Round 6 of the 2006 AUTOBACS SUPER GT, the International Pokka 1000km race (173 laps at 5.807 km/lap), was held at the Suzuka Circuit in Mie Pref. on August 20 and the winner was the No.12 CALSONIC IMPUL Z team, scoring their first win of the season after qualifying first the day before.

Having run very fast in Saturday's qualifying to win the pole position, Benoit Treluyer darted out from the front row at the start of the Sunday race and continued to widen his lead over the field. His two teammates, Kazuki Hoshino and Jeremie Dufour, maintained that lead. The team ran strong to the end, lapping all but the 2nd place car on the way to a stunning victory in the 35th holding of this venerable race. For Kazuki Hoshino, this was his first-ever GT500 class win.

In the GT300 class as well, the pole position starters Pro? TAIYO OIL KUMHO CELICA scored a runaway victory. It was the team's first victory and also the first Super GT win for the Korean tire maker KUMHO, which only began serious GT competition as a tire supplier last year.
(Spectators: 35,000)



Winner comments
No.12 CALSONIC IMPUL Z [GT500]
Benoit Treluyer: "The car was perfect. It was almost as if all we drivers had to do was go along for the ride. The pit work was perfect too. It was just a great weekend. I want to thank the team, Nissan and the fans. I am really happy!"

Kazuki Hoshino: "Thank you, everyone! I am just so happy. But, to tell you the truth, I am the one who should have been driving at the end. It is just that the manager [Kazuki's father and team owner, Kazuyoshi Hoshino] doesn't trust me completely yet."

Jeremie Dufour: "I feel fantastic. Actually, this is my first race of the season [being a spot entry], so it was great to win. The car was so fast we didn't have to push it at all. I am thankful that Benoit went out an got us a lead from the start. I am also grateful to everyone on the team."

No.52 Pro? TAIYO OIL KUMHO CELICA
Hironori Takeuchi: "Yesterday was the first time we won the pole position [this season], so I still can't believe that we won today. We have been working with KUMHO Tire since last year and I have to admit that we had a lot of problems with communication and such at first. But after a year and a half of working together, we have really come to understand each other and the performance of the tires has improved a lot. It took a year and a half, but with this win I think we have finally been able to pay back KUMHO Tire for their efforts and our fans for their support."