Asian Motor Sports

The qualifying for the SUPER GT INTERNATIONAL SERIES IN MALAYSIA, Round 4 of the 2009 AUTOBACS SUPER GT series, was held at the Sepang Circuit (lap 5.542 km) in Malaysia on June 20.

In the MOTUL AUTECH GT-R, Satoshi Motoyama won his third straight GT500 class pole position after Round 2 at Suzuka and Round 3 at Fuji Speedway. With this, the MOTUL AUTECH GT-R will start from the front position on the first row in the race on the 21st.

Having won the last round, the MOTUL AUTECH GT-R driven by Motoyama was carrying an additional 40 kg in handicap weights but still managed to run the 5th fastest time in the first qualifying session. Then in the ensuing Super Lap (run one machine at a time by the fastest 8 qualifiers from the first session to determine the starting grid for the race), Motoyama bettered his first session time by an impressive 1.8 sec. to record a 1 min. 58.142 sec. lap.

Eventually, none of his rivals were able to equal this time, giving him his third consecutive pole position. This marked Motoyama’s fourth pole position in GT500 competition.

In the GT300 class, the No. 46 S Road MOLA Z driven by Masataka Yanagida was the fastest qualifier with a lap time of 2 min. 10.356 sec.

Pole Position Winner Comments

No. 1 MOTUL AUTECH GT-R [GT500]

Satoshi Motoyama: “I was really surprised to get this [pole position] result. I think I was helped by the change in the track conditions at the time of the Super Lap. I am grateful to the team for setting up a great car. After my time attack I was back in the pit watching the other teams’ runs and hoping for the pole position.

The air-conditioning system we ran with this time is a first for a racing car. If we use it in the race it will surely help the drivers’ concentration, and that can be a big advantage. Although we are carrying a weight handicap, Sepang is a course where that doesn’t have too much of an effect. So, I think we have a chance to win tomorrow.”

The fastest among the NSX teams was the No. 100 RAYBRIG NSX in 6th position. Among the Toyota teams, the No. 36 PETRONAS TOM’S SC430 suffered a broken rear wing while being driven by Jyuichi Wakisaka. He returned to the pit and the wing was replaced, but the team only managed to put in the 10th fastest time.

In the GT300 class it was the No. 2 Privée Apple Shiden that ran the top time in the morning practice. Hiroki Yoshimoto replaced team owner Kazuho Takahashi as driver this time, teaming with Hiroki Katoh, who ran the top time of 2 min. 05.407 sec.

Together they showed their determination to get the win here at Suzuka. The second fastest time was run by the No. 81 DAISHIN ADVAN Ferrari. Following in third position was the No. 33 HANKOOK PORSCHE team that had missed the season’s opening round.