MUGEN

2012.10.03

"MUGEN CR-Z" SUPER GT

With a first taste of wet circuit conditions Team MUGEN is rapidly building up their experience!

Series name: 2012 AUTOBACS SUPER GT SERIES ROUND 7
Event name: SUPER GT IN KYUSHU 300KM
Course: 4.674km × 65 laps (303.810km)
Qualifying: 2012-09-29 sat / Rainy / Attendance 11,200 (Announcement from the organizer)
Race: 2012-09-30 sun / Rainy / Attendance 21,100 (Announcement from the organizer)

This was the 4th race for the #16 MUGEN CR-Z GT since its debut, at SPORTSLAND SUGO (Miyagi Pref) in July 28th to 29th. In the previous race held in Fuji International Speedway #16 MUGEN CR-Z GT proudly took its first podium finish, 3rd place in just its 3rd GT300 race.

After the 6th GT300 race of this season’s Championship, #16 MUGEN CR-Z GT took part in the joint test at TWIN RING MOTEGI, before moving down to AUTO POLIS. This was the first opportunity for #16 MUGEN CR-Z GT to run on the AUTO POLIS circuit, and that inexperience coupled with difficult track conditions caused by the rainy weather saw the #16 MUGEN CR-Z GT finishing Q1 in 16th place and Q2 in 12th, and ultimately finishing the race in 10th place.

█ Race 10th place (61st lap: 2hr 11min 2.86sec / Best time: 1min 55.799sec)

With the result of 12th place in qualifying, the race at AUTO POLIS was started behind the security of the safety car due to heavy rain and poor visibility. Once the safety car had gone in to the pits Muto in the #16 MUGEN CR-Z GT was hampered by a slower starting car in front of him. Muto maintained 11th place for a while, however, around the end of lap 12 the safety car was again brought out. At the restart on lap 15, on cold tyres, over the next 5 laps Muto dropped from 10th to 13th by lap 20.

At the end of the 31st lap Muto was replaced in the cockpit by Nakajima who ran in 11th place until the 45th lap. Once the rain stopped Nakajima was able to increase his pace, and inherited one more place to finish 10th and 1 point gained.

♦ Photo Gallery (Round7)