPERGT_JP at #FujiSpeedway here 👉 https://t.co/MCudZiUQiQ@Nissan @NISMO_JP #OMGTR #SUPERGT
— Nissan NISMO (@NISMO) July 20, 2020
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Anna Teslik
Global Motorsport Marketing and Communications Manager
Phone: +33 7 7614 7286
ATeslik@nissan-europe.com
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