Lexus dominates at first round of 2017 Autobacs Super GT series

Lexus Gazoo Racing made a memorable start to the 2017 Autobacs Super GT series, sweeping the top six positions in the opening round of the GT500 race class in a dominant performance at the Okayama International Circuit, Japan.
The Lexus LC 500 KeePer TOM’s driven by Ryo Hirakawa and Nick Cassidy clinched the top spot in the season’s inaugural race, with Lexus LC 500 WAKO’S 4CR finishing runner-up and No. 1 Lexus LC 500 Denso Kobelco Sard claiming the third position.
Rounding off the top six were Lexus LC 500 ZENT Cerumo, No. 36 Lexus LC 500 au TOM’S and No. 19 Lexus LC 500 WedsSport ADVAN, who finished in the fourth, fifth and sixth positions respectively to make sure that Round 1 of the new season was a Lexus show all the way. The race got off to a delayed start after a pair of cars from a rival manufacturer experienced mechanical problems during the formation run.
The race finally started around 2:45 in the afternoon, with the delay causing one lap to be cut from the race distance, leaving the teams to compete for over 81 laps.
Racing into the lead at the start was Lexus LC 500 WAKO’S 4CR, with the Lexus LC 500 KeePer TOM’S closely behind. Shortly after, on the hairpin turn of the second lap, the vehicle with Cassidy at the wheel – made a decisive move going into the turn with tires smoking and grabbed the lead.
From there, Cassidy continued to run strongly in the front until the sixth lap when more mechanical trouble – again involving a competitor car – interrupted the race.
After the race restarted, the Lexus LC 500 KeePer TOM’S continued to hold the lead, with the other LC 500 cars also running strongly toward the front.
From around the 30th lap, the teams began to make their routine pit stops. When all of the GT500 class cars had completed their pit stops and returned to the race, the battles between the LC 500 cars intensified again, with the Lexus LC 500 au TOM’S and Lexus LC 500 WAKO’S 4CR fighting hard for second place.
The contest turned into a hot sprint race to the goal.
Eventually, despite stiff competition from  Lexus LC 500 WAKO’S 4CR in the final stages, the Lexus LC 500 KeePer TOM’S – now with Hirakawa at the wheel – was able to maintain its lead until the checkered flag and secure the win.
Takayuki Yoshitsugu, Chief Representative, Middle East and North Africa Representative Office, Toyota Motor Corporation, said, “We are immensely proud that the team was not only able to make a clean sweep of the podium positions, but claim the first six positions in the race.