Toyota dominates morning of testing at Fuji while Nissan focuses on race pace and leads late

Super GT GT500 class manufacturer testing continued in the Fuji Speedway with intense activity on track this Thursday. The second day of activities was marked by ideal weather conditions, allowing the teams to explore different technical development and aerodynamic tuning programs. Strategies varied significantly between automakers, resulting in a clear division of performance between the morning and afternoon periods.

The teams took advantage of the dry asphalt and mild temperatures to validate updates to the engines and chassis configurations. With the season approaching, the search for the ideal balance between pure speed in laps and consistency in tire consumption dictated the pace of work in the pits and on the Japanese track.

Pure speed marks the performance of the Toyota

The morning session highlighted the brute strength of Toyota Gazoo Racing, which monopolized the top positions on the timesheet. Car number 36 of the TGR Team au TOM’S team was the main protagonist, recording the fastest lap of the day at 1m25s814, demonstrating superiority in classification simulations.

Right behind, guaranteeing a one-two finish for the manufacturer, car number 38 from TGR Team KeePer CERUMO clocked 1m26s596. The solid performance of the GR Supra models confirmed the efficiency of the new aerodynamic package developed for this year’s championship.

The Honda also showed significant progress with the new model Stanley HRC Prelude-GT, securing the third best time of the morning. The performance of car number 100 indicated that the transition from the old model Civic to the Prelude is taking place in a progressive and competitive manner.

Nissan bets on consistency in the afternoon session

The picture changed drastically after the break, with teams shifting focus to component durability and rubber management. Nissan took advantage of the moment to test the Z model’s racing pace in long stints, aiming for mechanical reliability.

The strategy paid off for the TRS Impul team, which topped the afternoon time table by recording 1m27s022. The team outperformed its opponents in wear simulations, showing that the car has a promising race pace for long-term stages.

Intensive data collection for the championship

Despite Nissan’s lead in the second half of the day, Toyota remained competitive with the Denso Kobelco SARD team recording the second best time in the afternoon. The consistency of lap times suggests an even dispute between the manufacturers.

The session was exhausting for drivers and mechanics, with several cars surpassing the hundred lap mark completed on the circuit. The high volume of mileage was essential to validate the resistance of the new parts introduced by the engineers.

The data collected will be fundamental for analyzing the behavior of tire compounds and fuel consumption. Essas information is vital to define the pit stop windows and race tactics that will be used throughout the year.

Team Eneos

Final preparation for the season premiere

With the end of this stage of private testing, automakers are now turning their attention to fine-tuning before official testing. Development work continues in the factories, where telemetry data will be dissected to extract maximum performance.

The calendar foresees the return of track activities in March, with official sessions scheduled for the Okayama circuits and again in Fuji. Nestes upcoming meetings, all teams, including those from the GT300 class, will be present for the last head-to-head clashes before the first green flag.