By Tarek Ramchani
Okayama is hosting this weekend the season opener of the 2014 Japanese based Super GT series. A single Audi R8 LMS ultra is entering the event from Audi Sport Team Hitotsuyama.
The Japanese team is back in Super GT for the third straight season with the Audi. A big change this year, Hitotsuyama Racing was promoted as a factory supported effort under Audi Sport Team Hitotsuyama banner.
The #21 Audi R8 LMS ultra is shared by drivers Richard Lyons from the UK and Tomonobu Fujii. The two drivers had a mixed qualifying session today at Okayam. The Hitotsuyama Audi qualified sixteenth within the GT300 class. The Audi entry will have to fight hard tomorrow against strong rivals from FIA GT3 and JAF GT300 cars. With two strong drivers like Lyons and Fujii, Audi Sport Team Hitotsuyama could perform well tomorrow. Earlier this year the two drivers were always among the strongest in GT300 in the official test days.
GT300 pole postion went to the #31 Toyota Prius entered by OGT Panasonic. The #4 BMW Z4 GT3 of team Goodsmile Hatsunemiku qualified second. The #55 Honda CR-Z from team ARTA qualified third. GT300 qualifying results can be seen HERE.
It's Interesting to note that Audi factory driver Oliver Jarvis qualified ninth in the upper GT500 class. Olly is driving a factory supported Lexus, the #39 RC F from team Denso SARD.
The 300km endurance race is set for tomorrow. We wish the best of luck to Audi Sport Team Hitotsuyama and their two drivers.
Photo credit: 1to8.net
