Super GT 2020: Round One
Although held behind closed doors, the highly anticipated start of the 2020 season did not disappoint. The weather proved ideal as the #37 KeePer TOM’S GR Supra started from pole position and former champion Nick Cassidy was largely unchallenged by pursuers. However, starting lap enthusiasm led to an accident within the chasing pack and stopped racing until lap six.
After fighting off an attack around the TRG Corner on the restart, Cassidy extended his lead to nine seconds by lap 20. A routine pit stop on lap 31 allowed team-mate Ryo Hirakawa to jump on board and resume the race, returning in third place. Their swift changeover meant that as soon the two lead cars pitted, the #37 GR Supra resumed its lead with an impressive 18.8-second advantage. However, that was immediately erased following a second appearance of the Safety Car, which bunched up the pack.
When the race restarted again on lap 43, there was just one second between #37 and the chasing #36 GR Supra. But by lap 50 this gap had been extended to five seconds, and from this point on, Hirakawa kept the field at a comfortable distance. Meanwhile, a bold move by the #39 car on lap 63 meant that GR Supra models secured all of the top five places during the closing stages of the 66-lap race.