The 2010 GT Amateur league moved to Japan for round two at the Kyoto GP track (with the Boothy chicane), a more open and long circuit in contrast to Blackwood but still with many difficult corners to test the drivers. Qualifying saw the 29 teams trying to ensure they stayed clear of the marker posts at the new chicane and the final corner, otherwise those laps would be invalid. Xcite Racing's Brunzel steered his FZR GT2 around such dangers to take pole position, with a healthy half-second advantage. Alongside on the front row would be Serbian Chromed Pistons, with the guest team of My3id Gaming behind.
Once again inclement weather would greet the GTAL teams on raceday, cloud and an accompanying wind for the drivers to contend with once they eventually got going after an extra pace lap. At the start, E-team nudged Something Awful Racing off the road on the main straight which almost resulted in a huge crash. Ahead, Runas of Deadline grabbed the lead, but behind him the crosswind in the fast right hander of turn 9, along with the cooler than normal tyres meant a couple of drivers behind ran wide.
Xcite and CoRe Racing were collected from behind by n!faculty and My3id, who in turn hit Serbian Chromed Pistons, Triple 7 Racing and left Sonicrealms Racing nowhere to go. Estonian Endurance Racers and Triple 7 both took a trip over the barriers into the scenery as the field drove into the crash scene, and soon after the race was red flagged. Lag played its part in making the crash bigger, but also some drivers not slowing down enough for the situation ahead - n!faculty, My3id and Race Sim Radicals would all be demoted to the back of the grid for their part in the incident, while others were penalised after the race.
On the restart Deadline were shoved off at turn 1 by SCP (later penalised), whilst the wind had increased its intensity and switched direction, now a tailwind into turn 9 under the bridge. It caught a few at the back of the field out, at the front it only succeeded in allowing Sonicrealms' Hutchinson to take the lead as twice in the opening laps those ahead made mistakes at the corner. The Welshman pulled away from the field, stretching out a 20 second gap to Østgaard of Triple 7 by the end of the first hour. Xcite had fallen back after a hitting the turn 9 barriers, a fate which also befell n!faculty where after numerous incidents at turn 9, they retired with steering problems just 20 minutes into the race. Coming through from the back were My3id, but like many others their progress was hampered by a trip off at the now infamous corner.
Booth would continue to service Sonicrealms' large gap at the head of the field when he took over the leading car after an hour, but saw the lead cut down to 10 seconds near the end of the second hour ahead of My3id. Reigning champions E-team, after their disastrous round 1 showing, were up in 6th, before Peron promptly stuck it into the turn 9 barriers a few laps into his stint, requiring another pit stop to fix the damage. Xcite had shaved almost half a minute off their deficit over the middle stint, before a left front puncture gave them another visit to the turn 9 wall and then to the pits - but they would soon be given a lifeline.
Just as in round 1, the appearance of the Safety Car would prove to be the turning point in this race. Near the end of the second hour, Dinamo Motorsport's XRR got beached in the gravel at turn 9, needing the Rescue Car's assistance. With 50 minutes to go, Riegler had taken over the driving at Sonicrealms and he set about making up the lost time with an excellent restart. RAPTOR-RACING had managed to stay out of trouble and work their way up to 2nd, but when the Safety Car went in were quickly overtaken by Triple 7 and My3id. With half an hour left, My3id were passed by CoRe, who were then bumpdrafted down the main straight, allowing them to overtake Triple 7 soon after. A mistake by Rielger at turn 1 let O'Keefe through but then he received a Drive-through penalty for repeated cutting of the Boothy chicane, despite warnings.
My3id followed close behind and passed Sonicrealms at the chicane, only to give the place back as they cut through the gravel. Østgaard dived for the inside at the final corner, taking two cars at once, which became the lead when CoRe served their DT. With just 15 minutes to go, a collision between Serbian Hell Drivers lapping International Team CAPO led to SHD's XRR needing a shove out of the gravel, and with over 3 minutes on the clock, the race was set to go back to green for a dash to the line. However as the back of the field came to the Boothy chicane for the restart, some cars collided and left CAPO car on their roof, meaning the race would finish under the Safety Car.
So Triple 7 Racing extend their points lead with back to back wins, leaving Sonicrealms to rue their luck but also take a leap up in the standings, just behind Xcite who made full use of the Safety Car. E-Team bounced back from their round 1 disaster to take 4th while the consistent Estonian Endurance Racers were 5th. The highest placed FXR was that of 7Karat in 12th.
