The roar of the Japanese Super GT machinery once again filled the air around Suzuka Circuit at the end of last month as car manufacturers and tyre makers completed a two-day test at the circuit, following on from earlier testing held the previous week.

A total of 14 cars took part in the two days of testing: 13 of them were GT500 cars, with just one representative from the GT300 class. The opening day was run in spring-like weather. With a morning session from 9:00 to 11:00am, and the afternoon running from 2:00 to 4:30, the day saw a total of four and a half hours' session time, allowing teams to carry out tyre tests and machine tests. In the middle of all this, the point of focus was a sportscar with a big reputation that was making its first track appearance in Japan: the No 51 Maserati MC12 run by the Le Mans winning outfit, Team Goh. In its first competitive outing on a Japanese racing circuit, and running on Japanese-sourced oil, and on Japanese tyres, it's fair to say the primary objective for the team of this test was to make any necessary shakedown adjustments, looking at all areas of the car.

The second day, which was run in predominantly dry track conditions, saw the morning session running from 10:00am to 12:05pm, and the afternoon one from 2:30 to 4:30pm. Temperatures were nudging close to the 15-degree Celsius mark (60 degrees F.)
 

However the strong wind made it feel somewhat colder than the previous day. However, proceedings eventually ran an hour over schedule as Dunlop used the track a hour longer than had been planned, meaning a few of the other teams ran late also. On the second day, the fastest time was a lap of 1:52.34, set by day one's pacesetter, the No.23 Xanavi Nismo Nissan Z. In second place, was the No.22 Motul Autech Nissan Z, with a best time of 1:52.72. Next up was the Arta Honda NSX which set a time of 1:52.79 during the morning sessions, completing the trio of cars which broke into the 1:52 bracket. The Team Goh Maserati MC12, which had set  fastest time in the 1:57s on the first day, improved its times on day two, breaking under the 1:55 barrier on the final day of the test.

Next stop for scheduled for the Super GT teams is a test at the Okayama International Circuit, where the MC12 is also set to participate. The 2006 Japanese Super GT Championship will kick off at Suzuka on 19th March.