19.07.2004 The JGTC returned to the mainland after its overseas trip last month for round four of the series with the GT500 class Ferrari and Lamborghini runners seeking an upturn in fortunes

The Japanese GT Championship returned to the mainland after its overseas trip to Malaysia last month for round four of the series at the Tokachi International Speedway, 900kms north of Tokyo, with the GT500 class Ferrari and Lamborghini runners, all having worked hard to get their new racers onto the pace, seeking an upturn in fortunes.

Veteran Erik Comas kicked matters off as the claimed his first series pole position since 1995 with a 1:14.136 lap set during Saturday's second official qualifying session.

His Nissan Fairlady Z was joined on the front row by the similar car of compatriot Benoit Treluyer who laid down a fractionally slower time of 1:14.190, towards the close of the session.

At the back of the GT500 field, the three European exotic supercars were led out by the Amprex Motorsports Lamborghini Murcielago R-GT, making only its second start. The team's German pilot, Norman Simon, posted a 1:17.071 during the second of the two qualifying sessions, held in ideal warm, dry conditions.

Lining up just behind them was Hidetoshi Mitsusada, who set his best time of 1:18.217 in the first session at the wheel of the Dunlop-shod Hitotsuyama Racing Ferrari 550 GTS Maranello, a car built by Prodrive to the specification of the FIA GT series winning cars, but adapted, where required, to conform to JGTC regulations.

Finally, bringing up the rear, was the Team JLOC (Japanese Lamborghini Owners Club) Murcielago R-GT, with Koji Yamanishi setting the car's quickest time, a 1:19.174 lap, also during the opening session.

As in Sepang, it was a Nissan 350 Z that claimed the top position in the GT300 class after qualifying, this time however, the no 81 Team Daishin car was in front.

The JIM-run, Dome-developed Ferrari 360 GT cars ran well, the no 11 car was qualified by Hideshi Matsuda in 6th, while its sister car, with Tetsuya Tanaka at the wheel, would start from 9th.

With unseasonably hot at over 30 degrees Celsius, it was hard to believe the event was taking place on Japan's northernmost island. As the cars blasted over the line in their customary rolling start, leader Erik Comas immediately started to build up a gap over the ensuing pack.

However it was a lead he was unable to sustain, and at the chequered flag it was the no 22 Motul Nissan Z of Michael Krumm and Masami Kageyama which claimed victory.

Further down the field, it turned out to be a disappointing race for the Italian machines, reduced to just two after the Team JLOC Lamborghini was withdrawn.

A tyre-related spin during the 27th lap for the Amprex Motorsports Lamborghini curtailed the plans of the Malaysian-based team to improve on the overall position they attained last month during their series debut at Sepang.

The car, driven by Genji Hashimoto and Norman Simon, eventually finished in 15th position.

Team director Hong Heng Soon commented after the race, “The mishap happened with Norman as the first driver somewhere between the 27th and the 28th lap, when a tyre problem spun the car onto the grass.

“This resulted in a damaged rear diffuser forcing Norman, on advice from the race officials, to make an unscheduled and unprepared stop at the pits to repair the damage and make some changes.

"When the car was ready, second driver Hashimoto had to rush into the car minus his cool racing suit. With the extreme heat Hashimoto had to come back to the pits again after a few laps".

One place behind them finished the Ferrari 550 GTS Maranello, piloted by Hidetoshi Mitsusada and Tado Uematsu, also six laps adrift of the winners.

In GT300, honours went to the no 43 Garaiya which beat the pole winning Nissan 350 Z on the final corner after it slid onto the grass, a mistake that demoted it to third.

The no 10 JIM Ferrari 360 GT ran well, eventually crossing the line 4th in class, the crew having had a rather better day than the sister no 11 car, which fell back in the late stages after running strongly for much of the race.