G'ZOX SSR Hasemi Z won JGTC 2004 All-star 200, first race in US
GT LIVE USA - JGTC 2004 All Star / JGTC ALL-STAR 200 Race Report
California Speedway (Cal., USA) - December 18, 2004
The Japanese Top Production based cars race series; JGTC has made a first foot step on the US soil in the series history. On the first day, the 200 mile race started in the late afternoon (16:30 US PST Time), and G'ZOX SSR Hasemi Z (#3, Toshihiro Kaneishi / Erik Comas) has grabbed the victory in this inaugural event.
JGTC 2004 All-star race event was held at the California Speedway in Fontana where the city is located 50miles east of Los Angeles downtown. California Speedway is one of the super-speedways in the US with 2 mile oval course length. At this course, the famous Indy Car and NASCAR series are competing regularly, and for this exclusive event the track was modified to 2.3 mile (approximately 3.7km) course with its oval and in-field portion combined. The basic course layout is like this. Starting from the slightly inclined main front straight, and passing through coming chicane into the in-field, then the 21corner, accelerating at next straight way, then coming back on to an oval section. There are not many passing points throughout the course but on the straight way the cars could reach 200km/h. Also, a specially constructed in-field section requires each driver more precise and higher driving techniques due to its irregularly shaped turns and the track surface that suddenly changes from the oval section which has much bumpy and slippery surface characteristics than the oval.
The JGTC 2004 All-star is an exhibition type race aside from the regular series and the championship has already been decided as Xanavi NISMO Z won the title at last race held in Japan. The series champions Satoshi Motoyama and Richard Lyons are the entrants of this race and these top drivers are contending on the US track first time.
The first day on Dec-18th, combined run of two classes was given for 30 minutes in the qualifying session. Also each class was given 10 minutes, which the time is shorter than the regular race series. Lyons (#1-Xanavi NISMO Z) who runs at last of this qualifying session recorded the top time of 1:23,124 sec. The qualifying second is Calsonic IMPUL Z (#12, Benoit Treluyer / Yuji Ide)1:23,289 sec. resulting NISSAN domination of the front row. Motul Pitwork Z (#22, Masami Kageyama/Michael Krumn) marked is starting 5th and G'ZOX SSR Hasemi Z (#3, Toshihiro Kaneishi / Erik Comas) finished 8th in the qualifying session.
Immediately after this qualifying attack, at 16:30 US time the 200 mile race started in same day. Also, in this race there is a requirement for each car to be coming in to the pit at least two times after 15 laps completed. At the pit there is also a special rule that the car must change four tires and the additional fuel needs to be added.
At 16:30 near sunset, the lights on the grand stand are turned on and after the 2 laps of formation run the race started. As soon as the green flag is waived, all 10 cars from GT500 class and 12 from GT300 class are accelerating into the first chicane built at the end of front straight way.
Started 8th and continuously adding the position upwards, Comas' Z (car #3) run 7th after 1st lap and by 31st lap the car runs 2nd in the competition. His pace was consistent afterwards and making the gap between cars run behind. Under the course caution Comas headed to pit and in the rest of the race wisely using lapped cars and finished 2nd . But after the race finished a violation was found against the top finished number 32 car that they did not comply the newly enforced pit stop regulation therefore Z-#3 to move up to be a winner of the race.
Z-#12 took over the 1st place and at 22nd lap the driver was changed from Treluyer to Ide. Returned back on the track running 10th and the position was further advanced to 3rd in lap 47.  When the top car pitted at lap 50, Z-#12 moved forward to 2nd following Z-#3 running 2nd.
After setting today's fastest lap record and fulfilling mandatory second pit stop, Z-#12 was able to return on the track 5th and later advanced to 4th. Ide passed start/finish line in 4th position even with the rear cowl damaged.
