Weekend notebook: wins and podium finishes at Sugo

The opening round of the Japan Cup, contested at the Sportsland Sugo circuit, brought satisfaction for the cars of the Maranello-based manufacturer, with an all-Ferrari podium in Race-1 and solid finishes in Race-2, as well as class wins.

Japan Cup. The Sportsland Sugo circuit, in Miyagi Prefecture, hosted the season-opener of the Japan Cup, which this year runs separately from the GT World Challenge Asia. The first round proved particularly favourable to the cars of the Prancing Horse brand which stood out on the track. In Race-1, overall victory went to the number 9 Ferrari 296 GT3 of Bingo Racing with LM Corsa, courtesy of drivers Shinji Takei and Ukyo Sasahara, who prevailed over the number 45 of Ponos Racing, with Yorikatsu Tsujiko and Kei Cozzolino. Completing the red-tinged podium was the 296 GT3 of Hitotsuyama with Cornes Racing, with Akihiro Tsuzuki and Shintaro Kawabata. In the second leg, the number 9 of Bingo Racing with LM Corsa failed to repeat its success and had to settle for second, placing ahead of Tsuzuki-Kawabata. There was also room for class victory among the GT3 Am cars, with a double win in Race-1 and Race-2 for the number 1 296 GT3 of Team Macchina, entrusted to Tadao Uematsu and Hirokazu Suzuki.

The second round of the series is scheduled for Fuji Speedway, from 11 to 13 July.