Garage 59 make the trip out for the 10Hours of Suzuka
Sunday, August 18, 2019
This weekend sees the fourth of the five round Intercontinental GT Challenge Series from the Suzuka circuit in Japan with one example of Aston Martin Racing's V8 Vantage GT3 from the Garage 59 team this time making the specific trip over to the Far East.
With the SRO supporting this global package of races specific to GT3 homologated race cars competing at the best circuits around the world for a fourth season, this penultimate round at Suzuka will be the first time this season (bar the Spa 24 of course which is already an integral round of the Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup) that an example of Aston Martin Racing's new 2019 specification V8 turbo charged Vantage GT3 has competed.
R-Motorsports appearance at the opening round at the Bathurst 12Hr earlier this year was restricted to the outgoing V12 Vantage GT3 due to series balance of performance requirements and no AMR competed later at Round 2 from Laguna Seca. The Spa 24 event last month also formed the third round of the Intercontinental Series.
The Garage 59 car taking part is team principle's Alex West's #188 car - this time competing in the Pro-Am class as opposed to its normal Am Class status within the Blancpain GT Series with West being joined by team mates Chris Goodwin and Come Ledogar. They will compete amongst a provisional grid of 37 cars spread across the Pro, Pro-Am and Silver Cup classes.
With all the machinery now having safety arrived in the country, the teams can look forward to track action stating this Friday with the Bronze driver test ahead of Free Practice later that day. The three sets of individual Qualifying sessions and Top 20 Shoot out happen Saturday ahead of a scheduled start to the 10hour race starting at 10am local.
Photo credits - Garage 59 / Blancpain