2011
18th
Round 18th
Round SUPER GT Round 1
Okayama International Circuit
- ・Result
- - May 21, 2011 Qualifying:8th
- - May 22, 2011 Finals:4th
- - Driver Points:8
- - Driver Points Ranking:4th
- ・The structure changed significantly again!
Based on the slogan of going back to our roots, we changed the automobile to the BMWZ4 GT3 and joined up with Studie again. We take on the new season with a very strong lineup, with Kyo Katayama, the former F1 driver, joining as the sporting director, and Bamba remaining as a driver and being newly joined by Nobuteru Taniguchi, a top class talent.
19th
Round 19th
Round SUPER GT Round 2
Fuji Speedway
- ・Result
- - April 30, 2011 Qualifying:4th
- - May 1, 2011 Finals:5th
- - Driver Points:6
- - Driver Points Ranking:-
- ・The schedule was affected by the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami.
The Tohoku earthquake and tsunami, which occurred before the start of the season, affected the schedule significantly, and the order of the 1st 2 races were swapped.
- ・Start of the no tire change strategy!
Taniguchi’s special move of not changing the tires during a pit stop to reduce time loss was implemented for the first time with this team. The tires did not have much wear because they were heavy-weight.
20th
Round 20th
Round SUPER GT Round 3
Sepang International Circuit
- ・Result
- - June 18, 2011 Qualifying:1st
- - June 19, 2011 Finals:1st
- - Driver Points:20
- - Driver Points Ranking:-
- ・The Miku GT project debuts overseas.
We participated in Sepang, Malaysia for the first time!
- ・The much-anticipated first victory!
We achieved pole position for the first time and got our first win. The atmosphere of the team changed after this win.
21st
Round 21st
Round SUPER GT Round 4
Sportsland SUGO
- ・Result
- - July 30, 2011 Qualifying:8th
- - July 31, 2011 Finals:6th
- - Driver Points:5
- - Driver Points Ranking:-
- ・We did not surrender to the beast of SUGO!
Even though our standings dropped after we made contact with a GT500 automobile, Bamba fought back to reach 6th place before passing the checkered flag.
22nd
Round 22nd
Round SUPER GT Round 5
Suzuka Circuit
- ・Result
- - August 20, 2011 Qualifying:6th
- - August 21, 2011 Finals:5th
- - Driver Points:6
- - Driver Points Ranking:-
- ・Tenacity to win! A slightly wet, slick theater
The Suzuka 700km race took place in heavy rain. The rain stopped during the latter half, and the surface began to dry in the width of just 1 tire. Taniguchi gambled by changing to slick tires and aiming for this sliver of dry road. As a result, the standings dropped to 15th before climbing back up to 5th by the end of the race.
- ・The meaning of Taniguchi’s tears.
After the race, Taniguchi cried in front of the briefing session for individual sponsors as he apologized for finishing 5th. This is because Taniguchi was aiming to finish much higher than 5th at this race.
23rd
Round 23rd
Round SUPER GT Round 6
Fuji Speedway
- September 8, 2012-September 9, 2012
- ・Result
- - September 10, 2011 Qualifying:1st
- - September 11, 2011 Finals:1st
- - Driver Points:20
- - Driver Points Ranking:1st
- ・First victory in Japan! Another win from pole position!
We celebrated our 2nd win of the season at Fuji Speedway as many fans cheered us on. Similarly to Sepang, we won from pole position. We jumped out to 1st place in the rankings after this.
24th
Round 24th
Round SUPER GT Round 7
Autopolis
- ・Result
- - October 1, 2011 Qualifying:7th
- - October 2, 2011 Finals:9th
- - Driver Points:2
- - Driver Points Ranking:2nd
- ・We lost top position due to our struggles with performance adjustments.
Performance adjustments were added after the victory at Fuji, and the automobile lost its overwhelming speed. Possibly for this reason, we finished 9th and gave up top spot to our rival.
- ・We remain in the championship battle.
At the end of Round 7, only the number 11 car of JIMGAINER Ferrari and Miku Z4 remained as the 2 championship contenders. We enter the final race with a 5 point gap.
25th
Round 25th
Round SUPER GT Round 8
Twin Ring Motegi
- ・Result
- - October 15, 2011 Qualifying:1st
- - October 16, 2011 Finals:1st
- - Driver Points:20
- - Driver Points Ranking:1st
- ・A car painted with an anime character vs an Italian car for the final race.
The final race pitted Miku Z4, a car painted with an anime character, against the Ferrari 458, an Italian car. Although there was a 5 point gap, Miku Z4 would become the champion with a win. As the Ferrari would be the champion otherwise, the implications of this race were very easy to understand.
- ・The 3rd victory from pole position.
The winning pattern for Miku Z4 was in place, as we won pole position in qualifying before finishing 1st for the 3rd time. All the fans in the cheering section gave a standing ovation!
- ・Miku is the fastest songstress! Finally we are the GT champions!
Although it wasn’t easy to make up a 5 point gap, the entire team fought hard to become champions! This is the moment that the Hatsune Miku GT project became a champion in name and reality. Our series ranking was 1st!
26th
Round JAF GP
FUJI SPRINT CUP Fuji Speedway
- ・November 11, 2011 - November 13,
- ・Result
- - 1st Race Driver:Taniguchi Finals:1st
- - 2nd Race Driver:Banba Finals:1st
- ・We won 1st in 2 races!
For the special race, 2 drivers each sprinted for 100km with no handicap. Taniguchi and Bamba both won 1st place, setting a record of 5 total wins in the season.
(C) Yuichi Murakami / Crypton Future Media, INC. www.piapro.net