Dunlop, others conclude Suzuka test. This time too, Z cars lead the way

The roar of SUPER GT machinery once again filled the air around Suzuka Circuit as car manufacturers and tire makers completed a two-day test at the circuit on February 22nd and 23rd, following on from earlier testing last week.
A total of 14 cars took part: 13 of them GT500 cars, with one car from GT300. By the second day it was thirteen cars in total, after the Tsuchiya Engineering (No.25 ECLIPSE ADVAN SUPRA) departed, having completed its test schedule on the first day.



The opening day was run in spring-like weather. With a morning session from 9 to 11am, and the afternoon running from 2:00 to 4:30, the day saw a total of four and a half hours' session time, allowing teams to carry out tire tests and machine tests.
In the middle of all this, the point of focus was the car making its first appearance in this country, the MASERATI MC12 (No. 51). In its first competitive outing on a Japanese circuit, running on Japanese oil, and on Japanese tires, it's fair to say the primary objective of this test was to make any necessary adjustments, looking at all areas of the car.

Meanwhile, among the '06 cars conducting shakedowns was the No.32 EPSON NSX. On the morning of the first day however, the car ran into trouble, preventing it from running the number of laps the team had planned. From the afternoon session, the team had the car running normally again, and carried out a tire test.

Taking part in this test was the sole GT300 machine, the No.52 Celica. On the first day of the test, the team carried out driver auditions with a group of young, new candidates. Current All-Japan F3 participants, the three courageous young Japanese made the 'step up', taking the wheel of the GT machine.

In terms of lap times, the quickest car on the opening day was the No.23 Xanavi NISMO Z, carrying on from its fine form in the last test. Top time in the morning went to the No.12 CALSONIC IMPUL Z, the car falling to 2nd by the end of the day. Rain fell after the first day's session ended, though the damp conditions mostly recovered overnight.
The second day was predominantly dry, with temperatures nudging close to the 15-degree Celsius mark (60 degrees Fahrenheit), though the strong wind made it feel colder than the previous day.

The second day ran the morning session from 10am to 12:05, and the afternoon one from 2:30 to 4:30. However, proceedings had to go an hour over as Dunlop used the track 1 hour longer than planned, meaning a few of the other teams ran late also.
On the second day, there was a rash of red flags in the morning. Thirty minutes into proceedings it was the Xanavi NISMO Z that brought out the first one; after one hour, the EPSON NSX brought out the next one. At the one hour twenty minute-mark, the No.430 TRD test car went off heavily between turns one and two. Driving the car was Juichi Wakisaka: "Under braking, the inside front tire locked up." he commented.
After hitting the tire barrier, damage to the front of the car was severe, and any planned running for the afternoon was abandoned. Although there had been plans for the car to undergo a Dunlop tire test in the afternoon, this was naturally cancelled.

On the second day, the top time was a 1:52.34, set by day one's leader, the No.23 Xanavi NISMO Z. In second place, it was the No.22 MOTUL AUTECH Z, with a best time of 1:52.72. Next up, the ARTA NSX set a 1:52.79 in the morning, completing the trio of cars in the 1:52 bracket. Moreover, the No. 1 CERUMO SC, which had been unable to move up previously, made a big improvement over the first day. Driver Yuji Tachikawa set a best time of 1:53.51, and the car is gradually catching the NSX and Z machines. Also, making its first appearance in Japan, the MASERATI MC12 had a top time in the 1:57s on the first day, improving to the 1:55s on the final day of the test.

Next week the teams are scheduled to run at Okayama International Circuit, including the MASERATI MC12, which is also set to participate.


Suzuka Test Time22,23 Feb. (GT500 only)
No.
Driver
22 AM
22 PM
23 AM
23 PM
Best
23
NISMO Z
1:53.87
1:53.14
2:02.43
1:52.34
1:52.34
22
AUTECH Z
1:54.32
1:54.29
1:53.15
1:52.72
1:52.72
8
ARTA NSX
1:53.84
1:55.45
1:52.79
1:53.22
1:52.79
12
IMPUL Z
1:53.52
1:54.36
1:53.05
1:53.25
1:53.05
66
Supra
1:54.50
1:53.87
1:53.35
1:53.39
1:53.35
1
CERUMO SC
1:56.48
1:57.17
1:53.51
1:53.52
1:53.51
350
NISMO Test Car(Z)
1:53.62
1:56.31
1:54.57
1:53.99
1:53.62
100
RAYBRIG NSX
1:54.39
1:54.47
1:53.78
1:53.92
1:53.78
430
TRD Test Car(SC)
1:56.10
1:54.81
1:54.35
1:54.35
6
Mobil 1 SC
1:55.77
1:55.86
1:56.67
1:54.57
1:54.57
51
MC12
1:57.99
1:57.80
1:58.24
1:55.03
1:55.03
32
EPSON NSX
2:24.38
1:58.62
1:55.92
1:55.66
1:55.66
25
Supra
1:55.69
1:55.97
1:55.69
*Lap times are provided by Bridgestone for informational purposes only. They are not official.