First win for Honda in SuperGT series14/09/2009

Japan’s Fuji Speedway played host to Round 7 of the Super GT Championship on Sunday 13 September, in front of an excitable and enthusiastic crowd.  After being forced to start from 12th position on the grid due to an engine change, the No. 8 ARTA NSX duo of Ralph Firman and Takuya Izawa (Autobacs Racing Team Aguri) battled hard to claim their first win of the season.     

Saturday’s qualifying was met by wet and cloudy conditions, though the EPSON NSX team of Loic Duval and Yuki Nakayama (Nakajima Racing)were able to obtain the team’s first pole position since the 2006 season. The Autobacs Racing Team Aguri qualified second quickest, but following an engine change the team was dropped ten grid position, leaving the duo in twelfth.     

Race day started with a bang as pole-sitter Loic Duval (EPSON NSX) was contacted by Bjorn Wirdheim (No. 6 ENEOS SC430, Lexus Team LeMans Eneos), causing the French driver to spin and rejoin the race at the back of the pack. Wirdheim was reprimanded with a drive through penalty for the collision.  

Firman was able to avoid the on-track commotion, working his way up through the rankings. By lap 20, Firman passed No. 24 HIS ADVAN KONDO GT-R driver Joao Pailo Lima de Oliviera taking second position, and by lap 25 Firman had skillfully made his way to the number 1 spot.  The teams started to pit and on returning to the track Izawa was able to drive his way to victory claiming the first win for the Honda team.    

ARTA NSX and winning driver, Ralph Firman, said:
"We fitted harder tyres for the race because the air and track readings were hot. The tyres were very consistent and we could gain positions as we wished. Many thanks for everyone’s support.”  

ARTA NSX and winning driver, Takuya Izawa, said:
“I also fitted harder tyres because of Ralph’s recommendation. I trusted his comments and I set a good pace as I waited while the tyres warmed up. I had the confidence to win after I led the race.”  

Bridgestone tyre engineer, Yoshihiro Hosoya, said:
“It was a fantastic race by Firman and Izawa. Nobody could fit slick tyres on Saturday, so you had to select the tyres for the race and find the right set up during Sunday morning free practice. The winning NSX team and our tyres made good a match and set good pace. We are proud that three different teams using Bridgestone tyres dominated the podium and we occupied the top ranks of the results sheet.”