Autobacs Super GT 2012 Round 3: Weider HSV-010 and Hankook Porsche win from pole position

Autobacs Super GT 2012 Round 3: Weider HSV-010 and Hankook Porsche win from pole position

Fortune smiled on Weider Honda Racing again. Last year, the team qualified on pole and went on to win the race. This season’s race is an exact carbon copy.

However, the win was not as convincing as last year. Right from the start, Weider Honda Racing and Lexus Team Zent Cerumo pulled away from the pack, leaving the rest to fight it out for third place.

Autobacs Super GT 2012 Round 3: Weider HSV-010 and Hankook Porsche win from pole position

As close as the two cars were, Weider HSV-010 always had the upper hand on the Zent Cerumo SC430. Weider’s Kogure put on a strong and constant pace that increased the gap on Zent Cerumo’s Hirate. By lap 13, Weider leads by 3.438 seconds.

By the 21st lap, the racers were coming in for fuel, and a change of tyres and driver. Only Weider HSV-010 and Zent Cerumo S430 stayed out; the Lexus dove into the pits at lap 26 with Tachikawa taking over the wheel. The Weider pitted a lap later and Van Dam assumes driving duties.

Autobacs Super GT 2012 Round 3: Weider HSV-010 and Hankook Porsche win from pole position

Out of the pits and Kogure have done enough to let Van Dam retain the lead. Tachikawa, behind the wheel of the Lexus, was not closing in on Van Dam. While it looked like the Weider looked to be troubled, it was not the case.

Van Dam, at the press conference, said that he was taking care of the tyres at the start of his stint, which means going easy with the throttle. He also said that when it got towards the end of the race, he managed to pull away and cemented his lead and the team’s win.

Autobacs Super GT 2012 Round 3: Weider HSV-010 and Hankook Porsche win from pole position

Both, Kogure and Van Dam were pleased as well as the win and the excellent job done by the team that allowed them the victory. Van Dam was especially happy seeing that this is only his third race for the team.

In the GT300 race, Hankook Porsche won the race from pole position. Kageyama and Fujii said that the win was possible because the rhythm of the car was very good. But both drivers also had to put in a constant drive as well as keeping tabs on the tyres.

Autobacs Super GT 2012 Round 3: Weider HSV-010 and Hankook Porsche win from pole position

Tyres played a massive role in this Super GT round. At its hottest, the track measured a feverish 47 degrees Celsius. The first casualty was D’station Advan GT-R that blew the right rear on the back straights. They did not finish the race. Epson HSV-010 made more pitstops than everyone else to swap tyres.

Possibly, the team that were affected most was S Road’s GT-R and Petronas’ SC430. With just eight laps to go, the GT-R, trailing the SC430, blew a tyre on the straight into Turn Four. The uncontrollable GT-R then slammed into the front right of the SC430 as the Lexus was making a turn. The incident put both cars into the gravel and out of the race.

Autobacs Super GT 2012 Round 3: Weider HSV-010 and Hankook Porsche win from pole position

That is all from Sepang International Circuit. But our coverage does not end here. We have at least one more mega gallery to put up, and it is something you’ll definitely want to see.

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Chris Ng

Chris Ng believes that all cars are made equal, and each one has its own unique story to tell. As such, the ex-advertising man is here doing what he truly loves, which is authoring the allegories and anecdotes of automobiles. Having served time in a motoring mag, he believes there's nothing more sublime than keeping the pedal floored and things burbling in top gear.

 

Comments

  • Hankook Porsche KTR!!!!!

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  • Amirus on Jun 11, 2012 at 10:03 am

    Awesome Sunday Race yesterday. Full of multiple event and nice windy weather, its one of the best Japan GT event in Sepang since 2001! Really enjoyed it. Congratulation for the winners of GT500 & GT300. Sadly for Team NISMO MOTUL Autect GTR finished 9th with their 26kg handicap. Hope they will win this season.

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  • MCdog on Jun 11, 2012 at 10:30 am

    Don’t forget the superb performance put on by the no 911 Porsche 911 GT3 and Shiden :-)
    Kudos to those fast cars that struggling on the extra weight though.

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  • Nissan GT-R only 5th in GT500 class?

    And in GT300 class only 6th behind two Porsche 911, a Shiden and two Lamborghini Gallardo?

    Possibly they should only start at the Nurburgring… ;)

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  • calvingsc on Jun 11, 2012 at 5:30 pm

    Both Calsonic and Motul GT-R kept on dropping places towards end of the race. How come both D’station ADVAN GT-R and SRoad MOLA GTR had tyre blown issue? Both also GT500 class.

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  • Insight kaki on Jun 11, 2012 at 11:17 pm

    Can’t wait for the next gen NSX to get into the ring….

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  • Jenny on Jun 12, 2012 at 4:03 pm

    R u sure it’s final 8 lap? I was there and I saw it was final 2 lap before the no 18 finishes.

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