2024 Autobacs SUPER GT

Round 7 AUTOPOLIS INTERNATIONAL RACING COURSE [GT300 class]

The 2024 AUTOBACS SUPER GT Round 7 at Autopolis International Racing Course delivered a rollercoaster of excitement, especially in the GT300 class, where unpredictable weather, bold strategy, and relentless competition set the stage for a race that will be remembered for its twists and turns. Yuui Tsutsumi and Hibiki Taira, driving the #2 muta Racing GR86 GT/Bridgestone, provided the main storyline, turning their 14th place start into a dramatic second-place finish despite a penalty that threatened their hopes for victory.

WEATHER CHAOS AND QUALIFYING DRAMA

Much like the sixth round, the seventh round of the season was a true battle against the elements. Intermittent heavy rain, lightning, and thick fog on Saturday forced the organizers to cancel the day’s schedule entirely. The race weekend was condensed into a one-day showdown on Sunday, leaving teams scrambling to adapt to the shortened preparation time.

The early morning qualifying session saw teams dealing with tricky weather conditions. With temperatures hovering around a chilly 12 degrees and the track surface even colder at 13 degrees, most teams began on rain tyres. As the track dried up, a mad scramble ensued, with some drivers switching to slicks to try to gain a time advantage. Tsutsumi and Taira, starting from 14^th, faced an uphill battle. The track, drying slowly in the cold, proved difficult to navigate, but they were undeterred, knowing their race pace could still shine.

At the front of the field, Yoshiaki Katayama and Roberto Merhi Muntan in the #6 UNI-ROBO BLUEGRASS FERRARI secured pole position, while Takashi Kogure and Yuya Motoshima in the #88 VENTENY Lamborghini GT3 were eager to make a charge from their strong grid position.

QUALIFYING ROUND

PO.	NO.	MACHINE	DRIVER	BEST TIME
7	#65	LEON PYRAMID AMG Mercedes AMG GT3	Naoya Gamou Takuro Shinohara Haruki Kurosawa	1'48.698
11	#31	apr LC500h GT LEXUS LC500h	Kazuto Kotaka Jin Nakamura Yuki Nemoto	1'49.441
14	#2	muta Racing GR86 GT TOYOTA GR86	Yuui Tsutsumi Hibiki Taira	1'50.241
20	#52	Green Brave GR Supra GT TOYOTA GR Supra	Hiroki Yoshida Seita Nonaka	1'51.234

STRATEGIC GENIUS AND PENALTY HEARTBREAK

By the time the three-hour race began in the afternoon, the clouds lingered, keeping the temperatures low and making tyre warm-up a challenge. With two refuel stops mandated during the race, strategy became the key to success. Tsutsumi and Taira, starting mid-pack, executed a strategy that relied on minimising time lost in the pits. Their first stop was lightning-quick, involving only refueling without a driver change or tyre swap, keeping them in the fight.

Midway through the race, a moment of brilliance saw Tsutsumi avoid a messy on-track incident, cleverly utilising an undercut strategy during their pit stops. This move catapulted them up the standings, and when the safety car was deployed twice in quick succession, the duo seized the opportunity to leap into the lead.

However, their moment of glory was short-lived. Following the second SC period, race officials ruled that Tsutsumi and Taira had violated the procedure by creating too large a gap between themselves and the last GT500 car. The penalty—a drive-through—dropped them back, dashing their hopes of a straightforward victory.

A GRITTY COMEBACK FOR THE PODIUM

Even with the penalty, Tsutsumi was not done. He pushed hard in the closing stages of the race, clawing back positions with a series of determined overtakes. The drive-through penalty may have halted their charge to victory, but it didn’t take away their fighting spirit. As the race reached its climax, Tsutsumi crossed the line in second place, a remarkable achievement given their starting position and the mid-race setback.

Takashi Kogure and Yuya Motoshima in the #88 VENTENY Lamborghini GT3 ultimately took the top spot, but Tsutsumi and Taira’s performance was the talk of the paddock, with their comeback securing valuable points in the championship battle.

CHAMPIONSHIP RACE TIGHTENS

With only two races left in the season, the championship picture is heating up. Naoya Gamou, Takuro Shinohara, and Haruki Kurosawa in the #65 LEON PYRAMID AMG/Bridgestone, who finished sixth, maintained their lead in the stand-ings. However, Tsutsumi and Taira are now just five points behind, setting up an intense showdown for the final rounds.

Round 7 at Autopolis may have been at the mercy of the weather, but it provided fans with an unforgettable spectacle. With championship glory still within reach, Tsutsumi and Taira have shown they have the pace, resilience, and strategy to take the fight to the very end.

ACTUAL RACE

PO.	NO.	MACHINE	DRIVER	TOTAL TIME
2	#2	muta Racing GR86 GT TOYOTA GR86	Yuui Tsutsumi Hibiki Taira	1'45.881
6	#65	LEON PYRAMID AMG Mercedes AMG GT3	Naoya Gamou Takuro Shinohara Haruki Kurosawa	1'45.523
14	#31	Apr LC500h GT LEXUS LC500h	Kazuto Kotaka Jin Nakamura Yuki Nemoto	1'47.944
18	#52	Green Brave GR Supra GT TOYOTA GR Supra	Hiroki Yoshida Seita Nonak	1'47.133

WORDS FROM THE TEAM

“The conditions in the qualifying rounds were harsh. It took a lot of work to adapt to the changes in the road surface. Nevertheless, in the final, Yoshida/Nonaka, who won at Autopolis last year, used an undercut strategy of making one of the two mandatory pits stops for refuelling without changing tyres, and Tsutsumi/Taira also used the same strategy to move up the ranks. However, it was unfortunate that these two cars collided. Tsutsumi/Taira showed their speed by finishing in second place despite receiving a penalty and being driven through.

Gamou/Shinohara/Kurosawa earned points with a proper strategy of dividing the race into thirds, and they remain at the top of the rankings. With these two cars now separated by five points, the battle for the championship is expected to become even more heated with two races remaining. We will be supporting them in that battle."

Takahiko Yamamoto, Bridgestone Motorsport Tyre Development Manager

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