In the qualifying for the Suzuka GT 300km, Round 1 of the 2007 AUTOBACS SUPER GT held at the Suzuka Circuit (one lap 5.807 km) in Mie Pref. on March 17, the ARTA NSX driven by Daisuke Ito won the pole position as the fastest qualifier. This gives the ARTA NSX the right to start from the front row in the race on the 18th.
In the first qualifying session in the morning, Ito quickly set a course lap record of 1 min. 50.426 sec. In the Super Lap for the top ten qualifiers (time trials run individually) he bettered this time with an amazingly fast 1 min. 49.842 sec. lap to win the pole position.
Ito is a native of Tsu city here in Mie Pref. and the Suzuka Circuit is his home course. Now his local fans will have a chance to root for him in tomorrow? s race as he goes for the win.
In the GT300 class, the top qualifier with a time of 2 min. 2.254 sec. was the ENDLESS ADVAN SENZAIKAKUMEI Z driven by Masami Kageyama. (Spectators: 16,000)
Pole position winner comments No. 8 ARTA NSX [GT500]
Daisuke Ito: I was already quite satisfied with my morning session time and I thought that it would be difficult to better it in the Super Lap. Still, I believed that I could get under 1 minute 50 seconds as I went into the Super Lap. Then, when I saw my time on the time board, I was really surprised. I think this is the result of all the things Honda and the team have done this far. I am grateful to everyone. “
Ralph Firman: In the Super Lap, I think Ito ran a fabulous lap, beating his rivals on every section of the course. Today everything went perfectly. I am confident going into tomorrow? s race, too. And, I am really confident that we can win the season title this year.
SUZUKA CIRCUIT | Length: 5.807km | Weather: Fine | Course: Dry SUPER LAP RESULT TOP3
Po.No. Machine Driver Time
[GT500]
1 8 ARTA NSXHONDA NSX *D. Ito/R. Firman R1’49.842
2 32 EPSON NSX *L. DUVAL/F. CARBONE R1’50.583
3 18 TAKATA DOME NSX R. Michigami/*T. Kogure R1.50.595
[GT300]
1 13 ENDLESS ADVAN SENZAIKAKUMEI Z *M. Kageyama/T. Fujii R2.02.254
2 101 TOY STORY apr MR-S *K. Oshima/H. Ishiura R2.02.411
3 43 ARTA Garaiya *M. Nitta/S. Takagi R2.03.503
*=SUPER LAP ATTACK DRIVER / R=COURSE RECORD
| 
|