M7's Super GT Experience - Intel

The Super GT, previously known as the JGTC, is the most prestigious Japanese race series with eight races in Japan and one in Malaysia. Super GT is a race series that’s split into two classes, GT500 and GT300. The GT500 class limits the vehicles to a maximum of 500 horsepower while GT300 limits vehicles to 300 horsepower. This year EDO Performance had the privilege and opportunity to travel with M7 Japan and their newly acquired partnership with #24 Team Kondo Racing to the Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia for the Super GT event that occurred on June 18th and 19th. The first day was a qualifier with a final Super Lap battle and also a few sideshows, including a Super GT motor show, Auto Salon, GT5 simulator, Super GT race queen model search and Anime/Cosplay exhibition. We got an exclusive look at #24 Team Kondo Racing on Saturday during practice, thanks to M7 Japan. Team Kondo is using a Nissan R35 GT-R with a VRH34A engine and is currently partnered with big names such as Yokohoma ADVAN, Nissan, Pepsi Nex, M7 Japan, H.I.S. and Sega Sammy. Team Kondo’s current drivers are Yasuda Hironobu from Japan and Bjorn Wirdheim from Sweden. In the main qualifying event, Team Kondo placed #3 and after the Super Lap battle they placed #8 for the race next day.

Race day is much different because it turns Sepang into a battlefield. The GT500 class race consists of 15 teams and 46 laps ending in a total of 254.932 kilometers, while the GT300 has 16 teams and only a 42-lap race. Engines are revving, crowds are cheering and the race starts. After 1 lap, the highly recognized Team Calsonic GT-R retires due to mechanical failure and about a third of the GT300 class vehicles are retired. Team Weider in their Honda HSV-010GT won the GT500 race, followed by the S-Road MOLA GT-R in second, Keihien’s HSV-010 in Third, Team Kondo’s GT-R in forth and the Zent Cerumo SC430 in fifth. M7 sponsored driver, Nobuteru “NOB” Taniguchi took first place in the GT300 race in the Hatsunemiku Goodsmile BMW Z4 (finish time 1:34’10.601). Despite the crazy hot and humid weather in Malaysia all the teams are immediately packing and getting ready to ship their cars and gear back to Japan. —Gwen Leong