Qualifying top Motoyama, the first driver of Xanavi NISMO Z pulled other contenders in the race and kept the top but he was blocked by the lapped car at 10th lap that makes him lost the lead margin. On lap 12 at the entrance of in-field section, Motoyama was passed by Treluyer in Calsonic IMPUL Z (#12) and his pace continues to drop. He was hit by car behind and span at the in-field section and contacted with Michigami's NSX( #18). The race has stopped under yellow and meanwhile Motoyama returned to pit trying to fix his Z but the right rear suspension arm was heavily damaged unrepairable. Motoyama retired as a result.
Kageyama who drove in Motul Pitwork Z-#22 was started 5th on the grid later advanced to the top while car #12 is in the pit at lap 22nd . However on lap 31st he span at the chicane and was passed by PIAA NSX(#32). After the driver change to Krumm, pace was not improved and at lap 58 he came in to the pit claiming heavy steering. The problem was not repairable and he had to end the race here.
Masahiro Hasemi, G'Zox SSR Hasemi Z(#3)/
Hasemi Motorsports Team Manager said,
"I confirmed about the special pit-in regulation in this race with martial officer during the race and No.3 car made pit-in again in total of three times. So I had 70% confidence of our victory. Since only My Team did not get a win in 2004 season among GT500Zs, I am really pleased to win although it is an All-Star competition."
Erik Comas (#3) said,
"I enjoyed this first race in US. I'm really glad to won inaugural event. I hope American manufactures and drivers will compete in Japan next year."
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Qualify RESULTS (GT500class)
JGTC All-Star 200
Saturday, 18 December, 2004 California Speedway [ 13:30~14:20 Fine / Dry ]
| Pos |
Car Name |
No. |
Driver Name |
Time/Diff. |
| 1 |
Xanavi NISMO Z |
1 |
S.Motoyama / R.Lyons |
1'23.124 |
| 2 |
CALSONIC IMPUL Z |
12 |
B.Treluyer / Y.Ide |
1'23.289 |
| 3 |
DYNACITY Tom's Supra |
37 |
J.Courtney / T.Kataoka |
1'23.665 |
| 4 |
TAKATA DOME NSX |
18 |
R.Michigami / S.Philippe |
1'23.842 |
| 5 |
MOTUL PITWORK Z |
22 |
M.Kageyama / M.Krumm |
1'23.932 |
| 6 |
PIAA NSX |
32 |
T.Matsuda / A.Lotterer |
1'24.024 |
| 7 |
RAYBRIG NSX |
100 |
S.Nakano / H.Kato / B.Jouanny |
1'24.465 |
| 8 |
G'ZOX SSR HASEMI Z |
3 |
T.Kaneishi / E.Comas |
1'24.554 |
| 9 |
ARTA NSX |
8 |
K.Kaneishi / D.Ito |
1'24.653 |
| 10 |
DIREZZA DUNLOP Supra |
35 |
N.Hattori / S.Wakisaka |
1'24.835 |
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RACE RESULTS (GT500class)
JGTC All-Star 200
Saturday, 18 December, 2004 California Speedway [ 16:30~87Laps Fine / Dry ]
| Pos |
Car Name |
No. |
Driver Name |
Time/Diff. |
| 1 |
G'ZOX SSR HASEMI Z |
3 |
T.Kaneishi / E.Comas |
2:13'52.119 |
| 2 |
PIAA NSX |
32 |
T.Matsuda / A.Lotterer |
+58.844 |
| 3 |
DIREZZA DUNLOP Supra |
35 |
N.Hattori / S.Wakisaka |
+1'24.833 |
| 4 |
CALSONIC IMPUL Z |
12 |
B.Treluyer / Y.Ide |
+1'42.320 |
| 5 |
DYNACITY Tom's Supra |
37 |
J.Courtney / T.Kataoka |
2laps |
| 7 |
RAYBRIG NSX |
100 |
S.Nakano / H.Kato / B.Jouanny |
4laps |
| R |
MOTUL PITWORK Z |
22 |
M.Kageyama / M.Krumm |
-- |
| R |
Xanavi NISMO Z |
1 |
S.Motoyama / R.Lyons |
-- |
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TRACK INFORMATION
Length: 2.3Miles (3.68km)
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