Posted Sep 15 2008, 10:00 PM by Mike Garrett with 7 comment(s)

Just a few weeks after the big Suzuka race that Rod and Antonio were at, the Super GT Series was in action again this past weekend at Twin Ring Motegi in Tochigi Prefecture a couple hours north of Tokyo. Teams and fans were greeted with clear, dry weather and it would turn out to be a very exciting race, particularly in the GT300 class where there was an amazing come-from-behind victory.

First we have the action in the GT500 class. Starting from the pole position was the YellowHat YMS Tomica GT-R driven by Ronnie Quintarelli and Naoki Yokomizo. At the end of the race the YMS GT-R was able to hold on for the victory finishing ahead of the ARTA NSX. It was the first GT500 win in 13 years for the Yellow Hat team. There's no better way to run a race than starting in the first position and finishing there as well. By the way, in case you didn't know, Yellow Hat is a huge Japanese auto parts store chain that is similar to Autobacs.

The GT300 race would be full of drama. Here we see the start of the race with NOB Taniguchi's Yunker Power Taisan Porsche starting on the pole. It would not finish there though.

There's the sexy Triple A Murcie LG1 which would end up finishing third in the GT300 class.

Amazingly, the GT300 class victory went to Manabu Orido and Tsubasa Abe in the Weds Sport Lexus IS350. This car started the race from the last position on the grid and Orido and Abe managed to work their way to the front of the field for the win. This marks the first Super GT victory for the IS350.

There are two more races left in the '08 Super GT season and the next one will be held in about a month at Autopolis in Kyushu.

Super GT (Photos Courtesy of Super GT)

-Mike Garrett


Comments

Alex said:

I bet Tsuchiya is happy about that second place.

Props to Orido for the win. From last position to the top of the podium.....wow.

September 16, 2008 12:21 AM [flag as inappropriate] Speedhunters

ridgezero said:

wow thats a cool suprise i didnt know orido piloted the is350, orido+abe+weds= FTW! for real

September 16, 2008 1:14 AM [flag as inappropriate] Speedhunters

TougeNoMikado said:

おめでとう  team Yellow Hat !! 

September 16, 2008 2:27 AM [flag as inappropriate] Speedhunters

liamsil80 said:

that is350 is dope! I want to see that murcielago with a crazy super gt wideboody kit

September 16, 2008 1:46 PM [flag as inappropriate] Speedhunters

Roe Tengco said:

Nice read ;)  (if only we get coverage of the race here in my country :/)

September 16, 2008 8:46 PM [flag as inappropriate] Speedhunters

Swede13 said:

As a US citizen, is there any way to get recordings of the races here?

September 20, 2008 7:17 PM [flag as inappropriate] Speedhunters

Erik Wilson said:

Tell me you guys have more pictures of this event that you can link too!

November 16, 2008 6:11 AM [flag as inappropriate] Speedhunters