Three CIVIC TYPE R-GT cars scored points at scorching Suzuka
Suzuka CircuitThe fifth round of the 2025 Super GT series, also named as “SUZUKA GT300km RACE”, was held at Suzuka Circuit (Mie Pref.) on August 23 (Sat) - 24 (Sun), and a total of five CIVIC TYPE R-GT cars participated in the 52-lap race, with three finishing in the top-10.
For the fifth round of the 2025 Super GT series, also named as “SUZUKA GT300km RACE”, the same line-ups as in the previous round were entered from the Honda camp, as per below:
#8 ARTA MUGEN CIVIC TYPE R-GT (Tomoki Nojiri/Nobuharu Matsushita)
#16 ARTA MUGEN CIVIC TYPE R-GT (Hiroki Otsu/Ren Sato)
#17 Astemo CIVIC TYPE R-GT (Koudai Tsukakoshi/Syun Koide)
#64 Modulo CIVIC TYPE R-GT (Takuya Izawa/Riki Okusa)
#100 STANLEY CIVIC TYPE R-GT (Naoki Yamamoto/Tadasuke Makino)
Prior to the race weekend, Izawa in the #64 Modulo CIVIC TYPE R-GT made a statement on August 21 (Thu) announcing his intension to retire from the GT500 category at the end of the 2025 season.
Whereas the special rule removing all success weights was applied to the previous round (Round 4), the weight handicap at the end of Round 3 was reinstalled for this round; each of Honda entrants’ weights are as follows:
#100 car - 52kg
#8 car - 43kg
#17 car - 24kg
#64 car - 9kg
#16 car that has shown decent speed but without any notable result so far was carrying no success weight
In the official qualifying sessions that took place under a burning sun, Otsu marked the 2nd best time in Q1 to take the #16 car into Q2, where Sato took over to mark the best time and capture pole position. #64 Izawa did 7th fastest making way to Q2, where Okusa upgraded to 6th in Q2. #100 Makino cleared Q1, but in Q2, Yamamoto had his time forfeited after putting all four wheels out of the track, and thus ended up to the 10th grid to start the race.
The race was started at 15:37 p.m., with the air/track temperature each at 35℃ and 52℃. Otsu left from pole and immediately began pulling away from the pack, leading the #23 Z NISMO in 2nd. He managed to build a gap of a little under three secongs, but this was to be reset by Safety Car deployed on Lap-5.
The race was restarted on Lap-10. Otsu dashed out quickly but was gradually caught this time by the #23 car as its tyres came to temperature, and on Lap-12, the then one second gap between the two turned into a tail-to-nose battle. Answering to this assault, Otsu worked at full defence, and came in at the end of Lap-18 for a fresh set of tyres, refuelling and to hand over the car to Sato. #23 car also made its stop on the same lap and launched out the pit a fraction quicker, which forced #16 car now driven by Sato to hand over the position.
On top of this, the #16 car was over-cut by #3 Z NISMO that came in on the next lap, and then by #14 GR Supra that came in a further lap later, dropping down to virtual 4th.
Sato pushed the #16 car really hard to catch the #3 car running in front but couldn't make his way back onto the podium, finished a disappointing 4th. Behind him, the #64 car finished 7th, #100 car 10th, meaning a total of three CIVIC TYPE R-GT cars earned each share of series points.
Looking at the qualifying results, it makes much sense to me to see the cars with lighter success weight finish in the top ranks and the cars with fuel restrictions sink lower - a typical phenomenon seen in the contemporary GT500 series, I dare say. #16 car took the pole position and it naturally made me hopeful for the race, however, the pit stop timing plotted us a position down. Worse still, rival cars that chose late stop got ahead and robbed us of the podium finish. The race pace of #16 car was similar to or even better than #3 car (finished 3rd), which made us feel even more frustrated. We’ll carry relatively lighter success weights next time around, so we’re going for the win.
Looking at the qualifying results, it makes much sense to me to see the cars with lighter success weight finish in the top ranks and the cars with fuel restrictions sink lower - a typical phenomenon seen in the contemporary GT500 series, I dare say. #16 car took the pole position and it naturally made me hopeful for the race, however, the pit stop timing plotted us a position down. Worse still, rival cars that chose late stop got ahead and robbed us of the podium finish. The race pace of #16 car was similar to or even better than #3 car (finished 3rd), which made us feel even more frustrated. We’ll carry relatively lighter success weights next time around, so we’re going for the win.
