Aug 242020
 

Goodsmile Racing finishes in 8th position after a chaotic race at the Suzuka International Circuit. The team placed 19th in qualifying after being eliminated in the first session prior to the race.

The race started with drama on the first lap when the #61 Subaru BRZ and #30 apr Toyota Prius collided causing the latter to crash into the foam barriers forcing them out of the race triggering the safety car. Just as the race restarts the #16 Mugen NSX collides with the barriers with their rear left tyre missing and retiring from the race.

Halfway into the race the safety car was deployed again when the bonnet of the #24 Realize GT-R came off onto the track. As the race restarted, most of the teams including the #4 Hatsune Miku AMG have pitted for their driver change and new tyres.

As the race was on it’s final laps, more drama started to unfold with GT300’s reigning champions the #55 ARTA NSX GT3 colliding with the #56 Realize GT-R forcing both cars off the track shortly followed the former having to pull over after their radiator failed.

As the cars were on their final lap the #61 Subaru BRZ would get involved with another contact, this time with the #65 Leon AMG crashing and spinning, but the battle for 3rd place was still up for grabs as the #2 Lotus Evora MC snatched the position overtaking both the BRZ and the GT-R around the spoon curve.

The race was over in GT500 with the #23 Nismo Motul Autech GT-R taking victory, but it wasn’t over yet in GT300 and the #56 Realize GT-R spins after colliding with the #10 Gainer GT-R. But in the end, it was the #11 Gainer TANAX GT-R who finished in GT300.

The #4 Miku AMG would finish in 8th place scoring 3 points for the team but remains in 13th in the drivers’ standing. The next race will be at the Twin Ring Motegi on the 12th and 13th of September.

The full race can be re-watched on The Race YouTube channel:




Aug 102020
 

Goodsmile Racing finishes 27th at the second round of Super GT at Fuji Speedway after a series of unfortunate events occurred in the later stages of the race. Prior to the race, the team placed 10th during the qualifying session which would be the position they would start in for the race.

The race started earlier than usual and the #4 Hatsune Miku AMG would gain some positions on the first few laps. There have been a rule change to pitstops where all teams must change all four of their tyres which would prevent teams from doing fuel only race strategies. The team decided to pit on the 21st lap.

The first incident of the race took place on the 36th lap when the leading GT500 car, the #8 ARTA NSX-GT spun on it’s out-lap shortly after their pitstop and getting stuck on the kerb. The safety car was not deployed as the car’s engine was still running so a recovery vehicle pulled them out so they could get back on track.

Things were looking steady for the #4 Miku AMG until she suddenly took an urgent pit stop. The front left tyre has failed and they had no choice to pit in for new tyres. The team tried to fight back for position setting the fastest lap in it’s class in the process only to result with another trip to the pitstop with the same front left tyre failing with only 7 laps to go. The team would leave the pit in last place of 27th position.

The race ended after 66 laps with the #17 Keihin NSX crossing the finish line taking victory in GT500 while the #2 Syntium Lotus Evora MC takes victory in GT300 for the first time since their last win in 2010.

As Goodsmile Racing scored no points in this race, the team has dropped to 13th place in the drivers’ standing. What would have been a steady race ended up with unfortunate events caused by tyre failures. The next race will be at the Suzuka International Circuit on the 22nd and 23rd of August.

Full race replay can be seen here:




Jul 202020
 

Goodsmile Racing finishes in 9th position at the opening round of Super GT at Fuji Speedway after months of waiting as the COVID-19 situation eased in Japan. Qualifying took place on the morning of race day as the #4 Hatsune Miku Mercedes AMG GT3 failed to qualify into the second qualifying session. The team would start in 18th for the race later in the afternoon.

The race went underway and was shortly followed by a Safety Car as the #64 Modulo NSX-GT collided with the #12 Calsonic Impul GT-R forcing the latter out of the race with big damage to the rear right of the car. The race restarted on the 6th lap.

A lot of racing action at the front of the field in both categories, especially in GT300 with the #52 Saitamatoyopet GreenBrave driving the new JAF GT300 spec Toyota Supra fighting for the lead. Just halfway through the race the safety car got deployed again when the #360 RunUp GT-R stopped in the middle of the track after colliding with the #23 Motul Autech GT-R. The #4 Miku AMG were lucky to stop for their mandatory pit stop and driver change before the incident, only changing their left tyres.

After 66 laps the chequered flag was waved as the #37 KeePer TOM’s GR Supra won the race in the GT500 category, while the #52 GreenBrave Supra claimed their first ever win for the team and the new Toyota Supra in the GT300 category. The #4 Miku AMG would finish in 9th place after a good recovery finishing in the points from starting in 18th.

Goodsmile Racing currently stands 9th in the drivers’ championship. With the season only just beginning there is still another 7 more races left, but due to the ongoing situation, Super GT will only race at 3 different racetracks within Japan.

The next race will be back at Fuji Speedway again on the 8th and 9th of August.

The full race can be seen on ‘The Race’ YouTube channel.

May 232020
 

Goodsmile Racing has revealed the Haregi version of the 2020 Racing Miku to cheer on the team for the 2020 10 Hours of Suzuka in August. Illustrated by LEN[A-7], Racing Miku is sporting the usual pink Haregi with the cherry blossoms in the background.

Unfortunately, the 10 Hours of Suzuka will be cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. As most of the teams that take part in it are from outside of Japan, it was inevitable that the race would get cancelled. Hopefully we’ll go back to racing soon with Super GT later in the year.

 

Until then, Stay home and Fight, GSR!

 

Apr 222020
 

Goodsmile Racing recently broadcasted several announcements in a live stream on their YouTube Channel. Unlike their previous live streams where everyone is together, the stream was mostly broadcasted through video calls to practice social distancing because of the current situation that is the COVID-19 pandemic. Because of the pandemic, the first half of the Super GT season had to be postponed to later dates in hope that the situation improves.

The opening race at Okayama has been postponed to 11th and 12th of July, Fuji has been postponed to 8th and 9th of August, Sugo has been postponed to 12th and 13th of September, while Suzuka, Thailand and Sepang (Malaysia) are still yet to be confirmed. Autopolis and Motegi are expected to run on their initial scheduled dates.

An illustration was published by LEN[A-7] on the 10th of April as the opening race was supposed to happen on that weekend, but instead the team encouraged fans to stay home to help reduce the spread of the virus.

A new “Tropical” version of the 2020 Racing Miku has been announced sporting the usual tan to cheer on the team for the oversea races in Thailand and Malaysia under the blazing humid tropical weather.

A collaboration with Super Sonico has been announced with Super Sonico also wearing the 2020 racing outfit with an illustration by 津路参汰 (ニトロプラス)

And to conclude the stream, a new theme song for 2020 was announced, called “Burning!!” written and composed by DIVELA, who is most known for winning the 2018 Magical Mirai Song Contest with METEOR. You can listen to the theme song at the end of the stream.