Race Report: Super GT 2012 Round 3: Sepang International Circuit

Beneath the scorching hot Malaysian sun, the 2012 Round 3 of the Super GT had just concluded last weekend. And what a race it was! The crowd turnout was nothing short of amazing with 80,000 people storming the circuit during the race weekend.

Where else would one find the perfect combination of fast and great looking GT cars, hot race queens and enthusiastic crowds all rolled into one? I’m a self confessed Super GT seasoned chap. Been reporting every single Malaysian round of the championship since the it first came to Malaysia in the year 2000 (that time known as the All Japan Grand Touring Car Championship). So needless to say, every June is an exciting month for me.

In the GT 500 class, the competing cars are pretty much the same as per last year but in the GT300 class, there’s a host of new entrants in the form of the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3, Audi R8-LMS, Subaru BRZ, Corvette Z06R GT3 and the Toyota Prius. This class is getting a myriad of vehicles from foreign makes. It used to be dominated by the Japanese.

My favourite team didn’t do too well, the Calsonic IMPUL GT-R got 5th place. The rest of team running the Nissan GT-R got 8th place (Motul Autech GT-R) and 14th (S Road Reito Mola GT-R). The D'station Advan GT-R retired just after 2 laps!

The S Road NDDP GT-R, being the sole Nissan GT-R competing in the GT 300 class got 4th place.

In the GT500 class, Machine No. 18 WEIDER HSV-010 took Pole Position during the Qualifying Session, and went on to win the race, although for most of the race, Machine No. 38 ZENT CERUMO SC430 was snapping at its heels. Takashi Kogure, Driver 1 of the No. 18 WEIDER HSV-010 remained steady under pressure and by Lap 13, he was leading by 3.438 seconds. Carlo Van Dam took the wheel in Lap 29 with the car still in the lead, and continued all the way to the chequered flag with a time of 1:47:52.531 seconds.

When Van Dam took over, he looked to be in a little trouble putting in quick laps at first. However, when speaking at the Post-Race Press Conference, Van Dam clarified, “I went more slowly at the beginning because I was trying to preserve the tyres so I took it easier – maybe a little too easy. Even so, I could see that the car behind me (No. 38 ZENT CERUMO SC430) was just keeping up, so I decided I would push the car a little more and it couldn’t follow anymore.”

In the GT300 class, Machine No. 33 HANKOOK PORSCHE claimed the chequered flag after 49 Laps of furious racing. The HANKOOK PORSCHE, which also took Pole Position in the Qualifying Sesion had a steady race with no problems. Drivers Masami Kageyama and Tomonobu Fujii made consistent and quick laps with the HANKOOK PORSCHE, crossing the finishing line with a time of 1:47:57.011 seconds. At the Post-Race Press Conference, both drivers attributed the win to keeping the tyre pressure and temperature steady.

After the Sepang Round, the Super GT entourage will move on to Round 4 SUGO, which is set to be on the 28th and 29th of July, giving the teams and their drivers plenty of time to rest and regain their strength after the gruelling two days in Sepang. Currently, Yuji Tachikawa and Kohei Hirate are leading the drivers standing in the GT500, while Kyosuke Mineo and Naoki Yokomizo are leading in the GT300.

Below are more images from the race. For the complete album, head on to this LINK.

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

       

        

Largest Supercar / Performance Car Gathering at Super GT 2011

Pic 1: Preparing to enter into SIC

During the Super GT 2011, JPM Motorsports organized the Largest Supercar / Performance Car Gathering. Their aim is to gather the most number of supercar / performance car in Sepang International Circuit at the same time. They managed to create a new record in the Malaysia Book of Record at 405 units of cars. That is all great and mighty fine but I had an unfortunate incident during the event.

Pic 2: At the holding area

As we were waiting in the holding area next to the back straight of turn 14, I noticed that my front tyre had a flat. Oh man, that really sucks. Running my hand around the rubber reveals there's no nails/screw that have penetrate the tyre. Really weird. It must have leaked slowly too as just an hour ago, I was barreling down the highway at speeds which is best not to be revealed publicly. LOL :D

Anyway, as the rest of the cars are making their way into the track, I had to ditch the ER34 behind and hop into one of the cars there (Thanks Colin for the ride!). Why leave the car behind? Well I don't have a 19mm wrench with me to remove the Rays Engineering lug nuts. And the best place to loan one was where the rest of the cars are going to be parked, the main straight of Sepang International Circuit. Amongst the hundreds of cars there, I'm sure there must be at least one chap with the tools.

Pic 3: At the holding area

Pic 4: All 405 cars on the main straight of SIC

My plan to narrow down the search was to ask owners of cars that spots the same lug nuts as me. Smart move BUT funnily enough, most of the owners that I've asked either do not have the wrench or do not carry tools at all. Oh man!!!

Thankfully, Dennis had one in his beautifully kitted Reckless MR-S (Thanks a bunch bro!). Now, with the tool in hand, I had to get back to the parking area. This is where Jason (sakakida) came to the rescue with a loan motocycle from Alex. The ride back to the back straight is a journey in itself as we potter along outside the track proper to get to the area.

Jason helped with the tyre change and it was done in a jiffy. Thankfully too as there is a grandstand facing directly where we were changing the tyre. Not exactly a sight to be proud of. Hahaha

This is where the problem starts, the threads on the Rays Engineering lug nuts got worn while tightening; and as such, only 3 of the lug nuts can be somewhat tightened. Somewhat tightened? Yeap! Just realized that the smaller dimension of the Rays Engineering lug nuts means that it ain't gonna be sitting flush and tight with the space saver wheel.

Pic 5: My old worn and well-used Rays lug nuts

Lucky thing is that the ER34 managed to be nursed back home all the way from Sepang International Circuit. We were only doing 60km/h all the way! Man that really sucks!

Couple of days later, I got replacement Rays Engineering lightweight Duraluminum lug nuts for the ER34 and she's now all fine and dandy. Oh btw, beware of fake Rays lug nuts which is flooding the market. Those are selling at a small fraction of the price compared to the originals. Don't be stingy on safety!

Pic 6: Brand new Rays lug nuts


Pic 7: Brand new Rays lug nuts


Pic 8: Brand new Rays lug nuts installed

High Performance Challenge Track Day

The ER34 finally is no track virgin. Its race track virginity was broken when it went into the High Performance Challenge Track Day on the 22nd July 2007.

Sadly though, the day was a wet one. Thunderstorm hit Sepang International Circuit (SIC) the whole afternoon drenching the tarmac wet; making it super slippery on the newly resurfaced tarmac.

The day was only limited to the south circuit which is about 2,609 meters long and consist of 8 corners. I did not have a good outing at all; the car was sliding on every corner in the rain drenched tarmac making it very difficult to drive confidently. Imagine reaching speed in excess of 180km/h only to brake hard into a 2nd gear corner.....really nerve wrecking experience. It doesn't help at all when I fitted in my stock wheels with Firenza ST-03 tyres instead of my 18" Work wheels with Goodyear Eagle F1 GS-D3.

Oh and I had one hell of a major spin out approaching turn 3 (Turn 9 if you look at the whole circuit). :(

Pic 1: SIC South Circuit

Pic 2: The ER34 at HPC

Pic 3: Lucky got a tent, else myself also will be drenched wet