Baguette ended up second-to-last in Q1 on Saturday afternoon on the wheel of the #1 Nissan Z, solely managing to outpace the TOM’S Toyota that’s carrying the best success handicap within the GT500 subject.
The Impul machine Baguette shares with Kazuki Hiramine was carrying 36kg of ballast, half of the nominal handicap of the points-leading TOM’S automobile, after a subdued begin to the squad’s title defence.
The Belgian had been hoping to proceed the sturdy kind he and Hiramine confirmed within the earlier race at Suzuka, the place they rotated their fortunes with a podium after a dismal displaying on SUPER GT’s final go to to Fuji in Could.
However issues moist awry when Baguette received caught up behind the Racing Challenge Bandoh Toyota of Yuji Kunimoto within the remaining sector of what turned out to be his quickest lap, which he says ruined what would have been his remaining flier.
“I don’t know what he [Kunimoto] was doing, he had numerous area in entrance of him however he slowed down proper in entrance of me,” Baguette recalled to Motorsport.com.
“I used to be planning to push for 2 laps in a row, and once I began the second lap I used to be proper behind him and my lap was utterly screwed. For the second sector, I used to be proper behind him and I misplaced downforce.
“It was a bit silly of him, I don’t know why he waited so lengthy earlier than pushing. If he wished to maintain warming up his tyres, he ought to have let me cross. It’s not a pleasant factor to do.”
Nevertheless, Baguette conceded that making it by way of to Q2 would have been a tall order even with out being baulked by Kunimoto.
“We’re struggling big-time,” he stated. “Perhaps we made a mistaken selection on the tyre facet. The pre-season take a look at right here [at Fuji] was moist so we couldn’t take a look at the tyres correctly, after which in Spherical 2 we had some set-up points.
“We solved these, and the lap time continues to be gradual, so I feel that [tyre choice] is the explanation. However we are going to affirm that tomorrow [in the race].”
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Engine points in apply compelled Group Impul to take a change of engine previous to qualifying, severely limiting their working within the morning.
Whereas GT500 groups are permitted to make use of two engines a season, that means the change comes and not using a penalty, it means Baguette and Hiramine won’t be able to make use of a ‘Spec 2’ engine later within the yr with out punishment.
“In free apply we solely did six laps after which we had an engine difficulty,” stated Baguette. “So I didn’t do a lot working in apply, mistaken tyre selection… only a shit day, however that’s how it’s generally.
“Tomorrow it’d rain, which may very well be good for us… it may well solely be higher than at present.”
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