This is Ken from T&E in Japan.
I would like to report about 2007 D1GP Round 6 in AUTOPOLIS (22, 23 Sep).
Takahiro UENO won 2nd place at the race.
He and his car, VERTEX RIDGE TE3006 was continue good condition from last round and his car placed new hydraulic side brake system just before this round. Our mechanics have done good work. The new brake system suits his driving style and the course layout.
The course has long straight and it was around 200km/h at approach at 1st corner. The speed is very important of judgment however the higher speed makes hard next S corner. It needs to stable drift control at S corner to get better judgment. As result Takahiro had to find high level setting with his mechanics.
He had some minor problem with the brake system at Friday practice session however his mechanics fixed problem and his drifting getting better to Saturday qualifying session.
He marked 99.85 points / 100 points (191km/h at approach) at qualifying session and he passed qualifying session with 2nd place.
He said he wanted reach over 200km/h at approach and get 1 extra championship point with full marks on Sunday final session because the other driver marked over 200km/h.
He marked full marks at 1st run of final session (198km/h at approach, 4th fastest), span 2nd run, 99.95 point at 3rd run. He got 2nd place again and goes to final tournament. He looked very satisfied with the result when he came back to pit.
Takahiro competed against Mr. Masao SUENAGA with FD3S. His car has better move than Takahiro’s Soarer because of weight however Takahiro made powerful drift and that was looks better than Mr. SUENAGA. Takahiro had better judgment and goes to best 8.
Next competitor is Mr. Toshiki YOSHIOKA with AE86. He won AUTOPOLIS in 2005 and got 2nd place in 2004. He is called the Mr. AUTOPLIS. He has lighter weight car. We ware interested how Takahiro run with Mr. AUTOPOLIS. Takahiro made mistake and Mr. Yoshioka had advantage at 1st run. We thought it’s the end. But Mr. YOSHIOKA made bigger mistake at 2nd run and Takahiro goes to best 4.
Takahiro was against Mr. Youichi IMAMURA with 350Z at semi final. Mr. IMAMURA is good condition recently as well as Takahiro. The 2 drivers made fantastic drifting and the judgment was so close but Takahiro made a bit of better approach and angle. Takahiro goes to final.
Takahiro competed against championship point leader, Mr. Masato KAWABATA. The point leader has good skill for tournament round.
Takahiro follow Mr. KAWABATA at 1st run. Takahiro’s approaching was looks good but his Soarer went too close to Mr. KAWABATA and out of the best line. Takahiro went out of course at 2nd corner. The judgment was too hard for him. Takahiro showed fantastic drifting at 2nd run but he couldn’t recovery his mistake of 1st run. As result he got 2nd place of D1GP round 6.
Takahiro is satisfied to get final and 2nd place at round 6. The other hand he has chagrin he said he will make better race soon. He is keeping good condition and we are very looking for the final round, Fuji Speedway in Japan and D1GP in Las Vegas as well.
Thank you to read my mess message. I hope you could imagine the weekend
Sincerely
T&E
Ken
