By Johan Laubscher
The Japanese Super GT headed to the Sugo 300 in Japan for round four.
Only one Audi R8 LMS ultra was entered, the car from Hitotsuyama Racing, and achieved the best result of the season so far.
2013 Super GT has proven to be very difficult for the Audi teams. Originally two Audi teams started the season: Hitotsuyama Racing with a brand new 2013 Audi R8 LMS ultra, and äpr racing with a 2012 R8 LMS ultra. This was the first Super GT race weekend this year where only one Audi R8 LMS ultra has been entered. This is due to äpr racing having switched to a Nissan GTR GT3 race car.
The Hitotsuyama Racing squad arrived at Sugo and hoped to improve on
the difficult season so far. Their #21 Audi R8 LMS ultra is driven by Akihiro
Tsuzuki and Richard Lyons. Things looked to be continuing in the season-long
pattern as they struggled for pace, and only qualified in nineteenth place. The
race itself saw the team progressing steadily. A good call on strategy, which
saw them running on slicks in difficult weather, netted them a good top ten
result by finishing in eighth (within the GT300 class). A very positive result
for the team in a very testing season. The race was won by the Honda CRZ GT from ARTA Project.
The Super GT Sugo results can be seen HERE.
The Super GT will now head to Suzuka for round five of the season.
Suzuka will be an annual highlight, as it is the Suzuka Pokka 1000 km race,
which will take place in mid-August.
Photo credit: Hitotsuyama Racing
