P1racenews AI automatic summary:
How Rookie lost its status as Toyota’s top SUPER GT team
one of the factors that contributed to TOM’S success,” Yamashita stated. “But it’s not just that. Their ability to consistently perform well during the race and make progress was also a key factor. We weren’t able to match their race pace and that’s where we fell short.”
Yamashita also acknowledged that the GR Supra was still inferior to the Nissan Z and the Honda NSX-GT Type S in terms of overall performance. He noted that the power difference had decreased compared to last year, but the Supra was still lacking in medium- and high-speed corners.
Despite their struggles, Yamashita admitted that the team was stronger in qualifying, but TOM’S excelled in race pace. He pointed to the example of the Autopolis round, where they started fourth but dropped down the order while the #36 car stormed through the field to win.
Tyre selection was mentioned as one of the advantages TOM’S had, with Oshima suggesting that Miyata’s participation in a tyre test allowed them to make the right choice for a race where they almost won. Yamashita agreed that tyre selection played a role, but there were other areas where TOM’S had an edge.
Overall, it was a disappointing season for Yamashita and Oshima, and they felt like they were lacking something. They finished seventh in the standings with only one podium finish, while TOM’S dominated the championship with three wins and a solid margin.
