Monday 8th September 2003

Stunning Result for 135R

4th overall in Malaysian Endurance race against some serious GT machinery

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The Merdeka Millennium Endurance race is an annual event as part for the independence day celebration in Malaysia. It's been held for four years in a row now and the twelve hour event has gained International status with many overseas teams competing. A healthy grid of 77 cars competed this year including Porsche GT3s, BMW M3s, Honda Type Rs, TVRs, Lotuses and also this year two Radicals.

The 135R from Japanese team Gooseneck Sport put in a stonking performance in the face of such machinery. Finishing 2nd in class and 4th overall in the punishing 12 hour event in extreme temperatures. The car - a standard production 135R with minor modifications to dampers and fitted with an oil cooler - completed the 12 hour event without changing the Yokohama slicks at all during the event.

This is the second creditable performance in as many months as the same team took 1st in class and 3rd overall at the Joy 7 hour endurance event held at the Honda owned and operated Motegi circuit. The race was attended by part sponsor Jack Davis from Oxfordshire based Lotus specialist Brooke Kensington. He commented,  "The car did not miss a beat during the whole 12 hour event, all we did was put fuel in, it was typical lightweight Lotus up against the big boys stuff. " 

"Drivers Ito, Saito and Katsumata took 2 hour stints each, drove the car brilliantly. The lap times being so consistent you could have set your watch by them. The team have vowed to return next year for what is one of Asia's most gruelling but enjoyable events. "

Links

• www.malaysiangp.com.my/motorsports/mme/results.htm
• www.malaysiangp.com.my/news.asp?nid=38
    

[Davey S1]

Lots
Of
Trouble
Usually
Serious

My ar5e.

Top performance.

[DanH]

Nice one.

Elises don't normally do to well in GT racing I didn't think.

[DanH]

Looking at the cars they beat, I'm guessing its more about reliability and good tactics as I can't see how it would beat a 340R for instance.

[tonytubi]

DanH said:

Looking at the cars they beat, I'm guessing its more about reliability and good tactics as I can't see how it would beat a 340R for instance.

The 340R lost clutch etc and was sat in the pits for hours while the engineers drove into town to get some custom parts made. In the end, the 340R drove the last few hours in 3rd gear...