2010 Super GT Series kicks off in Suzuka22/03/2010

Suzuka hosts opening round of 2010 Super GT Championship

The opening race of the 2010 Super GT Championship took place on Sunday 21 March at Japan’s Suzuka Circuit.  The unstable weather, cool air and low track temperatures resulted in a slippery track meaning difficult conditions for the first race of the season. Strategy and tire choice for the second stint was key to dividing the positions. Daisuke Ito and team mate Bjorn Wirdham were the highest placed Bridgestone-shod team finishing the race in second.  The race win went to JP de Oliveira and Hironobu Yasuda.    

The knock out system of qualify was used in Suzuka. 2009 champion Juichi Wakisaka/Andre Lotterer (Toyoya Lexus SC430/Bridgestone) set the fastest time in first session and another Lexus SC430/Bridgestone pairing of Daisuke Ito and Bijorn Wirdheim was fastest in second session. It was the new Honda entry of Takashi Kogure/Loic Duval (HSV-010/Bridgestone)however that attracted attention by clinching its maiden pole in a final session. Yuji Tachikara/Richard Lyons (Lexus SC430/Bridgestone) took the second spot and Satoshi Motoyama/Benoit Treluyer (GT-R/Michelin) was placed third on the gird.  

Race day was faced with difficult conditions, cool air and slight rain on track lead to a slippery circuit. Hiroaki Ishiura/Kasuya Oshima(Lexus SC430/Bridgestone) managed to pass the pole sitter and led for the first part of the race. On lap 11, three Honda HSV-010 entries came into contact on the main straight and resulting in two of the teams exiting the race at the first corner. The safety car led the field for 5 laps. Once the race restarted, the teams started to pit and the strategy for the second stint played a huge role in the final result. de Oliveira/Yasuda made no tire change to win holding off Ito/Wirdheim. Third place went to Takuta Izawa/Naoki Yamamoto (HSV-010/Bridgestone).    

Car was great in Suzuka

“Bijorn made a great run and a long stint leaving me with a short second stint on the softer rubber. I pushed very hard but could not make it to first place. Our car was great so we will keep our hopes up to win the next round.”   
Daisuke Ito

Pleased with second place finish in Suzuka Super GT Race

“Our car was good from qualifying. On race day I concentrated hard to make consistent laps and to take care of my tires during the difficult conditions in my stint. I am frankly pleased with this second place finish.”  
Bjorn Wirdheim

Difficult conditions at opening round of 2010 Super GT Series

“The difficult conditions made the teams struggle in first part of the first round of the 2010 season in Suzuka. The accident on the first corner resulted in the safety car and it was really confused. Congratulations to Ito/Wildheim and Izawa/Yamamoto for scoring second and third place finishes but we will go for the win at the next round in Okayama.”    
Yoshihiro Hosoya, Bridgestone Tire Engineer