2004 JAPAN GT CHAMPIONSHIP

MOTOYAMA / LYONS WINS 2004 CHAMPIONSHIP

LYONS (Nismo Xanavi Z): " ... This has been a fabulous season for everyone in the team and this title is as satisfying for me as my Formula Nippon win ... To be involved in developing a car from scratch with a factory team is a tremendous privilege and a great help in my own progress as a driver ... The level that these teams are operating at is at least the equal of any other series. The cars are quicker than almost every other car with a roof in the world ... We're getting up to speeds in excess of 200mph in places and the level of technology is unequalled below Formula One. The races are long and tough, too, so all round it's been a great education." K SUTTON (sponsor): "... Many congratulations to Richard and the Nismo team on his fantastic title success at Suzuka this weekend. Richard is the first British driver to win the Japanese GT title, and along with his recent Formula Nippon title has marked him out as one of the brightest young talents of 2004."

2004 JAPAN GT CHAMPIONSHIP

• 7 ROUND CHAMPIONSHIP
• Japanese GT Championship (JGTC) started by Japan GT Association in 1994. It replaced the Japan Sport Prototype Car Championship (JSPC).

2004 DRIVER STANDING:

• GT500 CLASS
• 1 Satoshi Motoyama / Richard Lyons, Xanavi NISMO Nissan Z
• 2 Jyuichi Wakisaka / Akira Lida, Esso Ultraflo Toyota Supra
• 3 J. Dufour/A. Couto, Denso Sard Toyota Supra GT
• 4 T. Kaneishi/E. Comas, G'Zox SSR Hasemi Nissan Z
• 5 M. Kageyama/M. Krumm, Motul Pitwork Nissan Z
• 6 T. Matsuda/A. Lotterer, EPSON Honda NSX

2004 CALENDAR:

• April 2-4: TI Circuit Aida
• May 21-23: Sportsland Sugo
• June 17-19: Malaysia, Sepang Circuit
• July 16-18: Tokachi Speedway
• Sept. 3-5: Twin Ring Motegi
• Oct. 29-31: Autopolis
• Nov. 19-21: Suzuka Circuit
• Dec. 17-19: JGTC All-Star Race; California Speedway USA
  *** first time JPGT was run outside Asia ***
  1 Toshihiro Kaneishi, Erik Comas
  2 Tsugio Matsuda, Andre Lotterer
  3 Naoki Hattori, Shigekazu Wakisaka

LAST SEASON: 2003 JGTC

• 2003 Japan GT Champion: Michael Krumm and Satoshi Motoyama (Nissan Skyline)
• KRUMM: ".... What a great feeling to win the championship here (Suzuka) at the last race, we have had a very difficult year, we led the championship early in the season and then dropped in the standings for the second half of the year. We have had to carry the maximum success ballast of 110 kgs for one race and then never below 70Kgs for the last half of the year and although we were still quick, we could only fight for positions instead of wins, but with Motoyama we have managed to finish all but one of the races - no driver mistakes - and this is what secured the championship for us. It is very satisfying as we have had to fight back in the last few races and I am delighted to win the GT Championship for the second time ..."