PETRONAS TOM'S CAPS FIRST VICTORY OF THE SEASON
2009-10-19 16:34:24 Author: admin Source:
Driving the PETRONAS TOM'S SC430 from the 4rth position on the grid, Lotterer got a great start and moved up on the tail of the pole position starter, Richard Lyons in the ZENT CERUMO SC430. These two machines continued to run that way with never a gap of more than one second until they both pulled into the pit at the same time at the end of lap 30. Of the two teams it was the PETRONAS TOM'S that had the faster pit work, enabling it to return to the track two seconds ahead of the ZENT CERUMO, effectively in the lead.
Back in the race with the positions now reversed, with Yuji Tachikawa in the ZENT CERUMO SC430 chasing Juichi Wakisaka in the PETRONAS TOM'S SC430. These two drivers are also the SC430 development drivers and their battle remained close and fierce, but the ZENT CERUMO would soon be penalized for a violation during the pit stop in which the engine was started before the car was completely lowered from the jack after the tire change. After that, Wakisaka continued to run clean in the lead to the checkered and the win.
For the PETRONAS TOM'S SC430 team this was their first victory of the season and their first since round six at Suzuka in 2006. For the SC430 camp it was the second win of the season and their first ever at Autopolis.
This result takes the championship title race down to the last round of the season. There are three pairs of drivers now with a chance to win the season title, including Satoshi Motoyama (MOTUL AUTECH GT-R) who now leads the ranking with 78 points.
The winners, Wakisaka and Lotterer, hold 2nd place with 73 points, and 4th-place finishers, the ARTA NSX pair of Ralph Firman and Takuya Ito, stand in third position with 61 points. The titles will be decided at the final round on 7 - 8 November at the Twin Ring Motegi.
More to follow...
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