15th May, Sepang -  After three sensational rounds in Japan, the 2007 Super GT International Series moves outside Japan and to a different kind of battleground where the usual cold weather and chilling winds changed to blazing sunshine, scorching heat and high humidity and with an equally high probability of rain and a wet race. 

It's the round that all the GT drivers and teams dreaded but eagerly waited every year; as Sepang F1 Circuit and the Malaysian weather provided an entirely different kind of challenge as compared to the Japanese rounds; and without doubt being the toughest and most challenging for them.

For 2007, the Malaysian Round sits as the fourth leg of a nine-round championship from June 22 to 24 and as the only round outside Japan, winning at the Malaysian Home of Formula One Racing provides special bragging rights for the drivers and teams.

"The Malaysian Round in Sepang is always special for the drivers and the teams. Every year, they really look forward to coming to this particular race because it is very special to them," says Sotoru Tsuyama, a spokesman for series promoter Japan GT Association (GTA).

"We can expect another great race in Sepang. Being the fourth round and midway through the season, it will be crucial for all the drivers and teams to secure good results in their efforts to win the overall title," added Tsuyama, who is the GTA Manager for International Promotions.

Featuring extensively modified world renowned sports cars with stylish bodyworks and spirited graphics, the series is currently the most popular racing event in Japan with an average attendance of 40,000 spectators for each of the round.

While the race provides breathtaking overtaking maneuvers, intensive bumper-to-bumper battle, the excitement is further generated with the presence of scores of umbrella-cum-promo girls; simply called GT Queens.

Skimpy-attired; friendly and polite, sweet and nice; the GT Queens are always smiling; giving out free-handouts and goodies and always ready to be photographed with the fans.

"We should be looking at an attendance of some 100 GT Queens from Japan representing the teams and sponsors for the Malaysian race apart from 39 cars competing in the GT500 and GT300 classes," says SIC Press Officer Azhar Ghazali.

"Apart from the cars and queens in the Super GT, fans will also can to see cars and queens from the supporting international races as well from the Asian Formula Renault, Formula V6 Asia, Formula BMW Asia and the Asian GT Challenge," Azhar added.

Unlike Formula One, the Super GT series are friendlier to the fans with lesser restrictions as they are allowed to visit the pits to have a closer view of the cars and rub shoulders with the drivers at the paddock areas during pit walkabouts.

Entering Sepang - after battles in Suzuka, Okayama and Fuji Speedway this season - the partnership of Satoshi Motoyama and Richard Lyons of Xanavi Nismo leads the GT500 class with 36 points - four points ahead of Michael Krumm and Tsugio Matsuda, who are also on a Nissan Fairlady Z.

Defending champion Juichi Wakisaka and Andre Lotterer and their Toyota Lexus SC430 has so far been unimpressive - lagging seventh overall with 14 points and faces a mountainous task in retaining their crown this season.

The GT300 class is led by the Japanese pair of Kazuya Oshima and Hiroaki Ishiura, who had collected 48 points with their Toyota MR-S; opening a four-point advantage over closest rival Kazuhi Takahashi and Hiroki Katoh of the Cars Tokai Dream28 Racing Team. Tickets for the 2007 Super GT Malaysia are priced as low as RM30 and can be purchased via internet at Sepang International Circuit or by calling TICKET HOTLINE at 603-87782222.

For more details, contact the Press Officer Azhar Ghazali at +6019 3837865 or visit www.malaysiangp.com.my for the latest result of race championship.

2007 SUPER GT MALAYSIA - ROUND 4
Point Standings After 3 Rounds

GT500 CLASS
1. Satoshi Motoyama/Richard Lyons (XANAVI NISMO Z)  36pts
2. Michael Krumm/Tsugio Matsuda (MOTUL AUTECH Z)   32pts
3. Daisuke Ito/Ralph Firman (ARTA NSX) 30pts
4. Yuji Tachikawa & Toranosuke Takagi (ZENT CERUMO SC430) 25 pts
5. Dominik Schwager/Shinya Hosokawa (RAYBRIG NSX) 22pts
6. Loic DUVAL/Fabio CARBONE (EPSON NSX) 22pts
7. Tatsuya Kataoka/Bjorn Wirdheim (Forum Eng. SC430) 19pts
8. Juichi Wakisaka/Andre Lotterer (TOM'S SC430) 14pts
9. Ryo Michigami/Takashi Kogure (Takata NSX) 13pts
10. Naoki Hattori/Peter Dumbrek (Bandai SC430) 10pts

GT300 CLASS
1. Kazuya Oshima/Hiroaki Ishiura (TOY STORY Racing apr MR-S) 48 pts
2. Kazuho Takahashi/Hiroki Katoh Privée (KENZO Asset Shiden) 42 pts
3. Masami Kageyama//Tomonobu Fujii (ENDLESS ADVAN SENZAIKAKUMEI Z) 35 pts
4. Marco Apicella/Koji Yamanishi (AKTIO MURCIE RG-1) 27pts
5. Morio Nitta/Shinichi Takagi (ARTA Garaiya) 21pts
6. Shinichi Yamaji/Nobuteru Taniguchi (YUNKER-POWER TAISAN PORSCHE) 12pts
7. Takuya Kurosawa/Hidetoshi Mitsusada (GREENTECH MAZIORA BOXTER) 11pts
8. Shinsuke Shibahara/Haruki Kurosawa (Willcom Advan VEMAC480R) 11pts
9. Yasutaka Hinoi/Atsushi Yugo (MARUHON MURCEI RG-1) 10pts
10. Kyosuke Mineo/Yuya Sukamoto (apr MR-S) 10pts

 

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