Absolute Racing and FFF Racing by ACM had a lot to celebrate after the Suzuka double header of the Blancpain GT Series Asia, with them winning each of the races of the weekend.
A first corner clash resulted in the No. 19 FFF Lamborghini taking the lead by force round the outside from the No. 3 Absolute Audi, opening the gap some minutes later with some good effort though things turned around with 15 minutes of racing. While that, The No. 81 Studie BMW kept a safe lead in the GT4 class as no threats were immediately around it.
While the No. 19 kept things settled for the lead, the cars behind were having its woes, as it was the case of the puncture of the No. 63 FFF Lamborghini and the suspension damage of the No. 23 KCMG Nissan.
After the pit window and with the time penalties applied, the No. 3 had the lead but this also came with the pressure of the No. 911 CRAFT Bamboo Porsche as Sandy Stuvik was dealing with traffic to go after Cheng Congfu. The final minutes were dedicated for Stuvik to chase the No. 3, though the gap just increased more, entering in a point where even though the No. 911 was close, it wasn’t close enough to make a move into the No. 3 to take the victory from them, so things settled like this at the flag.
GT3 Pro-Am honors went to the No. 18 KCMG Nissan, with the Hong Kong team also conquering the GT3 Am class with the No. 45 Audi. The No. 81 Studie BMW just kept the smooth race built in the first part and had a great win in the GT4 class.
An all-HubAuto Racing front row led the Race 2 start and both Ferraris of the team defended their positions well until the first Safety Car intervention with three minutes of racing as the No. 7 Absolute Audi was stuck in the gravel.
Though the Ferraris were still in front when the green flag appeared again, it was clear that the pressure was right in the back of the No. 28 HubAuto Ferrari as the No. 888 GruppeM Mercedes was looking for room to overtake. While that the GT4 field was being led by the No. 81 Studie BMW again, but the No. 72 iRaceWin Mercedes was in close pursuit while bringing the No. 666 GruppeM Mercedes to the party.
Near the start of the pit window a misunderstanding about overtaking traffic brought a race ending contact between the No. 28 HubAuto Ferrari and the No. 12 Clearwater McLaren, which brought a long yellow flag period that extended through the pit window time. Things were running smooth for the No. 27, even though the No. 19 FFF Lamborghini was right behind, but the comfortable advantage disappeared when the third Safety Car period was called due to an off from the No. 3 Absolute Audi.
When the green flag came again the No. 27 came to pits to serve a penalty while the No. 19 got the lead without effort, and without any threats, it just had to run for the checkered while the No. 23 KCMG Nissan came in second and the No. 999 GruppeM Mercedes completed the podium.
The No. 63 FFF Lamborghini conqured the GT3 Pro-Am win right behind the overall podium, while the No. 8 ARN Ferrari won in the GT3 Am class and broke the streak of the No. 45 KCMG Audi. An effort from the halfway mark gave the GT4 win for the No. 666 GruppeM Mercedes, allied to the success penalty applied to the No. 81 Studie BMW.
The Japanese trip will continue at Fuji Speedway on July 21st and 22nd.
PHOTOS: SRO
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