The formation lap started just after 2:00pm, signaling the start of the Media Roadster 4-Hour Endurance Race. The temperature stood at a relatively high 28 degrees Celsius with a dry track surface. Mr. Nobuhiro Yamamoto took the start in the Jinba-Ittai Roadster from 20th on the grid. “My duty as the starting driver is to drive at a relaxed pace and hand the wheel over to the next driver, not to drive quickly in an effort to gain positions,” he said prior to the start.

The race got underway with a rolling start. Mr. Yamamoto overtook two cars on the opening lap, before passing another pair of machines as he moved up to 16th place. He maintained a decent pace, lapping stably. He then came into the pit to hand the car over to the 2nd driver, Mr. Sato. The team decided not to add fuel at the stop, something other teams were doing, and Sato entered the track in an improved 11th place.

After finishing his 50-minute stint, Mr. Yamamoto said, “It's easy to get understeer at the 1st corner. This was my first experience of a rolling start, and it was a thrill. Being able to overtake other cars was also exhilarating. However, the greatest pleasure came when I was able to hand a completely undamaged car over to Mr. Sato at the end of my run.”

The race was still in its early stages and there were thick, black clouds gathering in the eastern part of the sky…