Season's first victory for CIVIC TYPE R-GT, sealed with podium sweep
AUTOPOLISIn the GT500 class, #100 STANLEY CIVIC TYPE R-GT (Naoki Yamamoto/Tadasuke Makino) took the win, #64 Modulo CIVIC TYPE R-GT (Takuya Izawa/Riki Okusa) finished 2nd, and #16 ARTA MUGEN CIVIC TYPE R-GT (Hiroki Otsu/Ren Sato) finished 3rd, achieving the podium sweep by the Honda CIVIC entrants.
The seventh round of the 2025 Super GT series, also known as the 'Autopolis GT 3-Hour Race,' took place at Autopolis International Racing Course over the weekend of October 18-19. In the GT500 class, #100 STANLEY CIVIC TYPE R-GT (Naoki Yamamoto/Tadasuke Makino) took the win, #64 Modulo CIVIC TYPE R-GT (Takuya Izawa/Riki Okusa) finished 2nd, and #16 ARTA MUGEN CIVIC TYPE R-GT (Hiroki Otsu/Ren Sato) finished 3rd, achieving the podium sweep by the Honda CIVIC entrants.
The success weight (SW) of each entrant accumulated so far in the season was reduced by half across the board for this event and the Honda camp introduced new engines for the second time in this season. The #64 car, which had been severely damaged in the sixth round at Sugo, was fully restored through the hard work by the team and was brought to Autopolis.
The Honda entrants and each SW were as follows:
#8 ARTA MUGEN CIVIC TYPE R-GT (Tomoki Nojiri/Nobuharu Matsushita) - SW25kg
#16 ARTA MUGEN CIVIC TYPE R-GT (Hiroki Otsu/Ren Sato) - SW18kg
#17 Astemo CIVIC TYPE R-GT (Koudai Tsukakoshi/Syun Koide) - SW23kg
#64 Modulo CIVIC TYPE R-GT (Takuya Izawa/Riki Okusa) - SW9kg
#100 STANLEY CIVIC TYPE R-GT (Naoki Yamamoto/Tadasuke Makino) - SW32kg
The weather on the 18th (Saturday) was clear when the qualifying session started, but the sky gradually became overcast, and it began raining in some sections of the circuit while the GT500 class cars were on track.
The official qualifying sessions in the afternoon experienced small amounts of intermittent rain, but the time attack started in dry conditions. All the CIVIC TYPE R-GT runners, assuming that it might rain in the latter half of the session, began each attack earlier than normal, but the rain didn’t increase in the remaining time. In the meantime, rival cars marked better times one after another in their final attack, which forced four-out-of-five CIVIC entrants to sink in the bottom half of the grid. The #64 car driven by Okusa was the only Honda entry to enter Q2, and sat 8th on the grid. The #16, #100, #8 and #17 cars followed in 11th to 14th grid places respectively.
On the 19th (Sunday), a dense fog early in the morning threatened the suitability for racing, but it all cleared at a little past 9. At 1:10 p.m., under the cloudy sky with the air and the track temperature each at 22℃ and 25℃, all the entrants invariably shod in dry tires started the 3-hour race.
The #64 car (Izawa) running at the forefront among the CIVIC TYPE R-GT entry maintained its 8th position for a while, but on Lap-12, it pushed #24 Z NISMO out on the grass while battling for position and thus fell back behind by incurring a drive-through penalty.
The 3-hour race required at least two stops including refueling, and in the GT500 class race, some entrants, seemingly employing the undercut strategy, began making their first pit stops after Lap 21. The #100 car, which started from the 12th grid and was driven by Yamamoto, didn’t follow the move and chose to stay on track as long as possible, for at least 1 hour or even longer. Yamamoto continued a steady pace lap after lap with fuel management in mind and finally reached the top, albeit nominally, on Lap 37. Later, on Lap 40, when there was 1 hour and 45 minutes left to go, he headed for the pit and handed over the car to Makino.
The #100 car (Makino) returned to the track in 11th place and soon began overtaking the early stoppers in rapid succession. On Lap 59, he moved ahead of #1 GR Supra and up into 2nd place, before claiming the lead on Lap 61, while #37 GP Supra came in for its second pit stop. The lengthy first stint done by Yamamoto helped the #100 car stop for the shortest possible refueling time and return to the track, retaining the virtual first place with a full tank, still being driven by Makino.
In the meantime, the #16 car, taking advantage of the same pit stop strategy as the #100 car, now sat firmly in 4th place. Behind the GR Supra duo running 5th (#38) and 6th (#37), the #64 car quickly caught them from 7th place and joined the three-way battle for the 4th place ahead. On Lap 67, the #16 and #64 cars moved up to 3rd and 4th each following Makino’s #100 car in 2nd.
