An extremely close day of racing sees the VIP Petfoods Nissan GT-R of Tony Quinn and Naomi Tillet maintaining their lead over the field. Equal first / second has had one Lamborghini exchanged for another as the 2007 Gallardo of Kevin weeks has overtaken Jim Richards (Porsche GT2) and the Whites (Gallardo Superleggera) to end the day on par with the GT-R overall.

“I think it’s good for the event that it’s so close. There’s some good cars, some good drivers and a few surprises. The Skelta didn’t last and (last year’s winner, Steve) Glenney is nowhere to be seen.

“It’s the old troopers up the front who are pumping out times that are much quicker than last year. We all made it through and we’re ready to fight another day.”

- Tony Quinn

The top five contenders are within 21 seconds of each other including the fifth place Fabcar Nissan GT-R driven by Western Australian Steven Jones. He’s more than 30 seconds in front of sixth place but just 5 seconds behind 4th so has real potential to move up the ranks.

“We’re doing pretty good. The roads today are very bumpy compared to what I’m used to in WA, particularly in the middle of the corners. The car is just a little bit too low, we just need to adjust the suspension bit and make it suit the bumpier conditions in Tasmania. We’re just trying to keep on the road at moment, as there’s still a long way to go. I’m still getting used to it all. I’m happy with where I am and knew the front runners would go quickly, but I can’t let them get away too much if I want to stay in contention. Because this is my first Targa a lot of it is unknown and I don’t know what to expect next.”

- Steve Jones

Russel Newman is doing better today in his RGM Maintenance Nissan GT-R and has moved his way up to end 7 places better than yesterday for 13th spot in leg 2.

Team Donut King were penalised heavily on day two. Each scoring 20 minute penalties that pushed them right to the back of the pack. Minus the penalties Tony Alford would currently be in 12th place and Peter Leemhuis in about 18th. Instead these guys are towards the end of the field.

Day 3 of the Targa will be wet as it rained in Launceston overnight so the GT-Rs may now begin to really shine. Either way day 3 will be exciting indeed.

Targa Tasmania news release after the jump…

リンク: Targa Tasmania 2009 ウェブサイト – Results
リンク: Targa Tasmania – News ウェブサイト

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Targa Tasmania（オーストラリア）, モータースポーツ 2009, gt-r, gtr, nissan, quinn, r35, targa tasmania, tarmac rally

It really seems like TAS2009 has just been but time flies and dates are now already announced for next years event. In case you don’t know or have never heard of it, Tokyo Auto Salon is Japan’s largest annual tuner auto show. Spread out over the many halls of the Makuhari Messe each year is everything you could possibly want Japanese car tuning related. From the subtle to the sublime from drift cars to VIP it’s all here and it’s growing in size.

This year you should most certainly plan your trip in advance and be in Tokyo from the 15th – 17th of January 2010.

Tokyo Auto Salon 2009 was huge, 388 companies exhibited 626 cars over 3,117 booths over god knows how many kilometers of hall aisles. This eclipses TAS2008 in size even without some of the bigger name tuners like HKS in attendance!

In January this year we attended Tokyo Auto Salon with guys from NAGTROC and were well impressed with the cars on show and of course, we’ll be back next year to bring you guys all the news we can from across the ocean.

If you’re planning on going, or even a maybe, post in the comments. We had many great meetups with NAGTROC members and GTRBlog readers this year in Tokyo so looking to do it all over and have an even better time in 2010.

モーターショー, 東京オートサロン 2009, 2010, autosalon, gt-r, gtr, Japan, nissan, r35, race queens, tas, tokyo, tokyo auto salon

Leg 1 and day 1 of competitive racing for Targa Tasmania 2009 is completed and the results have been tallied and at the end of day 1 the GT-R is king. A fantastic opening day for the the VIP Petfoods Nissan GT-R driven by Tony Quinn as he takes the outright lead 6 seconds in front of the White’s Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera which trails in second.

“The day has been fantastic. Our strategy was to keep with the leaders until the rain comes, and then to see what we can do. If we are within cooee of the leaders, or about 20-25 seconds behind, we’ll be fine, hard to beat. If it doesn’t rain, we’ll just have to press a bit harder.”

- Tony Quinn

He’s managed more than that, in the dry conditions he’s shown the epic Porsche GT2 driven by legend Jim Richards why he should get back into a Nissan after campaigning in the Porsche for too long.

