Super GT Japan: Sasaki and Krumm winners at Fuji Speedway

Daiki Sasaki and Michael Krumm are the winners of the Fuji GT 300 race, the fourth round of Autobacs Super GT Series, which took place at Fuji Speedway. In front of 36,400 spectators the Japanese-German duo in #24 Kondo’s D’station Advan Nissan GT-R started from sixth and had won after 66 laps around 4563 metres long circuit. This was the team’s first victory since the 2010 season.

Sasaki and Krumm were 4.7 seconds faster than Yuji Tachikawa and Hiroaki Ishiura in #38 Zent Cerumo Lexus RC F. Starting from pole position #38 Lexus remained in the lead until five laps to the end. Young Sasaki in #24 GT-R took the lead and continued to push hard so at the end his advantage was almost five seconds.

Third on the podium were Hironobu Yasuda and Joao Paulo Lima de Oliveira, drivers of #12 Calsonic Impul Nissan GT-R. They earned the podium in a close fight with #1 Motul Autech Nissan GT-R driven by Ronnie Quintarelli and Tsugio Matsuda.

In the GT300 class, the pole-starting #55 ARTA Honda CR-Z GT, driven by Shinichi Takagi and Takashi Kobayashi, pulled steadily away from the pack in the early stages of the race. After a flawless pit stop, the team went on to score a pole to checkers win without having given up the effective lead at any point in the race.

Second were Haruki Kurosawa and Naoya Gamou in #2 Leon Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3. Third on the podium were Katsuyuki Hiranaka and Bjorn Wirdheim in #11 Gainer Tanax Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3. 29 cars raced in GT300 category, while GT500 class had 15 cars on the grid.

In championship standings after four rounds (Okayama, Fuji 500, Thailand, Fuji 300) leaders of GT500 class are Hironobu Yasuda and J.P.L. de Oliveira. They have 38 points each, ahead second placed Tsugio Matsuda and Ronnie Quintarelli with 34 points. Third are Andrea Caldarelli and Ryo Hirakawa with 30 points.

In GT300 class Andre Couto remains in the lead. He has 44 points, six more than Kazuki Hoshino and Mitsunori Takaboshi. Winners of Fuji 300 race Shinichi Takagi and Takashi Kobayashi jumped to third position with 36 points.

Next race is Suzuka 1000 at famous Suzuka Circuit on 29 and 30 August.