Sho Tsuboi and Kenta Yamashita in the #36 au TOM'S GR Supra, equipped with Bridgestone's superior tyre technology, powered their way to a dominant victory in Round 8 of the 2024 AUTOBACS SUPER GT series. This marks their second win of the season, bringing them tantalisingly close to clinching the championship title.
The weekend began with tension as the third consecutive rain-soaked qualifying session raised the possibility of a unique qualifying format. However, the team persisted through wet conditions with tenacity and precision. Tsuboi and Yamashita's au TOM'S GR Supra, along with other Bridgestone-equipped cars, was a force to be reckoned with, navigating each turn with an unrivalled grip. Ultimately, the team secured a third place starting position, putting them ahead in the championship fight and setting the stage for their thrilling performance on race day.
| PO. | NO. | MACHINE | DRIVER | BEST TIME | TYRE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | #8 | ARTA MUGEN CIVIC TYPE R-GT Honda CIVIC TYPE R-GT |
Tomoki Nojiri Nobuharu Matsushita |
1'50.215 1'48.077 |
 |
| 3 | #36 | au TOM'S GR Supra TOYOTA GR Supra GT500 |
Sho Tsuboi Kenta Yamashita |
1'50.910 1'48.178 |
|
| 4 | #38 | KeePer CERUMO GR Supra TOYOTA GR Supra GT500 |
Toshiki Oyu Hiroaki Ishiura |
1'50.286 1’49.299 |
|
| 5 | #14 | ENEOS X PRIME GR Supra TOYOTA GR Supra GT500 |
Nirei Fukuzumi Kazuya Oshima |
1'49.590 1'50.050 |
|
Under a crisp autumn sky, Tsuboi and Yamashita surged to the front just after an early Full Course Yellow (FCY) moment reshuffled the leaders. Immediately after the second FCY, Tsuboi seized the lead and stretched the gap, taking advantage of Bridgestone's grip to pull away easily from the competition. Each lap saw Bridgestone-equipped cars consistently outperforming the rest, reaffirming Bridgestone's technical superiority.
At the halfway mark, Yamashita handed over the wheel to Tsuboi, who had an impressive 10-second lead over the Keeper CERUMO GR Supra, also on Bridgestone tyres. Tsuboi continued to widen the gap, establishing an unassailable lead of over 20 seconds by the finish line. The gap was a testament to Bridgestone's unwavering reliability and the driver's impeccable strategy.
While Tsuboi and Yamashita set a relentless pace at the front, the fight for second place brought even more excitement. With just 10 laps remaining, the #8 ARTA MUGEN CIVIC TYPE R-GT, driven by Tomoki Nojiri and Nobuhara Matsushita, also on Bridgestone tyres, overtook the KeePer CERUMO GR Supra to secure second place, demonstrating the versatility and excellence of Bridgestone across different vehicles and driving styles.
With this win, Tsuboi and Yamashita lead the series with 74 points, bringing them one step away from the championship. The Bridgestone-equipped STANLEY CIVIC TYPE R-GT team, driven by Naoki Yamamoto and Tadasuke Makino, remains in contention with 56 points. Meanwhile, unfortunately, the Deloitte TOM'S GR Supra team, which started the race in second place, retired due to technical issues but remains mathematically in the hunt heading into the final round at Suzuka.
As we look forward to the championship-deciding race in Suzuka, Bridgestone's brilliance shines bright. It has proven itself as the defining factor in the success of teams across the board.
| PO. | NO. | MACHINE | DRIVER | TOTAL TIME | TYRE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | #36 | au TOM'S GR Supra TOYOTA GR Supra GT500 |
Sho Tsuboi Kenta Yamashita |
1'40.160 | |
| 2 | #8 | ARTA MUGEN CIVIC TYPE R-GT Honda CIVIC TYPE R-GT |
Tomoki Nojiri Nobuharu Matsushita |
1'39.940 | |
| 3 | #38 | KeePer CERUMO GR Supra TOYOTA GR Supra GT500 |
Hiroaki Ishiura Toshiki Oyu |
1'40.214 | |
| 4 | #16 | ARTA MUGEN CIVIC TYPE R-GT Honda CIVIC TYPE R-GT |
Hiroki Otsu Ren Sato |
1'40.529 | |
"I started from third place, so I wanted to aim for the top. I took advantage of the timing of the FCY (Full Course Yellow) and made good use of Bridgestone's warm-up characteristics from their tyres, and I took the lead. I was able to take the lead in my own stint, and I was able to hand it over to Yamashita with a lead of nearly 10 seconds, so I was able to do everything I could in the first stint."
Sho Tsuboi, Winning Driver (au TOM'S GR Supra/Bridgestone)
"Tsuboi was in front, so I could take the lead in the first stint. He gave me a 10-second gap from there. The second stint was a bit long, but the pressure was off me, and I was taking good care of the tyres. Yet, in the end, I managed to widen the gap to about 20 seconds – the car was good, and the pitwork was fast, so I'm grateful to everyone. An 18-point difference; I don't think it's very common to go into the final race with such a significant lead, so I'm a little scared that something might happen, but I'm aiming for my third win of the season. It's best to keep striving for the victories and finish by winning the last race, so I'm not really thinking about the championship; I'm just going to aim for the win.”
Kenta Yamashita, Winning Driver (au TOM'S GR Supra/Bridgestone)
"For the qualifying, we brought soft, medium and hard rain tyres, and the medium tyres were the best fit for qualifying. If the final had rained, we could have put in more consistent laps, but the final was sunny and dry. Yet, all at once, the Bridgestone-equipped cars did well and took top positions. The speed of the No. 36 car, driven by Tsuboi and Yamashita, was amazing. They showed how fast they can be when they extract all the performance from the tyres. We will continue to fully support the Bridgestone team in their battle for the championship in the final race."
Takahiko Yamamoto, Bridgestone Motorsport Tyre Development Manager
