Team JMR Corvettes arise in the SRO IGT race at Suzuka

Ben Green (UK), Prince Jefri Ibrahim & Prince Abu Bakar Ibrahim (Maylasia) in the Johor # 99 Z06 GT3.R Corvette finished second among 6 cars in the ProAm class in the 1000 km 6.5-hour race in Japan.

They qualified third under rainy conditions.

Nicky Catsburg (Dutch), Scott McGlaughlin (NZ) and Alexander Simms (UK) in the Johor # 2 Z06 GT3.R Corvette qualified seventh and finished fourth among 9 cars in the Pro class.

 McGlaughlin relished the chance to moonlight from his “day job” driving Indy cars for Roger Penske who recruited Scott, a three-time Australian Supercars champion.

Alessio Picariello (Bel), Laurin Heinrich (Ger) and Julien Andlauer (Ger) in the AO by Absolute Racing # 8 Porsche 911 GT3.R (992) Evo, (a/k/a Bushi Rex) sported a special white paint job and covered 184 laps to win the race.

The # 2 and # 99 are the first Corvettes ever to race at Bathurst which we reported on in February.

The young Johor team from Maylasia is a lynchpin to make the Corvette a presence once thought out of reach in far away countries like Australia and Japan.

Suzuka is a 3.6-mile, 18-turn circuit with a unique figure-eight layout and bridge cross over.  A tiny mistake on the relatively narrow roadway can send drivers into gravel traps and asphalt runoff areas.

Suzuka celebrates 50 years!

Photos sourced from SRO IGT