The track temperature began lowering right from the start and our tyres matched to such a condition, so I thought to myself the later half of the race would be crucial. It was nice that I could maintain the top position in my stint, but lost it in the pit stop jumble. If we could stay at the top for a longer period, I have a feeling our pace would probably be better than that of the winning car (#23). It’s a pity that we couldn’t make the best use of the pole start, however, this weekend gave me more confidence for the performance of our car. I’d like to show the similar speed in the next race and steadily prepare for it.
The track temperature began lowering right from the start and our tyres matched to such a condition, so I thought to myself the later half of the race would be crucial. It was nice that I could maintain the top position in my stint, but lost it in the pit stop jumble. If we could stay at the top for a longer period, I have a feeling our pace would probably be better than that of the winning car (#23). It’s a pity that we couldn’t make the best use of the pole start, however, this weekend gave me more confidence for the performance of our car. I’d like to show the similar speed in the next race and steadily prepare for it.
Otsu started the race from the pole position, and kept the top position all through his own stint, but when it came to the driver change, we eventually allowed three cars to get ahead in the pit work tactics. My pace was not so bad but I couldn’t recover the lost position because of the downforce-oriented car setting (and thus the insufficient straight-line speed). In the final phase of the race when the track temperature went further down, my pace was clearly better than #3 car in front. I think our car has the speed enough to fight in the top group. I try my best to get rid of frustration I had today.
Otsu started the race from the pole position, and kept the top position all through his own stint, but when it came to the driver change, we eventually allowed three cars to get ahead in the pit work tactics. My pace was not so bad but I couldn’t recover the lost position because of the downforce-oriented car setting (and thus the insufficient straight-line speed). In the final phase of the race when the track temperature went further down, my pace was clearly better than #3 car in front. I think our car has the speed enough to fight in the top group. I try my best to get rid of frustration I had today.
GT500 Race Result
Pos. | No. | Team | Driver | Time/Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 23 | NISMO | Katsumasa Chiyo / Mitsunori Takaboshi | 1:47'10.646 |
2 | 14 | TGR TEAM ENEOS ROOKIE | Kazuya Oshima / Nirei Fukuzumi | +5.768 |
3 | 3 | NISMO NDDP | Daiki Sasaki / Atsushi Miyake | +16.569 |
4 | 16 | ARTA #16 | Hiroki Otsu / Ren Sato | +17.844 |
5 | 38 | TGR TEAM KeePer CERUMO | Hiroaki Ishiura / Toshiki Oyu | +21.454 |
6 | 39 | TGR TEAM SARD | Sacha Fenestraz / Yuhi Sekiguchi | +22.540 |
7 | 64 | Modulo Nakajima Racing | Takuya Izawa / Riki Okusa | +23.565 |
10 | 100 | STANLEY TEAM KUNIMITSU | Naoki Yamamoto / Tadasuke Makino | +33.729 |
11 | 8 | ARTA #8 | Tomoki Nojiri / Nobuharu Matsushita | +1'01.324 |
- | 17 | Astemo REAL RACING | Koudai Tsukakoshi / Syun Koide | +49 Laps |
GT500 Team Ranking
Pos. | No. | Team | Driver | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1 | TGR TEAM au TOM’S | Sho Tsuboi / Kenta Yamashita | 73.5 |
2 | 14 | TGR TEAM ENEOS ROOKIE | Kazuya Oshima / Nirei Fukuzumi | 60.5 |
3 | 38 | TGR TEAM KeePer CERUMO | Hiroaki Ishiura / Toshiki Oyu | 54 |
4 | 37 | TGR TEAM Deloitte TOM’S | Ukyo Sasahara / Giuliano Alesi | 52.5 |
5 | 23 | NISMO | Katsumasa Chiyo / Mitsunori Takaboshi | 44 |
6 | 39 | TGR TEAM SARD | Yuhi Sekiguchi / Sacha Fenestraz | 44 |
7 | 100 | STANLEY TEAM KUNIMITSU | Naoki Yamamoto / Tadasuke Makino | 42 |
9 | 8 | ARTA #8 | Tomoki Nojiri / Nobuharu Matsushita | 36.5 |
11 | 17 | Astemo REAL RACING | Koudai Tsukakoshi / Syun Koide | 22 |
12 | 64 | Modulo Nakajima Racing | Takuya Izawa / Riki Okusa | 21.5 |
14 | 16 | ARTA #16 | Hiroki Otsu / Ren Sato | 19.5 |
