MUGEN

2014.8.14

Though ranked as number three in the qualifying, finished 18th in the race struggling with the rain!

Series name: 2014 AUTOBACS SUPER GT SERIES ROUND 5
Event: FUJI GT 300KM RACE
Course: 4.563km × 66 laps (301.158km)
Qualifying: 2014-08-09 Sat / Cloudy / Attendance 18,500 (Announcement from the organizer)
Race: 2014-08-10 Sun / Rain / Attendance 26,500 (Announcement from the organizer)

#0 MUGEN CR-Z GT (Yuhki Nakayama/Tomoki Nojiri) entered the SUPER GT SERIES Round 5, which was held on August 9th and 10th at Fuji Speedway (Shizuoka Prefecture). Compared to the Round 2, which was a mid/long-distance race with the race distance of 500 km, the Round 5 is held under the blue sky in a hot summer day based on the usual race format, i.e. with the race distance of 300 km (66 laps). However, since the season’s 11th typhoon was approaching, it was overcast in the morning in the region, and they said it would rain in the afternoon. Thus, the race weekend started with possible confusions.

For Fuji Speedway with the long straight section, #0 MUGEN CR-Z GT has aero parts such as an attachment and a small canard on the upper edge of its front fender, as well as new aero parts such as the summer grill and the swan neck rear wing, which we adopted in the previous race in Sportsland Sugo. The weight handicap is 38 kg, which is the same weight as in the previous race.

August 9th, (Sat)

■  Qualifying session: 3rd position (Q1: 2nd position / 00:01:38:278, Q2: 3rd position / 00:01:38.641)

The qualifying was held in the afternoon. The starting grid is determined using the two-step knockout-based qualifying format, with which all drivers run Q1, and then only the top 13 drivers in Q1 will be able to run Q2.

The team took the strategy of putting Nojiri in Q1, and Nakayama in Q2. However, the clouds began to get thicker before starting the qualifying, and the fine rain started to fall on part of the course. Nojiri ran Q1 with dry tires. He made the first time attack to record 00:01:38.875, took two laps before making the second time attack to be in the lead by recording 00:01:38.278. Since #55 car drove faster eventually, #0 MUGEN CR-Z GT won 2nd position in Q1.

Nakayama was the first to enter the track when it was opened for Q2. When tires warmed up, he recorded 00:01:38.641 on the lap 4 and was in the lead at this point. Since the record was broken by other drivers later, he could not keep his position. Though Nakayama made the second time attack, it ended up to record 00:01:38.789. This made him to be in grid 3.

August 10th, (Sun)

■  Final race: 18th position (62 laps / 02:57:28.080, Best record: 00:01:50.803)

Since the weather was getting worse before starting the final race, the judging committee decided to extend the free practice, which was made before the final race, to be made for 20 minutes starting at 13:38. However, after 13 minutes of the session, the rain got heavier and the session was interrupted with a red flag due to increased amount of rainfall.

The final race was supposed to start at three in the afternoon. The weather was changeable because of the typhoon, and the rain almost stopped before the start, though the track surface was completely in wet condition. A safety car was in the lead to start the race. Nakayama ran the race as a starting driver and kept his position for a while. However, CR-Z was struggling fighting against FIA-GT3 cars equipped with electronic control devices, which worked very well in wet condition, such as an ABS and a traction control system.

The rain started again, and the car spun in the 13th corner of the 5th lap. Though Nakayama came back on the track by himself, he dropped to the 16th. The rain got heavier after that, and he further dropped to the 19th. On the lap 9, we had a safety car run because of the bad track surface condition. At the completion of lap 16, the race was suspended with a red flag.

Nakayama was in 18th position at this point. Since giving a minimum maintenance to the cars lined up in the straight section was allowed, we added measures against the rain in the grid following opinions of Nakayama. At 04:15 in the afternoon, when the rain slowed a little, the safety car was in the lead to restart the race at the completion of lap 18.

The rain almost stopped, and the track surface condition was getting better as it dried with each lap. Nakayama made laps in the same level of time with leading drivers, but he was stuck in the group and could not move up easily.

After lap 38, Nakayama made a pit stop for a driver change. Nojiri came back on the track, and #0 MUGEN CR-Z GT was in 17th position when competitors also finished their works in pits. The track got dry again, and this resulted in the gradual improvement of lap times. However, Nojiri had a hard time competing with FIA-GT3 drivers, who reduced their lap times, and he dropped to the 18th on the lap 50.

Then, the rain got heavier again, and the track surface was getting wet. The judging committee decided to put the safety car in to lead the cars at the completion of lap 54.

We waited in vain for improvement of the weather with the safety car run. This made the race finish at the completion of lap 66 according to the rules with the safety car in the lead. #0 MUGEN CR-Z GT finished 18th in the race.

As a result, three points (the same number of laps with the first place driver) were awarded to TEAM MUGEN as a team ranking point. With a cumulative total of 30 points, we got to number 10 in the series. Nakayama/Nojiri pair could not score driver's points. With a cumulative total of 19 points, they got to number 11 in the series.

■ Comments from the team director, Junichi Kumakura

Unfortunately, the results from recent two races made it clear that there was something to be done regarding wet track surface with this car. I really feel that measures have to be immediately considered and promoted.

On the day of the final race, engine data showed a problem during the free practice in the morning, and we made an engine swap just in case. Our starting grid was number 3, and I thought it would be a tough race if it rained. I reaffirmed the power of electronic devices of FIA-GT3 cars. It is necessary for JAF cars to be equipped with those devices as far as regulations permit. If not, it may not be possible to catch up with them depending on track surface conditions.

Nakayama spun the car in the early stage of the race, but after that, he could drive the car at the same pace with the leading drivers. However, once they took a lead, it was difficult for him to overtake them since the car could not go faster in straight sections. We were doing very well until Saturday, so I wanted to compete in dry condition. We will make up for this race in the next one, Suzuka 1,000 km.

♦ Photo Gallery (Round5)