Steve Jones in the Fabcar Nissan GT-R is doing great as well managing 5th position at the end of day one at one stage being equal fourth at the end of TS7.

Tony Alford is also a strong contender in 12th position overall. Peter Leemhuis is in 18th and Russel Newman rounds out the GT-Rs in 20th place.

The racing continues tomorrow as the weather turns colder and, probably, wetter. Showers are expected and even anticipated by the AWD Nissan pilots. Things could get very interesting very quickly.

Update: Photos from day 1 added courtesy of Joel Strickland

リンク: Targa Tasmania 2009 ウェブサイト – Results
リンク: Targa Tasmania – News ウェブサイト
Photos: Joel Strickland (C) Joel Strickland Photographics

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Targa Tasmania（オーストラリア）, モータースポーツ 2009, gt-r, gtr, nissan, quinn, rally, targa tasmania, tarmac, tarmac rally

Targa Tasmania 2009 Prologue wrapped up yesterday and the Nissan GT-Rs put up a fight. Many competitors used this leg to bed in new brake pads for the legs to come.

No problems were found by the teams fielding Nissan GT-Rs and overall a good day was had by all.

Steve Jones in his GT-R finished 4th in the overall surrounded by 911 GT2s and Lamorghini Superleggeras. Jim Richards in his Porsche 911 GT2 took the outright win in this leg.

Today the serious racing begins so we’re keen to begin to see the results roll in.

Video and news release from yesterday after the jump and expect more updates later today.

Nissan GT-R Results – Temco Prologue

• 4th – Jones – Nissan GT-R
• 7th – Quinn – Nissan GT-R
• 9th – Alford – Nissan GT-R
• 13th – Leemhuis – Nissan GT-R
• 29th – Newman – Nissan GT-R

Photos: Joel Strickland (C) Joel Strickland Photographics

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Targa Tasmania（オーストラリア）, モータースポーツ 2009, alford, gt-r, gtr, jones, leemhuis, newman, nissan, quinn, targa, targa tasmania, tarmac rally

Can you believe it’s been a full year since Tire Rack One Lap of America 2008? Well believe it and get ready because it’s right around the corner and this year looks to be especially exciting.

For those not in the know, the “One Lap” is a annual week long cross country endurance motorsports competition. It pits drivers against each other in time trials for almost 20 legs in more than 3,200 miles of racing and traveling in a single week. Tires are controlled and entrants get only one set for the week but car modifications are allowed.

Each entrant is entered into a class dependent on what their vehicle was delivered from the factory with. For the GT-R that puts it in the SSGT1 category with cars such as the Z06, Porsche 911 and Dodge Viper. Modifications, no matter how insane, do not change your class.

Last year a completely standard 2009 GT-R finished 11th but was a serious contender for 5th overall if not for an unfortunate DNF awarded in one leg. The resounding footnote from 2008 was this quote from GT-R pilot and Car & Driver editor Tony Swan:

The bottom line: whatever all you Corvette and Porsche zealots may say, the GT-R is a serious player in the supercar game. It’s a formidable sports car fast and competent, with cutting-edge technical sophistication.

Tony Swan, Car & Driver

This year the GT-Rs wont be so timid.

This Year…

Derek Whitis from Freedom Autosport has been combining forces with the tuning kings Switzer Performance to build their GT-R to compete at the very top tier, the seriously tuned realm where the Hennessey Vipers dwell and the modified Porsche 911 Turbos reign.

Making in excess of 700 awhp, the Freedom Autosport GT-R has the full Switzer P800 Performance Package which features upgraded turbos, upgraded intakes, bigger fuel injectors, bigger intercoolers and a full ECU tune.

Add to that lightweight panels from Password:JDM, active aero surfaces by AeroMotions, and components from Performance Friction & Motorsport Brake Specialists, STILLEN, GT-RR.com, Forged Performance, Kraft Nissan of Tallahassee, WillAll Racing, and JRZ suspension the package is truly potent.

This year we will be covering the One Lap again so stick around and check back for updates as it will certainly be a heated battle for the top places this year.

If you’re interested to see the One Lap in person, admission is free to the circuits, check the schedule after the jump to see if there’s one near you.

Complete press release after the read more link below…

リンク: Tire Rack One Lap of America ウェブサイト
リンク: Switzer Performance ウェブサイト
リンク: Freedom Autosports ウェブサイト

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