MUGEN

2014.6.5

MUGEN CR-Z GT managed with machine troubles to conclude the race with 5th position

Series name: 2014 AUTOBACS SUPER GT SERIES ROUND 3
Event: SUPER GT IN KYUSHU 300KM
Course: 4.674km × 65 laps (303.81km)
Qualifying: 2014-05-31 Sat / Fine / Attendance 13,800 (Announcement from the organizer)
Race: 2014-06-01 Sun / Fine / Attendance 24,400 (Announcement from the organizer)

#0 MUGEN CR-Z GT (Nakayama and Nojiri) joined to the Super GT race Rd.3 took at Auto Polis in Oita prefecture from 31st May to 1st June. #0 TEAM MUGEN has been completing the races since its debut in 2012 and continues to earn points for last 10 races. #0 MUGEN CR-Z GT took the 3rd place on Rd.2 to become 5th position on the team points and derivers point ranking. There is no major modification on the machine since the last race but the handicap weight becomes 26 kg.

May 31st, (Sat)

■  Qualifying session: 9th position (Q1: 5th position / 00:01:46:405, Q2:9th position / 00:01:47.178)

Qualifying session is started from 2:00pm. Q1 is attached by the all machines and the top 13 machines remains for Q2 session. TEAM MUGEN exchanged the main parts during the practice session and interval session to solve the mechanical problem.

In the condition of #0 TEAM MUGEN CR-Z GT machine setting was not completed, Nakayama took the driving to marked 00:01:46.405 to become 5th potision to proceed to Q2. Nojiri took the driving seat on Q2 and marked 00:01:47.178 to become 9th position out of 24 machines.

June 1st, (Sun)

■  Race: 5th position (59 laps / 01:59:20.266, Best record: 00:01:47.858)

The atmosphere temperature was 28 degrees Celsius and ground temperature was 43 degrees Celsius at 2:00 pm just before the final race. The rolling start was taken with Nakayama drive. Nakayama took good start to jump up the position but runned off the course to drop off the position to 13th, and became 14th position on the 2nd lap.

#0 MUGEN CR-Z GT kept 7th position on the lap 30 when other teams already completed the drivers change. It was a tough race that it becomes close to the front machine in the corners but outdistanced on the straight lines.

Nakayama completed 30 laps and passed the steering to Nojiri. TEAM MUGEN completed to fill fuel and tire exchange for Nojiri to return to the course on 12th position. Finally Nojiri kept 9th position at 39 laps while other teams completed pit stops. Jumping up from 12th to 9th position was brought by well-organized pit stop.

Nojiri kept good pace to have the best lap 00:01:48.273 on 41st lap. There was an accident on the course and safety car controlled the race after the lap 43. #0 CR-Z MUGEN became one lap behind with 8th position. Nojiri came up to 7th position after the pit stop of a front machine. The race was restarted again after 51 laps.

Nojiri became 6th position on lap 52 and 5th position on lap 54 with remaining 20 seconds gap with the front machine. TEAM MUGEN earned 6 points for 5th position and 2 points for rap points in total of 8 points for the series ranking. TEAM MUGEN placed 6th with 26 points on the series ranking. Nakayama and Nojiri places 6th on the series drivers ranking with 19 points.

■ Comments from the team director, Junichi Kumakura

We have recognized the importance of taking good starting position for the start due to lack of top straight speed against to FIA-GT3 class machines because of machine power adjustment. It was unfortunate that we were not able to take the practice session to set up hybrid system, machine and tires. However, the drivers did very good job to get single starting position.
Nakayama did his best to return to the pit without any trouble and Nojiri also did good driving to jump up the position after the safety car removed. It was not best machine condition and the drivers had to be patient with their driving.

For the next race, the temperature will be higher than today, so it will be hard work for both machine and divers. We will do well preparation for next race to not get machine troubles.

♦ Photo Gallery (Round3)