Matsuda and Quintarelli win in Sepang21/06/2010

Exciting SuperGT round 4 in Sepang

Malaysia’s Sepang circuit hosted round 4 of the Super GT Championship on Sunday 20 June. Tsugio Matsuda and Ronnie Quintarelli (Calsonic Impul GT-R) won the event following an on track incident which left the race leaders with a drive through penalty. It was the first win for the Calsonis Impul GT-R team since 2006 and the 100th victory for Bridgestone in the Super GT championship.       

Saturday’s first qualifying session saw intense battles to record the fastest lap times, with Arta HSV-010 driver Ralph Firman, Matsuda, and Eneos SC430 driver Daisuke Ito repeatedly setting the quickest lap. The top eight cars from the first session then made it through to the Super Lap qualifying session. Matsuda who was second quickest in the first session was able to set the quickest time in the Super Lap session and clinched pole position. The Ralph Firman and Yuji Ide pairing took the second spot, whilst Satoshi Motoyama and Benoit Treluyer (Motul Autech GT-R) were third.   

Matsuda was able to hold onto his lead in Sunday’s race and was still in first position as he handed over to team mate Quintarelli. Entering the final stages of the race Takuya Izawa and Naoki Yamamoto(Raybrig HSV-010) moved from fifth to second position and during the battle for top spot Yamamoto made contact with Quintarelli forcing the Italian driver back into third place. Yamamoto and Treluyer, who made a similar move on Quintarelli were both given drive through penalties, enabling Quintarelli to retake the lead and clinch the victory.    

Happy with the win in Sepang

"Mr. Hoshino made an opportunity in off season private to run a private test here in Sepang. Therefore we had a small advantage with the tyre set up. I was happy with the win and I thought the race was over when Ronnie was pushed into third position but he kept battling until the end.” Calsonic Impul GT-R driver, Tsugio Matsuda  

Sepang victory is result of the teams hard work

“I never gave up after I was pushed and it was a long 10 laps after I got back into the leading position. This victory is thanks to the whole team and I also would like to thank my family who always support me.” 
Calsonic Impul GT-R driver, Ronnie Quintarelli  

Bridgestone achieves 100th race win in Sepang

“We are pleased to have clinched a victory Sepang and it is Bridgestone’s 100th win in a Japanese GT race. Congratulations to Mr. Hoshino’s team.”
Bridgestone Tyre Engineer, Yoshihito Hoshoya