MUGEN

2013.5.1

"MUGEN CR-Z GT" - Earned 2nd position, just missing out on the race win due to a problem close to the end of the race.

Series name: 2013 AUTOBACS SUPER GT SERIES ROUND 2
Event name: FUJI GT 500km RACE
Course: 4.563km × 110 laps (501.93km)
Qualifying: 2013-04-28 Sun / Fine / Attendance 31,600 (Announcement from the organizer)
Race: 2013-04-29 Mon (National holiday) / Fine / Attendance 48,500 (Announcement from the organizer)

#16 MUGEN CR-Z GT (Hideki Muto / Yuhki Nakayama) participated in Round Two of the 2013 AUTOBACS SUPER GT SERIES, which took place at the FUJI GT 500km race, held on April 28th and 29th at FUJI International speedway.

The FUJI speedway race was scheduled for 500km and 110 laps; significantly longer than the normal GT series race length of 300km, making this race the second longest in the calendar behind the Suzuka 1000km event. In consideration of the nature of the FUJI circuit with long straights, Team MUGEN brought newly-developed aerodynamic parts to the event, including additional parts on the upper edge of the front fenders and body plates behind the rear tires, in order to maintain down force levels while reducing the overall aerodynamic drag.

The tyres were specifically selected to suit the anticipated road conditions at FUJI speedway, and to avoid any potential issues from tyre choice as had been experienced at previous races.

█   2nd at the race (103 laps 2:57:44613 / Best time:1:39473)

At approximately 2pm just before the start of the race the air temperature was showing at 20°C and track surface temperature had risen to 30°C. Muto was chosen as the driver for the first stint.

The moment the starting flag was waved Muto was immediately on the attack and passed the pole position car at the first corner. Muto then proceeded to set a fast pace earning a lead of 1:247 by the end of the first lap, increasing to 1:758 by the second lap, and then on the third lap the second placed machine dropped out of the race with mechanical trouble leaving Muto running alone with 4 seconds back to his nearest challenger.

However, Muto continued setting consistently fast times in the 1:40s and by the end of the 10th lap his lead had increased to 10 seconds. Continuing at his own pace this gap was expanded to more than 20 seconds by the time his pit stop was due on lap 34. After refuelling, Nakayama got into the machine.

After the pit stop Nakayama rejoined the race in 10th position and was immediately lapping in the 1:40s, which saw him back in the lead of the race by lap 41. The gap between Nakayama and the second position car was by this time 38 seconds. The #16 MUGEN CR-Z GT continued to set the pace and by the time of the next scheduled pit stop, with a 46 second lead the team were confident that the race could be won. The pit stop went by without incident and Muto was back in the driving seat seemingly on course to take the win.

Muto repeatedly set new records and on the 87th lap he recorded the fastest lap of, 1:39.473 and held a lead of around 40 seconds. With the team counting off the laps to a historic victory for the #16 MUGEN CR-Z GT car, suddenly on the 94th lap Muto felt an abnormal vibration from the front tire in the 100R corner. Muto decided to return to the pit in order to avoid the worst case.

As a precaution both front tyres were changed and Muto went back out on to the circuit and on rejoining was passed on the straight by the second-placed car. Muto and the #16 MUGEN CR-Z GT fought to the end of the race to try to regain the lead, however, in the end 2nd position was scant reward for the performance shown by the car all day.

As a result TEAM MUGEN gained 15 points for the 2nd place finish and 3 lap points (One lap behind), giving the team a total of 18 ranking points for the event moving them into 2nd position in the Championship. Muto and Nakayama each gained 15 driver ranking points (2nd), and their total of 19 points puts them in 3rd position at this stage of the series.

█ Comments from the director Kumakura

The final settings of the car were determined taking into consideration the data gained at the 2 races at FUJI in the previous year. Even though we had installed newly-developed parts, including an attachment on the upper edge of the front fender and body plates behind the rear tires to remain the down force but to lower the drag, during the practice run we did not change the final setting so much compared to the previous year. We will utilise the data gained in this race, to help with the decision on when and where to use these parts in the future.

In the qualifying practice although Nakayama could do a second attack, taking into consideration the condition of the battery and tires, I stopped him. I was very nervous at the end of qualifying 1 though ... Muto did a good job at Q2. His time was so impressive.

Muto could not make his best so then I told him to try Q2 once again which he did. As we got anxious, the battery was not lasting as long compared to the first run, however, with help of his experience from last season Muto was able to manoeuvre the assist system to record the very best time. I would say experience is the best teacher.

In the race I was sure that as long as we could follow our simulation run we could win this race, and in fact we all but did until just before the chequered flag when all of the sudden I got a report from the driver that he was feeling some strange vibration which he had not experienced before. I did not know exactly what was going on at that time but safety of the driver was the priority and so I ordered the driver to come back to the pit. Luck had turned its back on us at the very last minute.

As we move toward the summer races we can expect higher and higher temperatures, and of course the hybrid system can be susceptible to this. However we have some countermeasures in mind with which we hope to fight against the temperature and minimise any effect on our performance.

We thank you very much for your constant support and hope you will continue to cheer us on.

♦ Photo Gallery (Round2)