Makers gathered for a test session at Sepang Circuit

2008 machines extensively lapped the track with SC430 clocking the fastest

The three manufacturers of SUPER GT, Honda, Nissan, and Toyota, participated in a 5-day test session held at Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia from the 14th to 18th of January.

All the machines that traveled for the test were of GT500 class. Honda Racing brought two NSX's (No.1 & 18), NISMO with three GT-R's (No.22, 23 & 230), and TRD and TOM'S each brought a SC430 (No.36 & 430), making it a total of seven SUPER GT machines. All cars tested new aero parts and tires for the '08 season. No.230 and No.430, test-cars of the two manufactures changed their tires to different manufacturers' and when out for a test, a scene you may only see at a pre-season test.

Sepang will be the venue for the 4th round again this season so the test was like a preliminary test in nature, but the main objective was to test new parts and tires, find out the baseline setup for this season's machine, and to let drivers new to the team to take the wheel. Hence, the best time was not on any works team's attention. But you can never ignore to find out which machine set the fastest time on the track so here they are; The fasted time throughout the whole 5 days among all cars was set by No.36 SC430 of TOM'S at 1 min 54 sec 781 followed by NSX at 1 min 55 sec 725 – they wrapped up testing on 17th. The new comer of the season, GT-R, set its best time at 1 min 55 sec 004. For your reference, the last year's pole position time was a course record 1 min 54 sec 306 set by Takashi Kogure on No.18 TAKATA DOME NSX.