Nov 082020
 

Goodsmile Racing finishes in second position at the seventh round of Super GT on the season’s second race at the Twin Ring Motegi. The team qualified in 10th position to set their starting position for the race on the previous day.

The #4 Hatsune Miku AMG would get off to a good start overtaking up to 7th position on the first lap of the race and eventually she would fight her way up to 5th place before making a very early pitstop the moment the pit windows opened only changing the left tyres.

The early pitstop would dramatically give the team a huge advantage in their race strategy as the safety car deployed when the #5 MACH MC86 pulled over retiring from the race. Although some teams stopped for their pitstop fearing the safety car getting deployed, a large majority of the teams opted to stay out. This would theoretically put the Hatsune Miku AMG into the lead in the GT300 category.

The race would restart on the 29th lap and the battle for the lead in GT300 became closer and closer as the Miku AMG was getting stuck in traffic. The #56 Realize GT-R would soon catch up and eventually take the lead after both cars were bumping each other. The latter was then given the black and white flag for the morally hazardous maneuvers against the AMG.

Unfortunately, the Hatsune Miku AMG was not able to take back the lead and would cross the finish line in second place. On the bright side, the team was still satisfied for a second podium in a row after their mediocre performance at the start of the season.

With 15 points scored in this race, Goodsmile Racing is currently 8th in the drivers’ championship. With 20 points behind the leading team, it is inevitable that the team’s chances for the championship would be gone. But they will be aiming for a third podium in a row before the end of the season.


The next race will return to Fuji International Speedway one more time for the season finale on the 28th and 29th of November.

The full race can be seen on The Race YouTube Channel.




Oct 252020
 

Goodsmile Racing finishes in third position at the sixth round of Super GT at the Suzuka International Circuit scoring their first podium of the season after starting from 14th position.

The race started with the green lights shown early before the whole grid formed on the main straight. The safety car was deployed on the 23rd lap when the #52 GreenBrave Supra spun at the ‘S’ Curves. This affected several teams that have not done their mandatory pitstops as the pitlane closes during the safety car. Fortunately, the #4 Hatsune Miku AMG did her pitstop early before the incident taking advantage in their race strategy.

The race ended after 52 laps with the #23 Motul Autech GT-R winning the race in GT500 followed by the #21 Hitotsuyama Audi winning in GT300. The #4 Miku AMG finishes in 3rd after trying to fight for 2nd place with the #6 ADVICS MC86.

With 11 points scored in this race. Goodsmile Racing currently stands 10th in the drivers’ ranking. With 2 more races to go this would be the team’s last chance if they want to fight for the championship. The next race will be back at the Twin Ring Motegi on the 7th and 8th of November.

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




Oct 042020
 

Goodsmile Racing finished their 100th race in 8th position at the fifth round of Super GT at Fuji Speedway. Prior to the race on the previous day the team qualified in 9th position to determine their starting position for the race.

The race started off with drama even before the GT300 cars began racing when the #3 Craftsports GT-R spun the #16 Mugen NSX around bringing out the safety car as debris was littered onto the track including the bonnet of the GT-R who had to pullover and retire from the race.

The race restarted on the 5th lap and the #4 Hatsune Miku AMG would fight her way up to 7th until their mandatory pitstop and driver change. The team opted to change all four of their tyres.

The race ended with the #39 Denso Supra winning the race in GT500 and the #56 Realize GT-R winning in GT300. The #4 Miku AMG would finish in 8th after falling behind as low as 12th, but eventually fought back into points scoring position.

With 3 points scored in this race, Goodsmile Racing currently stands in 13th in the drivers’ standings. The next race will be at Suzuka International Circuit on the 24th and 25th of October.

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




 

Sep 142020
 

Goodsmile Racing finishes in 9th position at the fourth round of Super GT at the Twin Ring Motegi. Qualifying on the previous day was split into two groups in GT300. The second group would be unlucky as rain poured down onto the track and the #4 Hatsune Miku AMG who was part of the second group were eliminated in the first session placing 18th for the start of the race.

The race started off clean until the #87 JLOC Lamborghini Huracan side-swiped the #8 ARTA NSX causing the former to spin off the track and collide with the #19 WedsSport Supra. The safety car was deployed to clear the cars and debris off the track. Another collision shortly followed during the safety car with the #7 Studie BMW M6 driving into the back of the #22 R’Qs AMG forcing both to retire from the race. The race restarted on the 15th lap.

The safety car would then be deployed again on the 46th lap when the teammates of the #36 au TOM’s and #37 Keeper TOM’s collided leaving debris on the track. It was back to racing on the 51st lap.

The race ended after 63 laps with the #17 KEIHIN NSX taking their second win this season in GT500 followed by the #65 Leon AMG winning in GT300. The #4 Miku AMG crossed the finish line in 10th place but was moved up to 9th position after the #56 Realize GT-R was given a 30 second time penalty post-race due to an infraction during their pit stop.

With only 2 points scored, Goodsmile Racing now stands 15th in the drivers’ standing as we are now halfway through the Super GT season. The team has got a lot of catching up to do if they want to be fighting for the championship.

The next race will be back at Fuji Speedway for the third time this season on the 3rd and 4th of October.

The full race can be seen on The Race YouTube channel:




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: