The race week in Fuji was just ok, I was expecting do better as we were really fast in testing and won previous races there but since Motegi I feel something wrong with my FN car and it continued like that in Fuji to. Car was so difficult to drive and I was not able to push it to the limit to be competitive and fight for the victory.

 The start and the first lap was amazing! I started 7th and came out 3rd, it was real tight a few times…

Unfortunately I couldn’t hold on to it and ended up 5^th but that was maximum for us and I did my real best with what I had without any mistakes.

 I was then looking forward to the 2nd race starting from 4th.

The heavy rain was just too much and they had to cancel the race unfortunately.

Next race in Sugo will be a balte for the Vice-champion Tilte between Loic Duval and me. Tsugio Matsuda won the Title already.

Race 1 results:

FASTEST LAP:No.32 Takashi Kogure [PIAA NAKAJIMA] 1′29.093 (23/30) 184.378km/h

Race 2 results: Canceled (rain)

Championship standings:

After the Suzuka 1000km I just had 4 days until the next race, FN in Fuji. 

After the 1000 k’s,  Juichi and me met for a training session, Helmut tested our capabilities with a running lactate test. Basically it gradually shows how long you can push until your muscles don’t get enough oxygen and become acid.

We did it near Yoyogi Park on a track field course. Was pretty cool to have Juichi with us, he was scared when Helmut had to pierce his ear to get a few drops of blood for the test… It doesn’t even hurt…

Now Juichi got a full training plan from Helmut as he wants to enter a Marathon next year.

Good luck man……!!!

Few words to the race: First of all it was great to be on the podium for this great event full of fans! The feeling to be up there at night with all the flashes, fireworks and people enjoying racing is just GREAT! Thanks to all the fans!!

The race itself was kinda wild sometimes, in my first stint I got a good start and was holding on quite well before I got spun around by T.Matsuda, that was not cool! Specially because I left him some space, I saw in the mirror that he did a last moment risky dive into the chicane so I didn’t turn in as sharp as usual to avoid the collision but he carried way to much speed and ended up spinning me around unfortunately.

But not too much worries, race is long and still going! In my 2^nd stint I had great fun with my good friend Ben, we were pushing real hard, taking big calculated risks between us and thru traffic, racing on the very limit!  I think we were the only ones with a smile inside the helmet compare to our teams watching, sweating with fear and adrenaline… My team even said on the radio to me: “Be carefull he’s crazy!!” well, I knew that but they should know that I am too…. Hahah

When I handed the car over to my team mate I was just in front of Ben’s Nissan GTR n. 23. We both pitted at the same time, my staff did a great pit stop and we came up in front of them again.

But the bad news came shortly after. We got a 10 sec stop and go penalty. I was furious about it, this is the most ridiculous and hard penalty I ever got in my career. Its due to a Japanese racing rule…. Only in japan… There was a yellow flag at the hairpin for 3 laps, I saw it and behaved accordingly until I was behind a gt 300 car. I stayed well behind it during the corner and even waited to overtake it after the danger zone but apparently I didnt wait enough and I overtook it 5 meters before the end of the yellow zone wich is about 300 meters after the incident. Was a big crime for the marshals, ridiculous I think! Anyways, they do what they want and I didn’t respect their decision. Nothing I can do right…?

Race still ended up nice with my last stint going into the night witch I really enjoyed.

3 place, 3^rd podium of the year! Great job from the team!

what a day… I  think I have never experienced so much rain in my life! Non stop all day long!

Q1 was good, I think we coold have done better if we didnt switch to intermidiates before i hand over the cart to Juichi. Top 3 or even better was possible i guess, anyways we ended up 5th, best toyota and confident for tomorrows big race. Our pace in the dry on friday was real good.

Im really disapointed that the afternoon super lap session has been canceled. Ok, to be honest there was to much water but I was just exited to make the most out of the situation and grab pole position. Unfortunatly nobody had a go and that was it for the day! 

here a few impressions of what became a rather boring day waiting and doing  jokes…

We had lunch at Juichi’s booth, its really big and all the fans can go there to eat, relax, drink and enjoy a cool open space with nice music. Today ”jon” had lunch with us. He’s a very special racing fan, since 20 years he has been coming to most of the races held at Suzuka.

Playing Grand turismo prologue against other drivers and fans. Won against the other gt drivers but the little fans boy beat me!! they should stop playing all day long and do their homework…

Last night I picked up my trainer Helmut from Narita, hes gonna be here making me sweat and boost my motivation until september 1st.  Its real cool to work with him, hes gonna help Juichi to to keep us fit the tough suzuka 1000km race this weekend.

No time wasted with him thats for sure, we directly planed a good training session and went to Kawaguchiko to cycle up Mt fuji from the bottom of the subaru line all the way up to the 5th station. We did it a few times before already but today i beat my record so im real happy!

Here some impressions from my mobile phone cam…

copyright : JRP

I had the privilege to be the first driver to take out the all new Formula Nippon 2009 car on track @ Fuji speedway today. I have to say that I was positively surprised with how little amout of problems the car had. It looks strong, well if you see it in real you might know why… Its a biiiig car! Cant say to much about the handling cause they are a lot of things to fix so I dont want give any negative comments about it cause im sure it will improve. My best lap time today was 1.27:2 The best i did with our actual LOLA car in the winter was a 1.23:9.

Not to sure about the esthetics… Personally Im always more into F1 style cause technology made the f1 cars look like what they are today and if you observe well, the fastest cars are always the nicest. 

More driving tomorrow!

On the way back from my 2 day trip to Shimoda I stoped by the teams workshop to make my new seat for the 09 FN car. I can tell you that its not a problem to fit in it… ITs a big car! Everything is big in USA right… Swift is the car manufacturer, from California.

Doing the shakedown tomorrow! Will be interesting!

See how hot it gets in Japan!!! Good we have aircon, specially on that long drive down to Shimoda! The only white sand beach with crystal clear water!!  Not there yet…

I think i know her form somewhere…