Round 3 of SUPER GT marked the beginning of Golden Week at Fuji Speedway, the annual event held over the May 1-2 weekend under clear blue skies. Last year the victor was the MOTUL AUTECH GT-R, and it was hoped that this time around the winning spirit of the NISSAN GT-R would reappear. Anticipating the long straight at Fuji, the car's front and rear fenders were specially modified.

The #23 MOTUL AUTECH GT-R (Satoshi Motoyama/Benoit Treluyer) had 6kgs'handicap weight onboard. Higher ambient and track surface temperatures were a clear indication that it was already early summer. Official practice started on Saturday morning, the car taking a tolerable 5th place.

Considering its 4th-place result in the previous race, the #12 CALSONIC IMPUL GT-R (Tsugio Matsuda/Ronnie Quintarelli) was saddled with a relatively light 16kgs of handicap weight. The weekend got off to a splendid start with the car taking 3rd in practice. Quintarelli took care of qualifying duties, in this, the first round of the season to use the Super Lap format.

Winners of the season's opening round, the #24 HIS ADVAN KONDO GT-R (Joao Paolo de Oliveira/Hironobu Yasuda) had 40kgs ballast on the car, and as expected, wasn't able to challenge for a top time. The car was 9th in practice, before ending the 1st qualifying session in 7th.

The #23 GT-R has been repaired after crashing in the previous round. The atmosphere in the pits seems friendly enough. This time Treluyer takes charge of the preliminary time attack. Ninth place in the first qualifying session meant no advance to Super Lap, but an infringement by the 8th-placed machine ensures the #23 GT-R a berth.

Quintarelli in the #12 GT-R wasn't expected to move into Super Lap after the chosen tyres didn't match the track surface conditions. - It is regrettable because even though this was the first time I'd used those tyres, I had hoped to be 7th or 8th at worst, - lamented the Italian.

In the #24 GT-R Oliveira took care of the preliminary time attack, netting 5th for Super Lap, the highest position among the GT-R entries. SL unfolded less favourably than expected and the car ended up 8th.

The car that made the biggest gains in SL was the #23 GT-R of Treluyer. He moved up four places to claim 4th place. - When thinking about the 1st qualifying session, it was a fortunate result. We want to make the most of this chance in the race, and to aim as high as possible, - commented Team Director Suzuki.

Over the two days, more than 50,000 fans packed into Fuji Speedway, many arriving early in the morning. Mount Fuji, blanketed in snow, was a sight to behold. In the free practice session just before the race, the #23 GT-R slowed and returned to the pits. Work was begun immediately, but unfortunately the car wasn't able to make the start.

At 14:03, the 400-km, 88-lap race got underway. At the wheel of the #24 GT-R Oliveira ran well in seventh. This time the race would have 2 pit stops and a pair of driver changes. By the time of the car's first stop on lap 30, it had advanced to fifth place.

In the #12 GT-R Quintarelli took the start. After dropping one position on the opening lap, he soon wrested a place away on lap 6, returning to 8th place. Pitting simultaneously with the #24 GT-R on lap 31, with a switch to Matsuda the car was now up to seventh.

Although the car couldn't make the start, Treluyer brought the #23 GT-R on track two laps behind the pack. However, it was a lonely run, with no cars around him with which to do battle. Despite passing only GT300 cars, Treluyer repeatedly pushed hard to bring down the gap to the leaders.

On lap 33 Treluyer came in to hand the car over to teammate Motoyama. In terms of position, the car reached 12th after another vehicle ran into trouble However, on lap 56 at Coca Cola corner the car came to a halt. The cause: engine trouble.

The #24 GT-R had trouble with its drive system in the morning's free practice session, and failure to fully remedy this issue meant it was tough going for the drivers in the race. In addition, hard compound tyres were fitted for Yasuda's stint, where he ran to eighth. On lap 60, Oliveira once again took the wheel, maintaining the position to the flag.

Matsuda had moved the car up to 6th place by the time he handed it back to Quintarelli on lap 60. With no cars close behind or in front, he ran alone to the flag, keeping 6th place all the way. It was the second consecutive points-score for the car.