Goodsmile Racing Finishes 27th at Round 2 of Super GT

 Posted by at 7:00 am  Events, Goodsmile Racing, Racing Miku  No Responses »
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:




Goodsmile Racing Finishes 9th at the Opening Round of Super GT

 Posted by at 7:00 am  Events, Goodsmile Racing, Racing Miku  No Responses »
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.

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