SRO Japan Cup: Bingo Racing and PONOS Racing Stand Out at Okayama
Okayama, Japan – The recent double-header of the SRO Japan Cup at Okayama saw the #9 Bingo Racing Ferrari 296 GT3, driven by Shinji Takei and Ukyo Sasahara, take the lead in the GT3 championship standings. The duo secured victory in Race 1 after starting from eighth on the grid and subsequently finished third in Race 2.
Race 1 Highlights:
- Winner: Bingo Racing (#9 Ferrari 296 GT3) took the top spot, finishing over 11 seconds ahead of the competition after capitalizing on a drive-through penalty assessed to polesitter Hiroyuki ‘Bankcy’ Ogawa in the #666 seven x seven Racing Porsche 911 GT3 R.
- P2: The #18 Team UPGarage with ACR Ferrari of Takashi Kobayashi and Atsushi Akita finished strong, followed closely by the #98 K-tunes Racing Ferrari (Daisuke Yamawaki/Shinichi Takagi).
- Race Dynamics: Yusaku Maezawa’s early spin in the #555 Ferrari led to a Safety Car period that affected race strategy. Post-restart, Sasahara demonstrated remarkable driving skill to navigate through the field effectively.
Race 2 Overview:
- Winner: The #45 PONOS Racing Ferrari, driven by Yorikatsu Tsujiko and Kei Cozzolino, achieved its first victory of the season, holding off pressure from the competition, including Bankcy’s Porsche which finished second.
- Key Performance: Tsujiko maintained his lead after a successful pit stop despite Sasahara initially reclaiming it following a solid start.
- Championship Context: As the season approaches its finale at Suzuka Circuit, Takei and Sasahara now lead the championship with a narrow four-point lead over Tsuzuki and Kawabata.
Team and Driver Insights:
- Bingo Racing’s Strategy: Sasahara’s swift progress through the ranks in Race 1 underscores Bingo Racing’s effective pit strategy and car performance.
- PONOS Racing’s Resilience: Cozzolino’s comeback from mechanical issues in Race 1 to lead the field in Race 2 highlights the team’s adaptability.
GT3 Am Cup and GT4 Results:
- GT3 Am Cup: Team Macchina clinched their second consecutive title, with Tadao Uematsu and Hirokazu Suzuki securing sufficient points with finishes of eighth and seventh, outpacing the #81 Team Daishin Nissan GT-R.
- GT4 Championship: Toyota Gazoo Racing Indonesia, featuring Haridarma Manoppo and Seita Nonaka, dominated with two wins, completing a perfect season of six victories, ahead of the Sunrise Blvd Porsches.
Upcoming Races: The final rounds of the SRO Japan Cup will take place at Suzuka Circuit on September 13-14, where the championship outcome will be decided among several contenders still within mathematical reach of the title.
These results position Bingo Racing and PONOS Racing firmly within the competitive landscape as they head towards the season’s climax.