The next round of the championship sees the competitors make their way to the tough streets of South City Long Reversed, where the FXR should have the upper hand on a great track for the drivers to tackle, on Saturday 30th January at 1800 UTC, with qualifying on the previous Sunday and Friday evenings.
Points standings and Final results. The amended grid can be found below.
Once again inclement weather would greet the GTAL teams on raceday, cloud and an accompanying wind for the drivers to contend with once they eventually got going after an extra pace lap. At the start, E-team nudged Something Awful Racing off the road on the main straight which almost resulted in a huge crash. Ahead, Runas of Deadline grabbed the lead, but behind him the crosswind in the fast right hander of turn 9, along with the cooler than normal tyres meant a couple of drivers behind ran wide.Xcite and CoRe Racing were collected from behind by n!faculty and My3id, who in turn hit Serbian Chromed Pistons, Triple 7 Racing and left Sonicrealms Racing nowhere to go. Estonian Endurance Racers and Triple 7 both took a trip over the barriers into the scenery as the field drove into the crash scene, and soon after the race was red flagged. Lag played its part in making the crash bigger, but also some drivers not slowing down enough for the situation ahead - n!faculty, My3id and Race Sim Radicals would all be demoted to the back of the grid for their part in the incident, while others were penalised after the race.
On the restart Deadline were shoved off at turn 1 by SCP (later penalised), whilst the wind had increased its intensity and switched direction, now a tailwind into turn 9 under the bridge. It caught a few at the back of the field out, at the front it only succeeded in allowing Sonicrealms' Hutchinson to take the lead as twice in the opening laps those ahead made mistakes at the corner. The Welshman pulled away from the field, stretching out a 20 second gap to Østgaard of Triple 7 by the end of the first hour. Xcite had fallen back after a hitting the turn 9 barriers, a fate which also befell n!faculty where after numerous incidents at turn 9, they retired with steering problems just 20 minutes into the race. Coming through from the back were My3id, but like many others their progress was hampered by a trip off at the now infamous corner.
Booth would continue to service Sonicrealms' large gap at the head of the field when he took over the leading car after an hour, but saw the lead cut down to 10 seconds near the end of the second hour ahead of My3id. Reigning champions E-team, after their disastrous round 1 showing, were up in 6th, before Peron promptly stuck it into the turn 9 barriers a few laps into his stint, requiring another pit stop to fix the damage. Xcite had shaved almost half a minute off their deficit over the middle stint, before a left front puncture gave them another visit to the turn 9 wall and then to the pits - but they would soon be given a lifeline.Just as in round 1, the appearance of the Safety Car would prove to be the turning point in this race. Near the end of the second hour, Dinamo Motorsport's XRR got beached in the gravel at turn 9, needing the Rescue Car's assistance. With 50 minutes to go, Riegler had taken over the driving at Sonicrealms and he set about making up the lost time with an excellent restart. RAPTOR-RACING had managed to stay out of trouble and work their way up to 2nd, but when the Safety Car went in were quickly overtaken by Triple 7 and My3id. With half an hour left, My3id were passed by CoRe, who were then bumpdrafted down the main straight, allowing them to overtake Triple 7 soon after. A mistake by Rielger at turn 1 let O'Keefe through but then he received a Drive-through penalty for repeated cutting of the Boothy chicane, despite warnings.
My3id followed close behind and passed Sonicrealms at the chicane, only to give the place back as they cut through the gravel. Østgaard dived for the inside at the final corner, taking two cars at once, which became the lead when CoRe served their DT. With just 15 minutes to go, a collision between Serbian Hell Drivers lapping International Team CAPO led to SHD's XRR needing a shove out of the gravel, and with over 3 minutes on the clock, the race was set to go back to green for a dash to the line. However as the back of the field came to the Boothy chicane for the restart, some cars collided and left CAPO car on their roof, meaning the race would finish under the Safety Car.
So Triple 7 Racing extend their points lead with back to back wins, leaving Sonicrealms to rue their luck but also take a leap up in the standings, just behind Xcite who made full use of the Safety Car. E-Team bounced back from their round 1 disaster to take 4th while the consistent Estonian Endurance Racers were 5th. The highest placed FXR was that of 7Karat in 12th.
The next round of the championship sees the competitors make their way to the tough streets of South City Long Reversed, where the FXR should have the upper hand on a great track for the drivers to tackle, on Saturday 30th January at 1800 UTC, with qualifying on the previous Sunday and Friday evenings.
Points standings and Final results. The amended grid can be found below.