Motul-backed Nissan Z GT-500 cars secure top 2 spots at 2023 Autobacs Super GT season opener

Two Motul-liveried Nissan GT500 race cars had the top two positions at the season-opener of the 2023 Autobacs Super GT.

During the first round held at the Okayama International Circuit, aforementioned Nissan teams managed to overcome tricky track conditions.

#23 Motul Autech Z drivers Tsugio Matsuda and Ronnie Quintarelli successfully claimed victory while the #3 Niterra Motul Z driven by Katsumasa Chiyo and Mitsunori Takaboshi took second place — just 1.496 seconds behind the winner.

Matsuda, on board the #23 Motul Autech Z, secured pole position. With clear skies during the pre-race warm-up, track conditions had worsened with excessive amounts of rainfall. Despite the track situation, Quintarelli still managed to maintain the lead. The Japanese co-driver took over once the rainfall dramatically worsened and executed a flawless performance going through the scheduled rounds of pit stops, allowing the race car to emerge in the lead towards the final laps, and eventually securing the win.

Meanwhile, the Japanese drivers manning the #3 Niterra Motul Z had a different story. Although it began the race with a second-place grid start, it changed positions throughout — even dropping to 13th at one point. After the team’s successful execution of race strategies and switching drivers from Chiyo to Takaboshi on the 44th lap, #3 Niterra Motul Z made a comeback for the second position.

“This weekend’s result is a clear reflection of the loyal partnership between Nismo and Motul which has lasted over two decades. Throughout this partnership, Motul has worked closely with the racing team, to specially design and formulate lubricants for Nismo’s stable of powerful cars such as the Nissan Z GT500. At Okayama, the superiority of Motul’s 300V, Gear Competition Transmission Oil and Racing Brake Fluid were on full display, allowing teams to perform at their very best. Furthermore, rigorous testing of these lubricants and fluids provides Motul with invaluable data and insights, which ultimately shapes the products for everyday consumers around Asia and the world,” Motul said in a statement.

The Autobacs Super GT series will have the next round at the Fuji Speedway on May 3-4.

Photos from Nismo

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