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Adam Davis30 Aug 2014
NEWS

MOTORSPORT: Raging bull, rising sun

Lamborghini’s Blancpain Super Trofeo Series visits legendary Fuji speedway

After stops in Sepang (Malaysia) and Sentul (Indonesia), the third round of the six-event Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo Asia Series hit Japan's legendary Fuji circuit today.

This weekend’s event will mark the third time the Gallardo-based racing series has visited the Toyota-owned 4.6km Fuji Speedway, the latest iteration of which was overseen by renowned grand prix circuit designer Hermann Tilke between 2003 and 2005. As a result Fuji complied with FIA standards and hosted the Japanese Formula One GP in 2007 and 2008.

Originally intended to be a NASCAR-style superspeedway, the Fuji circuit was converted into a road course that opened in December 1965.

Fuji would have the honour of hosting the first Japanese GP, in 1976. Held in treacherous conditions, the race was significant as James Hunt clinched the World Drivers' Championship for McLaren with a fourth place, beating Niki Lauda – who had recently returned from horrific injuries sustained in a fire at the Nurburgring earlier that year in his Ferrari – to the title.

Sadly a 1977 crash, which took two spectators’ lives, saw the F1 circus moved on after only two races.

In current form the circuit is characterised by a 1.5km straight, funnelling into a tight right-hander and considered a prime spot for overtaking.

The ‘gentleman’ drivers in the Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo series will be driving in similar 2013-spec Lamborghini Gallardo LP 570-4 Super Trofeos, all running on Pirelli control tyres.

They run a full suite of safety gear including full roll cages and six-point harnesses, while Ohlins shocks, adjustable front roll bars and 10-position rear wings allow drivers to tune for set-up.

The Super Trofeos are stopped by a steel Brembo brake system with six-pot front and four-pot rear callipers and ABS that is tuneable for wet or dry conditions; important at Fuji, which is famous for its changeable weather.

From 2015 the Gallardo will be replaced as the series stalwart by its successor, the Huracan, which will offer more power and less weight, the latter partly achieved by the race Huracan’s rear-drive layout.

Lamborghini says this configuration will better prepare up and coming drivers for race series (such as the GT3 category seen at the Bathurst 12 Hour) that ban all-wheel drive layouts.

As part of the changeover, both the Gallardo and Huracan will be seen in all three Super Trofeo series (Asia, Europe and North America) next year, albeit in separate classes.

Watch this space for more news from the Super Trofeo at Fuji.

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Written byAdam Davis
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