("Taikyu" means endurance)

 

The opening race of the Super Taikyu Series 2005 was held at Sendai Highland Race Way in Miyagi Prefecture on April 24. In the 100 lap final, the #2 FUJITSUBO hpi IMPREZA, having started from the end of a total nine cars, finished 2nd in Class ST2, which used to be called Class 2 last year!

 

QUALIFYING
The qualifying day (April 23) started with disappointing news. In the car inspection the 18-inch tires, newly used to the #2 IMPREZA, received complaints and the #2 IMPREZA failed to participate in the reserved qualifying. However, the tires were approved in the evening and it was determined that the #2 IMPREZA could run in the final if it made the standard time in the free driving in the following morning. Though the #2 IMPREZA was qualified for the final, it was forced to start from the end of the pack.

FINAL
In the 30-minute free driving in the morning of April 24, the #2 IMPREZA made the lap time to be 2nd in Class ST2 and 7th overall and it was qualified for the final. A total 34 cars made a start at 12:53pm. The #2 IMPREZA driven by Yoshida ran in 5th in the first lap (21st overall) and moved up to 4th in the 2nd lap (15th overall). The #2 IMPREZA made the best lap time of 1:58'517 and became 2nd in the class (8th overall) in the 9th lap. When the #11 LANCER, which was leading the race, made a pit stop in the 36th lap, the #2 IMPREZA moved up to 2nd in the class (2nd overall). As one of the cars stopped in the track and a safety car (SC) helped the car leave the track, #2 IMPREZA made a pit stop and Yoshida was switched with Koizumi. Unfortunately Yoshida overspeeded at the entrance of the pit road and Koizumi got a drive-trough penalty. This secured the lead of the #11 LANCER, running for 1:57 to 1:59 per lap, while the #2 IMPREZA was running in the 2nd place for 2:00 to 2:02 per lap. After the #11 LANCER came in the 1st in the class, the #2 IMPREZA ended up with the 2nd (4th overall). It was a pretty good result for the #2 IMPREZA, considering the handicap at the start.