Australian Jonathan Venter claimed his third podium finish of the GT Asia Series season at Fuji International Speedway.
The Sydney driver, partnered by Keita Sawa, managed to guide their Absolute Racing Bentley Continental GT3 to second in the final race of the weekend at the Japanese venue.
The duo finished 9.9s behind winners Edoardo Liberati and Andrea Amici, who converted a pole position into a comfortable race win.
Frank Yu and Richard Lyons combined for Craft Bamboo Racing to finish third.
Matt Stone Racing’s George Miedecke and Ash Walsh finished fifth in their Australian run Aston Martin Vantage GT3.
Singha Motorsport recorded a dominant win in the opening race of the weekend.
Buy tickets
The Carlo Van Dam and Piti Bhirombhakdi Ferrari 458 GT3 took the flag with a 41s lead over Liberati/Amici (Lamborghini) and Yu/Lyons (Porsche).
Venter and Sawa finished in sixth while Walsh and Miedecke came home in 10th position.
Victory in Race 2 sees Liberati and Amici lead the series standings.
After sitting out this weekend’s round, Kiwi Jono Lester will return to the series with GruppeM Racing at Shanghai International Raceway from August 19-21.
Super Formula
A late charge from Joao Paulo de Oliveira earned him a first win of the Super Formula season at Fuji International Speedway.
The Brazilian led the early laps but his lead was short-lived when Kazuki Nakajima surged to the front in the early laps.
The Toyota WEC driver took the control of the race only for his comfortable lead to evaporate following the introduction of the Safety Car.
Nakajima initially held the lead once racing resumed but he soon came under pressure from a charging de Oliveira.
Four laps from the finish the Team Impul driver made a move for the lead stick into Turn 1 before going on to take the chequered flag.
Nakajima held onto second while Yuhi Sekiguchi claimed the final place on the podium in third.
Bertrand Baguette and McLaren Formula 1 protege Stoffel Vandoorne, who started from pole, were locked in a battle for third.
In the end, Baguette struggled to the flag while a spin for Vandoorne saw him retire from the race.
Naoki Yamamoto leads the championship standings by three points from de Oliveira.
The Super Formula Championship heads to Motegi for round four from August 20-21.
Discussion about this post