Sizzling Super GT Action Returns to Malaysia in June

Round 3 of the AUTOBACS SUPER GT Series

The fast and furious action of grand touring car racing returns to the Sepang International Circuit in June 2013 with Malaysia playing host to round 3 of the AUTOBACS SUPER GT Series.

Organised by JPM Motorsport, the Malaysian round of the AUTOBACS SUPER GT Series from 15-16 June 2013, is regarded as one of the world’s fastest and most exciting GT racing series. The 2013 AUTOBACS SUPER GT Series features eight rounds, and is divided into the GT500 and GT300 classes, gathering what is traditionally the largest ensemble of the latest Japanese manufacturers the likes of Lexus, Honda, Nissan, Toyota and Subaru, as well as continental marques that include Porsche, Lamborghini, Ferrari, BMW, Mosler, Chevrolet, Audi, Aston Martin and Mercedes-Benz.

Round 1 of 2013 AUTOBACS SUPER GT Series opened in dramatic fashion at the Okayama International Circuit on 6-7 April 2013 in which a drastic change in weather produced an exciting race.

In the GT 500 class, the MOTUL AUTECH GT-R team secured pole position during a wet qualifying but a completely dry track on race day produced a three-way battle which eventually resulted in the RAYBRIG HSV-010 (GT500) driven by Takuya Izawa and Takashi Kogure clinching the victory for Honda.

MOTUL AUTECH GT-R’s Masataka Yanagida led the race until it began to drizzle and with 10 laps to the finish he struggled for grip and was eventually caught by two Hondas. With five laps to go, RAYBRIG HSV-010’s Takashi Kogure shot ahead to claim a slim victory for the team’s very first win since 2006 ahead of team KEIHIN HSV-010’s Koudai Tsukakoshi, with Yanagida settling for third place.

Meanwhile, despite claiming their first ever pole position, SUBARU BRZ R&D SPORT’s Kota Sasaki and Tetsuya Yamano had to be contented with fifth place finishing the 300km race one-lap behind race winners Katsuyuki Hiranaka and Bjorn Wirdheim in the GAINER DIXCEL SLS Mercedes-Benz SLS car.

Starting from third on the second row of the grid, GAINER DIXCEL SLS gained the lead in the early stages of the race to drive to an unchallenged victory ahead and its first ever victory since its debut last season. GSR HATSUNEMIKU BMW’s Nobuteru Taniguchi and Tatsuya Kataoka in a BMW Z4 finished second 11 seconds adrift, with the LA SEINE Lamborghini Gallardo of Hideki Yamauchi and Hiroki Yoshimoto in third place one lap down.

Malaysia’s Fairuz Fauzy alongside Japanese Yuki Iwasaki, racing for team APR Audi R8 LMS Ultra in the GT300 class meanwhile, valiantly converted a disastrous qualifying session from 23^rd on the grid, to finish 14^th in the race.

Round 2 of the Series moves to the Fuji Speedway at Oyama in Shizuoka from 28-29 April 2013, famous for its 1.5km straight and will be run over a distance of 500km, before teams head for Malaysia’s Sepang International Circuit for round 3 on 15-16 June 2013.

Fans can purchase their tickets, priced at RM100, for the Malaysian round of the AUTOBACS SUPER GT Seriesby logging on to www.supergt.com.my, or tune in to the entire season’s updates onwww.facebook.com.my/supergt.my.

MALAYSIAN SUPER GT QUEEN HEADS FOR JAPAN

Beauty Julie Tan will have the honour of joining a line-up of Japanese GT Queens when she travels to the Fuji Speedway at Oyama in Shizuoka, Japan for round 2 of the AUTOBACS SUPER GT Series from 28-29 April 2013.

Tan, winner of the 2012 Malaysian SUPER GT Queen Search Pageant, will join representatives from JPM Motorsport with the objective of promoting the Malaysian round of the series as well as the country as a popular tourist destination.

The 2012 Malaysian SUPER GT Queen Search Pageant was organised by JPM Motorsport with the objective of promoting the sharing of knowledge, expertise and talent between Malaysian and Japanese GT queens.

If you have what it takes to be the next Malaysian Super GT Queen, do try out the 2013 edition Pageant. Aspiring candidates can log on to the SUPER GT’s Facebook at www.facebook.com/supergt.my to obtain updates about the event, as well as to read about Tan’s Super GT experience during her trip to Japan.

Speed gonna rule!

XD