| SGT: 2009 - Rd. 1 Okayama International Circuit (岡山国際サーキット, JPN) - 22 March 2009 |
2009 Super GT Series: Rd. 1 Okayama International Circuit GT
Okayama 300km race, 21 - 22 March 2009
2008 Data
Length:
3.703 km (2.301miles) |
Race Format:
300km race |
2008 Pole Position, GT500:
Satoshi Motoyama - 1:23.751min (Q1) / Benoit Treluyer - 1.23.517min (Super Lap) (Xanavi Nismo GTR) |
Lap Record:
M. Krumm - 1:22.404min (Motul Pitwork Z, 2004) |
2008 Fastest Lap:
Benoit Treluyer - 1:25.333 min (Xanavi Nismo GTR) |
2008 Top 6:
1. S. Motoyama / B. Treluyer (Xanavi Nismo GTR)
2. T. Matsuda / S. Philippe (Calsonic Impul GTR)
3. R. Firman / T. Izawa (Arta NSX)
4. A. Lotterer / J. Wakisaka (PETRONAS TOM'S SC430)
5. L. Duval / K. Hiranaka (Epson NSX)
6. P. Dumbreck / T. Kataoka (Houzan Kraft SC430) |
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2009 Super GT Series
Okayama International Circuit (岡山国際サーキット)
Rd. 1, 21 - 22 March 2009
Circuit Profile
Formerly known as the TI Circuit Aida, the 3.7km (2.301mile) circuit in the southern part of Honshu Island was originally built in the early 1990s as a private race track. Located in Mimasaka in Okayama Prefecture, the circuit began hosting bigger events in the mid 1990s including two seasons in the Formula One championship in 1994 and 1995. Both events were won by Michael Schumacher during his stint with the Benetton team.
With Suzuka hosting the other round, Japan was one of only five countries to have ever hosted more than one Formula One event in the same year. Unfortunately, the circuit ceased hosting large events primarily due to its remote location.
In 2003, the circuit underwent a change of ownership which saw the circuit renamed to the Okayama International Circuit.
Despite not hosting large international level events, the Okayama International Circuit continues to be a regular fixture in the hugely popular Super GT Series as well as the Formula Nippon and All Japan Formula 3 championships.
In 2008, the circuit made its international return when it hosted a round of the Formula V6 Asia series and the World Touring Car Championship. The latter was the first FIA world championship race the circuit has hosted since 1995.
Past Super GT Winners:
| Year |
Driver (Okayama 300km) |
| 2007 |
Daisuke Ito / Ralph Firman (ARTA NSX) |
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2006
|
Ryo Michigami / Takashi Kogure (Takata Dome NSX) |
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2005
|
Manabu Orido / Dominik Schwager (Eclipse Advan Supra) |
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