TGR Team KeePer Cerumo Claims Pole Position at Fuji GT 3 Hour Race

In a remarkable turnaround, TGR Team KeePer Cerumo’s Toshiki Oyu secured pole position for the Fuji GT 3 Hour Race, marking a pivotal moment for the team following a heavy crash in the previous round. Oyu’s time of 1:26.093 in qualifying showcased the team’s potential to break their winless streak, setting the stage for an anticipated race.

Race Day Conditions and Performance Highlights

The weather on race day at Fuji Speedway was ideal, contributing to competitive practices and qualifying sessions. The #19 WedsSport Advan GR Supra, driven by Sena Sakaguchi, recorded the fastest time during free practice, highlighting Toyota’s dominance at this circuit.

Sakaguchi’s co-driver, Yuji Kunimoto, achieved the fastest lap in GT500 Q1 with a time of 1:26.490. Despite a highly competitive field, including Oyu who qualified third, several notable teams, including the #14 Eneos X Prime GR Supra and the #100 Stanley Honda Civic Type R-GT, fell short of advancing to the pole shootout.

Key Qualifying Results

In Q2, Oyu’s performance stood out as he clinched provisional pole, while Sakaguchi’s time of 1:36.212 ensured a strong second-place start for the #19 WedsSport GR Supra. The front row featured an all-Toyota lineup, reinforcing the brand’s status on its home track.

Oyu expressed gratitude to his team, stating, “I didn’t expect to be able to get pole position, so I am really glad for this result,” underscoring the team’s commitment and recovery from prior setbacks.

Competitive Edge in GT300

In the GT300 class, the #777 D’station Aston Martin Vantage GT3, driven by Tomonobu Fujii and Charlie Fagg, secured pole with a near-record time of 1:34.820. Fagg, reflecting on the achievement, noted, “I was running on the new tyres for the first time in qualifying, so I am especially happy with this result.”

Notably, Hideki Yamauchi in the #61 Subaru BRZ R&D Sport narrowly missed out on a record-breaking 15th career pole with a time of 1:34.882, settling for a third-row start.

Final Grid Overview

The grid for GT500 sees TGR Team KeePer Cerumo starting from pole, followed closely by the WedsSport team, with the two ARTA Hondas in third and fourth. In GT300, D’station Aston Martin will lead the pack, with the #7 CarGuy MKS Ferrari and #5 Mach Syaken MC86 in contention for podium positions.

Conclusion

As the teams prepare for the Fuji GT 3 Hour Race, all eyes will be on the Toyota squads, especially TGR KeePer Cerumo, as they aim to leverage their pole position into a critical victory in the championship standings. The race promises to deliver high-octane action and strategic battles across the classes.

GT500 Qualifying Results:

1. 38 KeePer Cerumo GR Supra (Toshiki Oyu)

2. 19 WedsSport Advan GR Supra (Yuji Kunimoto/Sena Sakaguchi)

3. 16 ARTA Mugen Civic

4. 8 ARTA Civic

GT300 Qualifying Results:

1. 777 D’station Aston Martin Vantage GT3 (Tomonobu Fujii/Charlie Fagg)

2. 7 CarGuy Ferrari 296 GT3

3. 5 Mach Syaken MC86

Images © GTA