Tokachi 24 Hour Race

[lingeringsoul]

Just a heads up that the enduance racee is currently underway. GTR isn't looking too good, I hear it pitted within the first hour dropping from 5th to 13th then down to 17th. If anyone can understnad the update on GTR-world.net which is in Japanese, please give us some info.

[sewid]

Not much to say. The GT-R started in 5th on the grid and had an amazing start but has dropped back to 17th now. It can't keep up in the corners with the Super Taikyu ST1/ST2 cars.

Race started at 15:00 so it's been going 2:35mins now

[lingeringsoul]

looks like its gonna stay around the 13th mark, lets just hope it gets to the end of the race.

[sewid]

looks like its gonna stay around the 13th mark, lets just hope it gets to the end of the race.

Refueling problems caused a 35+ minute pit stop. It's in last place now.

[lingeringsoul]

awww man............there's still hope.....3/4 of the race to go.

[Styline GTR]

C'mon GTR turn the slow mode of and put it in Race mode!!!

[sav man]

When did Bridgestone start making RE55S for in the R35 size?

[giant]

good question ben! i picked that up too

[sewid]

They make them now... At least in prototype form.

The GT-R is still battling away. Been a few more problems. Drive shafts had to be replaced. Then all the hub bolts broke on a rear wheel but they made it back into the pits some how. Both were fairly long pit stops though.

Still out there now clawing its way back up. In 21st place now.

[sewid]

woohoo took 20th spot.

[FineLine]

Perhaps the sheer weight of the beast is going to find it out in these longer races.

Early days tho and i guess some real track time testing will sort out any weakness.

[giant]

I would nearly put money on the hub bolt issue being human error, either when they had the driveshaft issue or on assembly.

Edited July 21, 2008 by giant

[FATAZZ]

anychance of this being aired on foxtel? (for when i get home)

[Marlin]

Update anyone?

As Giant says, hub issues likely a human failure. Unlikely that faults like that get through to production.

....... although, now I think about it, bug-eye STi with failing front hub bearings after about 6 hrs racing anyone?

[sewid]

Yes the hub bolt issue would have most certainly been a human stuff up. The race is over the GT-R finished the race in 21st position of 28 cars.

To even finish is great news and the team is thrilled to have done it.

[elrodeo666]

I was at the race for the weekend, just got back. Got to say the GTR was pretty dissappointing. It belted off the line from the rolling start, held 2nd for a lap and then it was all down hill from there, lapping at least 7 seconds a lap slower than the front runners.

It looked great but honestly it sounded like a semi stock exhaust compared to everyone else, overall it was good to see it out there belting around. Thats the 2nd one on that track since late june, one of the HKS customers had theirs out for a track meet a few weeks ago.

I got a few pics and bit of vid that I`ll post up tomorrow as I`m rooted, couple hrs sleep and 5 hr drive home. Pics are nothing flash but got some good carpak action which I`ll post up in the japan page tomorrow as well.

Edited July 21, 2008 by elrodeo666

[sewid]

I was at the race for the weekend, just got back. Got to say the GTR was pretty dissappointing. It belted off the line from the rolling start, held 2nd for a lap and then it was all down hill from there, lapping at least 7 seconds a lap slower than the front runners.

It looked great but honestly it sounded like a semi stock exhaust compared to everyone else, overall it was good to see it out there belting around. Thats the 2nd one on that track since late june, one of the HKS customers had theirs out for a track meet a few weeks ago.

I got a few pics and bit of vid that I`ll post up tomorrow as I`m rooted, couple hrs sleep and 5 hr drive home. Pics are nothing flash but got some good carpak action which I`ll post up in the japan page tomorrow as well.

Awesome that you were there. I personally wish I had made it out but travelling just for this race is an expensive luxury I couldn't justify

Anyways It's a production car in a Super Taikyu race. Not to mention the tires handicap. 7 seconds isn't so bad. Lot's of dramas and unknowns going into the race. Next time they'll know a lot more in terms of what to expect and what to keep an eye on.

The exhaust was basically stock except for cat removal and tips welded on.

I'm surprised the brakes looked so good after they pulled them off the car.

[lingeringsoul]

What do the classes actually mean? difference btween ST1 and ST2, ST3 St4? Tjhere's also IP4 whcih is the GTR's class, what does that mean? is there a IP 1 or IP2 as well?

[sewid]

I will explain it all in a sec in detail, gotta run to the shops but in a nutshell the number after the letters denotes the engine capacity. The letters denote the class.

ST = Super Taikyu

EC = Eco Class

IP = International production

4 = 3000cc and over.

[elrodeo666]

Pics not too crash hot, only had my misso`s camera but something anyway...the grey/black GTR was from about 3 weeks at a clubman event we had Tokachi Speedway.

Theres more pics in japan section but of show & shine

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Edited July 22, 2008 by elrodeo666