The Latest Breaking News from Okayama

The first two rounds of the 2023 season could not have been any more different: after a hectic weather-affected Okayama opener halted by red flags no fewer than three times, the traditional Golden Week race at Fuji was a comparatively sedate affair, with sunny skies and nary a caution period.

The brand-new BRZ has endured a rough start to the 2023 season, Takuto Iguchi and Hideki Yamauchi finishing a distant 22nd in a wet and wild opening race at Okayama and then coming home 11th in last week’s Golden Week classic at Fuji.

After suffering technical issues on its race debut in a wet Okayama race, the #31 apr-run Lexus shared by Koki Saga, Kazuto Kotaka and third driver Yuki Nemoto enjoyed a much smoother run at Fuji, finishing eighth from second on the grid.

After qualifying for last week’s Golden Week classic, there would have been short odds on a Honda victory, with NSX-GT crews starting first and third. Without a power steering issue for the #8 ARTA car, it might have been three Bridgestone Honda squads starting ahead of the #36 TOM’S Toyota…

The paddock was greeted by warm, sunny weather on Tuesday ahead of the start of track action for SUPER GT’s traditional midweek fixture on Wednesday, and forecasts indicate that both days of running will be completely dry - which would be a welcome change after two days of tempestuous weather…

The Japanese series has a closed pitlane when safety car periods are called, and this was extended to likewise cover full-course yellows when the system was introduced for the 2021 season.

The 2023 season kicked off last month at Okayama with one of the craziest races in recent memory, featuring constantly changing conditions and no fewer than three red flags amid the chaos.

The #9 Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo shared by Ryohei Sakaguchi and Liang Jiatong was involved in an incident with the #88 JLOC Lamborghini Huracan GT3 Evo late in the rain-soaked Okayama race, bringing out the safety car.

Heavy rain, hail, lightning - it wouldn’t have been a shock to see snow falling by the end of Sunday’s Okayama race, such was the rapid pace at which the conditions changed at the track situated in Japan’s self-titled ‘Land of Sunshine’.

SUPER GT veteran de Oliveira opened his GT300 class title defence with an eventful run to 10th place on board the #56 Nissan GT-R NISMO GT3 he shares with new team-mate Teppei Natori.

Impul Nissan duo Baguette and Kazuki Hiramine came home seventh on the road in a race interrupted and ultimately cut short by three red flags, but were later promoted to sixth when the #16 ARTA Honda was hit with a penalty.