2024 Autobacs SUPER GT

The 2024 AUTOBACS SUPER GT Round 7 at Autopolis delivered a rollercoaster of excitement, especially in the GT300 class, where unpredictable weather, bold strategy, and relentless competition set the stage for a race that will be remembered for its twists and turns. Yuui Tsutsumi and Hibiki Taira, driving the #2 muta Racing GR86 GT/Bridgestone, provided the main storyline, turning their 14th place start into a dramatic second-place finish despite a penalty that threatened their hopes for victory.

WEATHER CHAOS AND QUALIFYING DRAMA

Much like the sixth round, the seventh round of the season was a true battle against the elements. Intermittent heavy rain, lightning, and thick fog on Saturday forced the organizers to cancel the day’s schedule entirely. The race weekend was condensed into a one-day showdown on Sunday, leaving teams scrambling to adapt to the shortened preparation time.

The early morning qualifying session saw teams dealing with tricky weather conditions. With temperatures hovering around a chilly 12 degrees and the track surface even colder at 13 degrees, most teams began on rain tyres. As the track dried up, a mad scramble ensued, with some drivers switching to slicks to try to gain a time advantage. Tsutsumi and Taira, starting from 14^th, faced an uphill battle. The track, drying slowly in the cold, proved difficult to navigate, but they were undeterred, knowing their race pace could still shine.

QUALIFYING ROUND

PO.	NO.	MACHINE	DRIVER	BEST TIME	TYRE
7	#65	LEON PYRAMID AMG  Mercedes AMG GT3	Naoya Gamou Takuro Shinohara Haruki Kurosawa	1'48.698
11	#31	apr LC500h GT LEXUS LC500h	Kazuto Kotaka Jin Nakamura Yuki Nemoto	1'49.441
14	#2	muta Racing GR86 GT TOYOTA GR86	Yuui Tsutsumi Hibiki Taira	1'50.241
20	#52	Green Brave GR Supra GT TOYOTA GR Supra	Hiroki Yoshida Seita Nonaka	1'51.234

STRATEGIC GENIUS AND PENALTY HEARTBREAK

By the time the three-hour race began in the afternoon, the clouds lingered, keeping the temperatures low and making tyre warm-up a challenge. With two refuel stops mandated during the race, strategy became the key to success. Tsutsumi and Taira, starting mid-pack, executed a strategy that relied on minimising time lost in the pits. Their first stop was lightning-quick, involving only refueling without a driver change or tyre swap, keeping them in the fight.

Midway through the race, a moment of brilliance saw Tsutsumi avoid a messy on-track incident, cleverly utilising an undercut strategy during their pit stops. This move catapulted them up the standings, and when the safety car was deployed twice in quick succession, the duo seized the opportunity to leap into the lead.

However, their moment of glory was short-lived. Following the second SC period, race officials ruled that Tsutsumi and Taira had violated the procedure by creating too large a gap between themselves and the last GT500 car. The penalty—a drive-through—dropped them back, dashing their hopes of a straightforward victory.

A GRITTY COMEBACK FOR THE PODIUM

Even with the penalty, Tsutsumi was not done. He pushed hard in the closing stages of the race, clawing back positions with a series of determined overtakes. The drive-through penalty may have halted their charge to victory, but it didn’t take away their fighting spirit. As the race reached its climax, Tsutsumi crossed the line in second place, a remarkable achievement given their starting position and the mid-race setback.

Takashi Kogure and Yuya Motoshima in the #88 VENTENY Lamborghini GT3 ultimately took the top spot, but Tsutsumi and Taira’s performance was the talk of the paddock, with their comeback securing valuable points in the championship battle.

ACTUAL RACE

PO.	NO.	MACHINE	DRIVER	TOTAL TIME	TYRE
2	#2	muta Racing GR86 GT TOYOTA GR86	Yuui Tsutsumi Hibiki Taira	1'45.881
6	#65	LEON PYRAMID AMG Mercedes AMG GT3	Naoya Gamou Takuro Shinohara Haruki Kurosawa	1'45.523
14	#31	Apr LC500h GT LEXUS LC500h	Kazuto Kotaka Jin Nakamura Yuki Nemoto	1'47.944
18	#52	Green Brave GR Supra GT TOYOTA GR Supra	Hiroki Yoshida Seita Nonak	1'47.133