Kunimoto and Sakaguchi (Toyota Bandoh) winners in the confusion, big scare for Matsuda

Big scare in Super GT this Sunday at Suzuka. While the competitors completed the 59th of 77 laps of this 3rd round of the 2023 season contested at the Japanese GP theater, the No. 23 Nissan of Tsugio Matsuda was the victim of a violent exit from the track following a touch with Kosuke Matsuura's Lamborghini Huracan GT3 JLOC.

The race was interrupted by a red flag and officials decided not to restart the event. Problem: the No. 3 Nissan Z of Katsumasa Chiyo and Mitsunori Takaboshi, which held the lead in the premier GT500 category, had not yet made its obligatory pit stop.

Although she should have been penalized, the No. 3 was allowed to retain her victory at first. Almost all of the other teams entered in GT500 then lodged a complaint and won their case.

The No. 3 Nissan received a 60-second penalty. Chiyo and Takaboshi are thus pushed back to 4th place, more than 28'' from the winners: Yuji Kunimoto and Sena Sakaguchi aboard the Toyota GR Supra Racing Project Bandoh n°19.

The #36 Toyota GR Supra TOM'S of Sho Tsuboi and Ritomo Miyata, who had taken pole position in the hands of Tsuboi, finished 2nd, while the #1 Nissan Z of reigning Super GT champions Kazuki Hiramine and Bertrand Baguette completed the podium.

Concerning the injured pilots, Matsuda and Matsuura, the first news was reassuring. Both men were conscious after the impact, with Matsuda still taken to hospital as a precaution.

In the championship, Tsuboi and Miyata take control of the standings with 36 points, seven lengths ahead of Chiyo and Takaboshi.