Joao Paulo Lima de Oliveira:
Yesterday [in the qualifying] I made an unforgivable mistake [crash] and ruined the machine. So, I was really determined to do well today. I am very happy with this result. I want to dedicate this win to the team mechanics that worked all night getting the machine back in shape. After their work the machine was in perfect condition, and the [no-tire-change] race strategy worked perfectly too. We were able to win thanks to these efforts by everyone on the team. In the next race the car will be a bit heavier with the handicap weights [from this win], but it will be at Okayama where we won last year, so I look forward to that race
Hironobu Yasuda:
We finished 10th in every [practice] session yesterday, so I still can't believe that we won. But, at the same time I am very happy we did. What makes me happiest of all is the fact that we were able to pay back the team crew for staying up all night to repair the car. The idea to go with a no-tire-change race strategy was Manager Kondo's suggestion after the morning practice. And it was finally decided to go with that plan just before we made our pit stop. There was some pressure after I took the wheel for the second half of the race, but I pushed the machine while watching its condition during the first half of my stint and that was able to run to the checkered at a controlled pace while watching the competition
Nobuteru Taniguchi:
The question was how I was going to defend our position in front after starting from the pole position, but I wasn't able to do it at all (laughs). So, I'm both happy and relieved that we were eventually able to win. Just after the start, there were some sections of the track that were dry and others that were wet, and I didn't know which were which until I actually ran them. I was caught by surprise and said, "Oh no!" when I ran off the track (grimace). Our strategy was to not change tires, so I expected us to get a lead after the pit stop, but after the track surface conditions improved the machine performed very well and I was able to make it to the pit stop in the lead. That was a big relief for me
Ryo Orime:
Suzuka is a special circuit for me. This is where I went to racing school and this is the course I have competed on most often in SUPER GT. To be able to get a pole-to-checkered victory here has been a real confidence-builder for me. When Taniguchi-san ran off the track, I was worried because I didn't know what the conditions were. But after that I was relieved to see the machine running at a good pace. I was able to use my experience from running several times last year on a no-tire-change race strategy, and I think I did a nearly perfect job of pushing as much as necessary while watching the margin with the machines behind me
