Super GT Suzuka - Race Day

[PurelySwift]

Here are my photos from Sunday, the main race day for the Super GT Round 6 at Suzuka Circuit.

1. I've watched the craziness that is a race grid on Speed channel before, but you don't fully understand how crowded and hectic it is until you experience it. Media and engineers, celebrities, drivers, race girls, etc. were everywhere on the front straight. Made for a great place to use the ultra-wide lens as the cars were prepped.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v515/syaj/Super%20GT%20Suzuka%20Race/IMG_7214.jpg

2. Oh did I mention mascots?
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v515/syaj/Super%20GT%20Suzuka%20Race/IMG_7173.jpg

3. And race queens?
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v515/syaj/Super%20GT%20Suzuka%20Race/IMG_7262.jpg

4. The GT500 class rolls off for the start.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v515/syaj/Super%20GT%20Suzuka%20Race/IMG_5612.jpg

5. The Raybrig NSX and the Zent SC had to start from pit lane due to penalties. The Raybrig team had been fastest in qualifying, and really wanted to take it to the rest of the field. The NSX came out of the gate strong, passing the Dent SC without much trouble on the first lap, and eventually finished 2nd overall!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v515/syaj/Super%20GT%20Suzuka%20Race/IMG_5648.jpg

6. The Cusco Impreza qualified first in GT300, but unfortunately didn't hold that pace throughout the race and wouldn't even see the podium. Lightning McQueen APR MRS just behind at the start would hold out to take 2nd.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v515/syaj/Super%20GT%20Suzuka%20Race/IMG_5844.jpg

7. This is a look at the pack going through the S turns that make up 2 through 4 before the long Dunlop corner. Makes for some fantastic photos, but it was a little tough to shoot. I don't have a photo really, but the path behind the tire barriers was just a bush trail. There were many places to twist an ankle, or piss off an exotic species of spider that lives there. Luckily, I did neither, and came away in 1 piece with my shots by the end of the day.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v515/syaj/Super%20GT%20Suzuka%20Race/IMG_5983.jpg

8. One of the 2 Lamborgini's competiting in the series, also ascending the S turns.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v515/syaj/Super%20GT%20Suzuka%20Race/IMG_6201.jpg

I'd love to post more, but I need to keep the good ones of the top runners for print. For those who are curious, the podium was as follows:

GT500:
1. Impul Racing Calsonic GT-R
2. Raybrig NSX
3. Petronas Team TOMS SC430

GT300:
1. MOLA LEOPALACE Nissan Z33
2. Lightning McQueen CARS Racing apr MR-S
3. ORC Amemiya RX-7

[Steve Beck]

Excellent, the colors look realistic instead of ultra saturated like I have seen everyone doing latley.

[RadAL]

anymore of that Zent car?

[Jamie Holladay]

Nice series. I like the start shot and #6 best.

[smcclelland]

Nice capture on #1 and #6. #8 is great but I'd like to see less negative space on the bottom and more above the car, just a personal thing though.

[PurelySwift]

Thanks for the comments. As I mentioned, I'd like to post more but can't since they need to go to print. Check out the other two threads for a few from practice an qualifying.