When the #12 Z NISMO, running in front of the #100 car, came in for its second stop on Lap 69, the 1-2-3 formation of the CIVIC TYPE R-GT cars, #100 (Makino) at the top followed by #16 (Sato) and #64 (Okusa), was established. While Makino (#100) was pulling away from the pack, a battle for the second slot between Sato (#16) and Okusa (#64) flared up. The fierce tail-to-nose fight continued more than twenty laps thereafter, and on Lap 102, with only a couple of laps to go, Okusa (#64), finding a slight opening and making the most of it, moved ahead of Sato (#16) to capture 2nd place. Right after this showdown, the race reached the 3-hour time limit, and the #100 car driven by Makino received the winning checkered flag after a 102-lap effort. With Okusa (#64) and Sato (#16) finishing 2nd and 3rd respectively, the CIVIC TYPE R-GT achieved its first victory of the season, enhanced by a 1-2-3 finish. In addition, the #17 and #8 cars finished 8th and 10th, and earning a share of the series points.
After the seventh round, the #100 car, with a total of 52 series points, moved up to 3rd place in the overall point ranking, 8.5 points behind the leading #1 GR Supra, and waits for the final round at Motegi, still hopeful for the championship title.
Although qualifying results were not what we had hoped for, I was thinking we still had a good chance to win if the race started with a track condition that was dry and low in surface temperature. For a 3-hour race that normally requires multiple stops, the timing of the pit stop and the fuel consumption management that enables the shortest possible refueling time would become critical. So, in the face of this very meeting, we had meticulous discussions with the teams on the matter. CIVIC TYPE R-GT cars, #100 in particular, thoroughly implemented the preset strategy, and thus achieved the commanding 1-2-3 finish. #100 is now just 8.5-points behind the point leader, which is a feasible target for sure. We’ll try our best to win back-to-back in the forthcoming final round.
Although qualifying results were not what we had hoped for, I was thinking we still had a good chance to win if the race started with a track condition that was dry and low in surface temperature. For a 3-hour race that normally requires multiple stops, the timing of the pit stop and the fuel consumption management that enables the shortest possible refueling time would become critical. So, in the face of this very meeting, we had meticulous discussions with the teams on the matter. CIVIC TYPE R-GT cars, #100 in particular, thoroughly implemented the preset strategy, and thus achieved the commanding 1-2-3 finish. #100 is now just 8.5-points behind the point leader, which is a feasible target for sure. We’ll try our best to win back-to-back in the forthcoming final round.
I wanted to win this one very badly because we’re going to have just a couple of races left to fight with CIVIC. So, I’m really happy we could make it. Strategically speaking, our plan was to do the first and second stints as long as possible so that we could minimize the second stop time. It was a race in which Makino’s speed and power played a critical role, and the entire team did a fantastic job including strategies, car set ups and so forth. I think Makino and I owe this victory to everyone in the team. We’ll go to the final round with a chance for the title still in our hand. Let’s come together and be victorious!
I wanted to win this one very badly because we’re going to have just a couple of races left to fight with CIVIC. So, I’m really happy we could make it. Strategically speaking, our plan was to do the first and second stints as long as possible so that we could minimize the second stop time. It was a race in which Makino’s speed and power played a critical role, and the entire team did a fantastic job including strategies, car set ups and so forth. I think Makino and I owe this victory to everyone in the team. We’ll go to the final round with a chance for the title still in our hand. Let’s come together and be victorious!
CIVIC TYPE R-GT had won only once so far. We've been without a victory this season until today, so it's nice we could finally win. The fact that we could retain the chance for the series title made the weekend perfect. I might as well say that what we did today was exactly the way Team Kunimitsu wins that we haven’t been able to repeat in a long time. Honestly, I was a little nervous about the race, especially thinking over the fuel efficient driving, however, we could save fuel even when we’re catching up, which enabled us to reduce the pit stop time and build some margin. It’s really a bang-on-target strategy!
CIVIC TYPE R-GT had won only once so far. We've been without a victory this season until today, so it's nice we could finally win. The fact that we could retain the chance for the series title made the weekend perfect. I might as well say that what we did today was exactly the way Team Kunimitsu wins that we haven’t been able to repeat in a long time. Honestly, I was a little nervous about the race, especially thinking over the fuel efficient driving, however, we could save fuel even when we’re catching up, which enabled us to reduce the pit stop time and build some margin. It’s really a bang-on-target strategy!
Qualifying sessions were quite tough, but our tires performed well in difficult conditions. As soon as I began running, I got the feeling that ‘it’s going to be OK!’ I was given a penalty for what I did during my stint, however, nobody, including myself, had ever lost heart, and tried hard to catch up. In that way, we could achieve the result, the podium finish in the penultimate round. I’m grateful to all the team members for it.
