Super GT Okayama, qualifying report: Cyndie Allemann surprises with a 12th place on the starting grid
Where: Okayama, Japan. When: 2012-03-31. Author: Cyndie Allemann Team.
In a very difficult context of changing weather conditions, learning a new series and a specific qualifying system, the new star driver of the Japanese Super GT series created a surprise by clinching the 12th place on the starting grid for the opening round of the championship, Saturday at Okayama International Circuit.
Her teammate Akihiro Tsuzuki having passed the first round of qualifying with a 15th place, the Swiss driver took over for Q2. Weather conditions started changing by the minute right before Q2, which brought a certain confusion and on-track traffic. Nevertheless, Cyndie clocked a 12th place (on 25 cars), barely missing the top-10. It is an excellent way to start her Super GT career, and caused a certain surprise in the paddock.
“Right before Q2, I was sitting in the car waiting for the session to restart – they then pushed the whole thing by 10 minutes, because the sun came out, then rain started and it even started to snow. At this point, I really didn’t have any idea of the conditions I will have once on track. We started with intermediary tires, even though the track was almost dry. I tried to manage to the best I could, and I reached a good rhythm, enough to crack the top-10 – as a matter of fact, in the next to last lap, I was still in the top-10. The last lap looked very promising, but I was slowed down quite a lot by traffic in one corner. For me, it’s a bit disappointing because I would have liked to bring my team in Q3. But it was my first shot at Super GT qualifying, so it’s OK.”
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About Cyndie Allemann
Cyndie Allemann: a World class driver, top athlete and brand ambassador. Always a fan favorite, whether in Europe, in the USA and now in Japan, 26 years old Cyndie Allemann was literally born for speed.
Her 19-year racing career has seen her compete at the highest levels in many different series and tracks around the World: karting (winning the European junior title when she was only thirteen), open-wheel (EuroF3, Indy Lights, etc.), GT (FIA-GT1 World Championship) and endurance racing (GT1 podium at Spa in the Le Mans Series, 24 Hours of Le Mans, etc.). In 2012, she races in the Japan Super GT Series with the Hitotsuyama Racing team on the Audi R8 LMS.
For more info on Cyndie or to follow her, visit her web site, her Facebook fan page and follow her on Twitter at:
About the Super GT series
Born 20 years ago under the name of All-Japan Grand Touring Car Championship (JGTC), the Super GT is the most prestigious auto racing GT series in Japon and Asia. With its two classes (GT300 and GT500), Super GT races are highly competitive with more than 40 regular car entrants. The series is authorized by the FIA and many teams get official support from car manufacturers.
For more info on the Super GT series, visit the series web site at: