Alesi, Sasahara steer Toyota to dominant Super GT victory
Alesi sealed the win with a best lap time of 1:54.601s after 55 laps, finishing 19 seconds ahead of the Arta Mugen Civic Type R-GT pair Tomoki Nojiri and Nobuharu Matsushita.
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New Straits Times
09-07-2025
- New Straits Times
Immersive Super GT's safari bus ride [BTTV]
BEING at eye level as race cars thunder past you on a circuit safari bus is something extremely rare. Top-tier motorsports like Formula 1 simply do not allow it. But Japan's motorsport culture is more open and fan-focused, and such safari bus ride is a great example of that. This writer had the chance to take this unique ride during a Super GT race at Petronas Sepang International Circuit on Friday. Before going more on the safari bus ride, let's digest some key facts about the Japanese Super GT series. The Autobacs Super GT race, held from June 26-28 2025 at the Sepang circuit, made its return to Malaysia after a 12-year absence. Malaysia continues to be the only country outside Japan to host a round of the series. It will return again in 2026 and 2027. UMW Toyota Motor Sdn Bhd, together with Toyota Gazoo Racing Malaysia, is the title sponsor for the Malaysian Sepang track hosted the first overseas (exhibition) race in 2000 and 2001. Back then, it was known as All-Japan Grand Touring Championship. After the two exhibition races, Malaysia was officially included as a full-fledged championship round in 2002, and played host until 2013. What is Safari Bus Ride? The safari bus ride is a special event where fans are taken onto the actual track during live practice or warm-up sessions. Fans typically ride in open-roof or large-windowed buses as Super GT cars whizz past, mere metres away. You are essentially in the middle of the action, with GT500 and GT300 cars roaring by on both sides. The Experience On board the safari bus, yours truly was literally on the circuit with the GT cars, riding safely in a bus while high-powered race machines flew past at speed of 200km-300km an hour. A guide from rights holder and promoter Haro Sports & Entertainment was there to explain what was happening on the track. The bus drove slowly along the circuit, often along parts of the main straight, S-curves or technical sections, while the race cars zoomed past at full speed. This was not just a sightseeing ride. It was a rare opportunity to witness real-time racing action from within the racing line, offering a once-in-a-lifetime perspective normally reserved for marshals or professional media personnel. The sound, speed and wind the GT cars generated were electrifying. The rumble and engine notes were physically felt. This is not simulated or slowed down. They are the real cars, at real speed and right next to you. We can see cars battling for space, doing full-speed practice laps or preparing for qualifying. There were multiple moments when the bus slowed or paused at key corners, allowing those on board to take photos of the cars as they passed by. Because they were so close, even phones can capture great shots. The safari bus ride at a Super GT race is a rare chance for fans to experience the power, speed and precision of professional motorsport from inside the world of the drivers. This is one of those bucket list experiences one will talk about for years.
The Star
28-06-2025
- The Star
Alesi, Sasahara steer Toyota to dominant Super GT victory
SEPANG: Deloitte Tom's Toyota GR Supra duo Ukyo Sasahara and Giuliano Alesi executed a flawless race strategy to claim victory in the GT500 class at the Autobacs Super GT Championship, which returned to Sepang after a 12-year hiatus. Alesi sealed the win with a best lap time of 1:54.601s after 55 laps, finishing 19 seconds ahead of the Arta Mugen Civic Type R-GT pair Tomoki Nojiri and Nobuharu Matsushita.
New Straits Times
28-06-2025
- New Straits Times
Sasahara and Alesi power to Autobacs Super GT title
SEPANG: TGR Team Deloitte TOM'S duo Ukyo Sasahara and Giuliano Alesi are hoping to build on their victory in Round 3 of the Autobacs Super GT Championship at the Sepang International Circuit today. The duo claimed the chequered flag with a comfortable 1:56.750 win over the ARTA Honda Civic Type R-GT shared by Tomoki Nojiri and Nobuharu Matsushita who timed 1:59.420. Completing the podium was the Impul Nissan Z NISMO of Bertrand Baguette and Kazuki Hiramine who clocked 1:59.003, after a penalty for the Team Kunimitsu Honda who crossed the line third. Sasahara said the result boosts their overall title hopes, but noted the competition will intensify over the remaining six rounds. "Our target is to win the championship for both drivers. Super GT is very important to be consistent, to get consistent points, and as you can see the leader also finished a decent race, so that's how it should be," said Sasahara in the post-race press conference. "But the next round is a two-phase format, so I'm really looking forward to facing the Fuji Speedway, because I think we're going to have a good chance to race, I mean, with no heavy weight. "I think the next round should be very, very important for us and the championship, so, yeah, keep it active, keep on going. Hope to hang on." Sasahara's fast stint with the No. 37 Toyota GR Supra and quick pit work helped Alesi rejoin just ahead of Nojiri, who challenged him through Turn 14, but Alesi held on and pulled away to clinch their third GT500 win together. Defending champions Sho Tsuboi and Kenta Yamashita recovered from a first-lap spin to finish seventh in the No. 1 TOM'S Toyota, retaining their lead in the standings with 39 points. Sasahara and Alesi are now second with 30. In GT300, Team UpGarage's Takashi Kobayashi and Yuto Nomura took victory in their Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo after a close fight with the Saitama Green Brave Toyota GR Supra GT. Kobayashi held off Hiroki Yoshida by just 0.933 seconds, having lost most of an earlier eight-second lead late in the race. The Saitama car had led early through Seita Nonaka, but a slow stop handed the lead back to UpGarage. Goodsmile Racing's Yuhki Nakayama and Shunji Okumoto completed the podium. Points leaders Naoya Gamou and Togo Suganami were eighth in the LEON Racing Mercedes-AMG, maintaining a 12-point lead over Inging Toyota's Yuui Tsutsumi and Hibiki Taira, who finished sixth. EBM wildcards struggled, with Adrian D'Silva and Dorian Boccolacci 17th in their Porsche 911 GT3 R, while Jazeman Jaafar and Kerong Li came home 19th in the Aston Martin Vantage GT3 Evo. All 19 cars finished the race.