Qualifying sessions were quite tough, but our tires performed well in difficult conditions. As soon as I began running, I got the feeling that ‘it’s going to be OK!’ I was given a penalty for what I did during my stint, however, nobody, including myself, had ever lost heart, and tried hard to catch up. In that way, we could achieve the result, the podium finish in the penultimate round. I’m grateful to all the team members for it.
Arriving at Autopolis, I immediately felt that we could do it this time around. Sato was pretty quick in the race, but I soon realized that his fast and slow sections were different from those of mine, which I thought would become a clue to how to beat him. I’m extremely happy to know it had worked well. On reflection, this is my first time to climb on the GT500 podium, and I’m deeply moved that I came such a long way to get here. It was a race that gave positive feelings towards the final round.
Arriving at Autopolis, I immediately felt that we could do it this time around. Sato was pretty quick in the race, but I soon realized that his fast and slow sections were different from those of mine, which I thought would become a clue to how to beat him. I’m extremely happy to know it had worked well. On reflection, this is my first time to climb on the GT500 podium, and I’m deeply moved that I came such a long way to get here. It was a race that gave positive feelings towards the final round.
The weekend was heavily affected by the weather. Our prediction for the qualifying condition was largely wrong, which made us start from a lower grid position; however, we still had a certain self-confidence for the race ahead. The race pace that had been our problem improved significantly this time, and the team did a terrific job on the strategy. Of course, I felt jealous of the #100 car’s victory, and yet, I’m happy for what we’ve accomplished today.
The weekend was heavily affected by the weather. Our prediction for the qualifying condition was largely wrong, which made us start from a lower grid position; however, we still had a certain self-confidence for the race ahead. The race pace that had been our problem improved significantly this time, and the team did a terrific job on the strategy. Of course, I felt jealous of the #100 car’s victory, and yet, I’m happy for what we’ve accomplished today.
We messed up in the qualifying session but did fine in the race thanks to the good car and good strategy. Both the car and tires began deteriorating in the final laps so that we had to surrender our position to #16 CIVIC, but it was fantastic that we, as the Honda gang, conquered the top places. We tried some new challenges in the race, and it worked out to some extent. Personally, I feel we could be even better if we further explore this direction.
We messed up in the qualifying session but did fine in the race thanks to the good car and good strategy. Both the car and tires began deteriorating in the final laps so that we had to surrender our position to #16 CIVIC, but it was fantastic that we, as the Honda gang, conquered the top places. We tried some new challenges in the race, and it worked out to some extent. Personally, I feel we could be even better if we further explore this direction.
GT500 Race Result
Pos. | No. | Team | Driver | Lap/Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 100 | STANLEY TEAM KUNIMITSU | Naoki Yamamoto / Tadasuke Makino | 102 Laps |
2 | 64 | Modulo Nakajima Racing | Takuya Izawa / Riki Okusa | +25.944 |
3 | 16 | ARTA #16 | Hiroki Otsu / Ren Sato | +30.652 |
4 | 38 | TGR TEAM KeePer CERUMO | Hiroaki Ishiura / Toshiki Oyu | +54.989 |
5 | 19 | TGR TEAM WedsSport BANDOH | Yuji Kunimoto / Sena Sakaguchi / Kazuto Kotaka | +56.891 |
6 | 23 | NISMO | Katsumasa Chiyo / Mitsunori Takaboshi | +57.522 |
8 | 17 | Astemo REAL RACING | Koudai Tsukakoshi / Syun Koide | +59.586 |
10 | 8 | ARTA #8 | Tomoki Nojiri / Nobuharu Matsushita | +1’03.351 |
GT500 Team Ranking
Pos. | No. | Team | Driver | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1 | TGR TEAM au TOM’S | Sho Tsuboi / Kenta Yamashita | 79.5 |
2 | 100 | STANLEY TEAM KUNIMITSU | Naoki Yamamoto / Tadasuke Makino | 73 |
3 | 14 | TGR TEAM ENEOS ROOKIE | Kazuya Oshima / Nirei Fukuzumi | 72.5 |
4 | 38 | TGR TEAM KeePer CERUMO | Hiroaki Ishiura / Toshiki Oyu | 68 |
5 | 39 | TGR TEAM SARD | Yuhi Sekiguchi / Sacha Fenestraz | 65 |
6 | 37 | TGR TEAM Deloitte TOM’S | Ukyo Sasahara / Giuliano Alesi | 61.5 |
8 | 8 | ARTA #8 | Tomoki Nojiri / Nobuharu Matsushita | 46.5 |
9 | 16 | ARTA #16 | Hiroki Otsu / Ren Sato | 44.5 |
11 | 17 | Astemo REAL RACING | Koudai Tsukakoshi / Syun Koide | 42 |
13 | 64 | Modulo Nakajima Racing | Takuya Izawa / Riki Okusa | 39.5 |
