LEXUS TEAM PETRONAS TOM’S
2009 Super GT Series Round 9
MOTEGI GT 250KM RACE  (日本語)
Sunday, 8 November 2009

Weather:
Qualifying: Sunny and dry | Raceday: Cloudy but dry
Temperatures: 20 - 21°C (ambient) | 23 - 24°C (track)

Track: Twin Ring Motegi (Tochigi Prefecture)
Race Format: 4.801km x 53laps

2009 Super GT Series - GT500 Class Team Champion
2009 Super GT Series - GT500 Class Drivers' Champion

Time to celebrate! With the championship going down to the wire between the top three contenders in the drivers and team title for the 2009 Super GT Series, the final race of the season at Japan's Twin Ring Motegi proved an enticing and mouth-watering affair. Finishing second in the 53-lap race to add 15-points to the total tally, the LEXUS TEAM PETRONAS TOM'S have taken the double after being crowned the 2009 Super GT Series champions in both the driver and team categories on Sunday. 日本語

The team's consistent points-scoring form with the exception of the first round; a win at the penultimate round in Autopolis; four other podium finishes and 112 points was enough for the team to seal the championship title in the team category for the second consecutive year. In the drivers' category, the series was a nail-biting affair as the duo of Andre Lotterer and Juichi Wakisaka had to battle it out with the Autobacs Racing Team Aguri (ARTA NSX) pair of Ralph Firman and Takuya Izawa as well as NISMO team drivers Satoshi Motoyama and Benoit Treluyer. 

Maintaining their composure throughout the closely contested affair, the team's second place finish was enough to see off the challenge of the ARTA NSX and NISMO drivers, giving the LEXUS TEAM PETRONAS TOM'S drivers the title. The TOM'S team last won the title in 2006.

Qualifying
Fresh off the team and PETRONAS' first win in the Super GT Series at the penultimate round in Autopolis, the momentum of the team's strong form was evident at Saturday's free practice session with Andre Lotterer putting the No. 36 PETRONAS TOM'S SC430 top of the timing sheet. Despite the heavy fuel load package, the German was able to produce a series of consistent laps times in the mid 1min 45second bracking, well over 0.7seconds faster than his closest contender.

Once again adopting the "knock-down" qualifying system, the PETRONAS TOM'S SC430 was fastest in the first session, fifth in Q2 and second in the final session, securing a front row start for Sunday's race, running along side pole sitter ARTA NSX (#8) in what would be Honda NSX's final race appearance.

Raceday
Capitalising on his ability to produce a storming start, as the lights went out to signal the start of the race, Andre Lotterer was immediately all over the back of the NSX before making an overtaking move bringing his car alongside the NSX into the first corner and taking over the race lead. Behind the leading two, the championship contenders in the NISMO-run Nissan GT-R were embroiled in an exciting mid-field duel. However tyre trouble forced the 2008 defending champions into an unscheduled and long pit stop.

At the front, having taken the lead, the PETRONAS TOM'S SC430 were only able to maintain a slim margin over the NSX throughout the first stint of the 53-lap race. The German was the first to pit on Lap 23, handing over the driver reigns to teammate Juichi Wakisaka who was able to rejoin the race in second behind the ARTA NSX car. Runnign a much longer first stint, the team's main competitor were able to regain and maintained the lead of the race. Producing a cool, steady and paced drive, Wakisaka was able to keep the challenge of the Keihin NSX (#17, Toshihiro Kaneishi and Koudai Tsukakoshi) behind him throughout the stint to take the chequered flag and bring the PETRONAS TOM'S SC430 home in second place.

The result was enough to earn the team 15 points to bring Andre Lotterer and Juichi Wakisaka's points tally to 88, seven points clear of Ralph Firman and Takuya Izawa (ARTA NSX) to clinch the drivers' championship. The result also earned the team 18 points to bring its points haul in the team standings to 112 points and the team championship, with a 10-point margin over the AUTOBACS Racing Team Aguri and 11-points over 2008 champions, NISMO.

Juichi Wakisaka (JPN)
"All I can say is how relieved I am now. There were times during the season where I have made mistakes and times when we made the right call. In all, we had some bad races and some really good races this season. I have a really great and priceless partner in Andre, a great team behind us, a really competitive car and the support of our partners - that combination was what enabled us to win the championship. My heart was really pounding in the car but there was some comfort knowing that our closest rival was behind us during the race. I am so incredibly happy and want to say a huge thank you to everyone!"

Andre Lotterer (DEU)
"It is an amazing and a great feeling actually! This is my fourth year with the team and we have managed to win the drivers' title twice, both with Juichi as my teammate! Actually, we have a really great team, and this title is down to the fantastic work the team has put in. They have given more than 100% to get the car in the best possible condition. I really want to thank everyone on the team and to the support of our partners, PETRONAS for this!

"The race was actually really good as I had a great start and felt good throughout my stint. The car was great and I think it was this feeling that Juichi and I had that helped us to get the title. I lost my father just after the race in Autopolis and somehow I believe that he was in my heart with me today, so I want to dedicate this to him. After my father fell ill last year, I was able to spend quite a lot of time with him because of the help from the team and from Juichi, and I am really grateful to this great team, thank you!"

Masanori Sekiya, Team Director
"First of all, I want to thank our drivers, the team members, Toyota and our partners, PETRONAS! After the win at Autopolis, we had closed to within five points to the NISMO team. We were the challengers going into this round and somehow, the challenges have certain advantages chasing the leader. We got ourselves onto the front row for the start, a great starting driver and an experienced driver to finish it off!

"When we look back at the season as a whole, I think everything went well though it was not entirely perfect, with gambles that really didn't pay off. Then there were a number of unfortunate races in the early stages of the season where we lost points due to penalties and on-track incidents. But in all, everything was down to the great work that each and every member of the team put in to achieve this!

"Also, the drivers did a fantastic job! Before the round, Andre's father sadly passed away and it was tough on him, I am sure. During the pre-race meeting, I said that we would be able to find the strength from this. And we are so pleased that it turned out to be true! I am also very happy with the way Juichi produced a great and cool performance with the tough competition and the immense pressure! I speak on behalf of the team to say that everything we have invested in this year has paid off and we are the champions!"

Race Results - Round 9
2009 Super GT Series - GT500 Class Team Standings
2009 Super GT Series - GT500 Class Driver Standings

日本語

For more on the team, visit the team's site at http://36toms.com/ Gazoo Racing: GAZOO RACING : http://gazoo.com/racing/Top/Top.aspx
For more on the Super GT championship, visit http://supergt.net