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2009 Super Taikyu series, Round 8 Motegi Super Taikyu Oval Battle Race at Twin Ring Motegi Super Speedway, Tochigi
No.15 Kyosho Makers Okabe Jidosha RX-7: Masaaki Nagashima / Shozo Tagahara / Naohiro Furuya
1st Race: 2nd place, 2nd Race: 2nd place
RX-7 Takes Third Place in the ST3 Class!
The final round of the 2009 Super Taikyu series took place on the oval at Twin Ring Motegi and was first ever official "Oval Battle" round in the series. A pair of chicanes were set up on the 2.4 km (1.5 mile) Super Speedway so that race entrants cold run at both full and under heavy braking time and time again, producing an intense battle. For the pair of races, the #15 Kyosho Makers Okabe Jidosha RX-7 started from the tail end of the grid due to brake trouble in the morning's qualifying session.
In the 1st race, the #15 Okabe Jidosha RX-7 quickly improved its position immediately after the start and went on to finish in 2nd place. In the 2nd race, the #15 machine ran top in the early stages and battled hard with the 5ZIGEN NSX. However, after an exciting battle, the #15 car finished in 2nd place - but only by a narrow margin. Although the #15 entry had led the second of the two races early on, lost time in the pits saw the NSX get past. The #15 Okabe Jidosha RX-7 steadily took points throughout the season to end the up 3rd in the championship.
Team owner and driver Masaaki Nagashima commented, "Actually, we nearly gave up on taking the title as engine trouble at the mid-point of the season caused us to lose points. So I'm really happy to have taken third in the championship. This season we were able to show the fighting performance of the RX-7. I'd like to contest races in the RX-7 again next year."
1.12.2009
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