Round 1: 12th(Sat) and 13th (Sun) May at SPORTS LAND SUGO
Round 2: 2nd (Sat) and 3rd (Sun) June at FUJI SPEEDWAY
Round 3: 21st (Sat) and 22nd (Sun) July at TWIN RING MOTEGI
Round 4: 27th (Sat) and 28th (Sun) Oct at OKAYAMA International Circuit

I would like to convey my heartfelt appreciation for everybody’s support and cooperation against Japan Le Mans Challenge. Past 27-28 of November, 2007 series of round 4 was taken place at Okayama International circuit completing not only this series but also Japan Le Mans Challenge whole 2-year-series.
It is very regrettable we got the time to quit this series in such a short period of time which aimed for establishing the worldwide category with the concept "Road to Le Mans" from last year. I profoundly apologize to the fans, entrants, sponsors and related people supporting us.
Our goal and challenge of expressing the motorsport as a culture had no other choice to conclude without archiving destination. However the heart longing for Le Mans 24 hours still remain amongst sports race car fans. Moreover, the keen interest and anticipation of ACO for the Japan and Asia also unchanged.
I believe the new “Road to Le Mans” arises before our very eyes due to the significant power can make these possibilities come true in near future.
Finally, I kindly express my deep gratitude to the related people performed many service for this series. Once Again, I really appreciate to all of you for these 2 years.

Eiji Uzushiri
Representative administration officer
Sports Car Endurance Race Operation

The final round of the Japan Le Mans Challenge, which will be taken over by ACO next year. For the first time this season there was no Courage LC70 or Zytek 05S. After 6 hours of racing the AIM Sports GC-21 completed 228 laps and finished just over 28 seconds ahead of the Team Mugen Courage. In third place it was the GT1 Ferrari 550 Maranello of Hitotsuyama Racing, three laps behind the winner.
Two cars failed to finish, the Porsche 996 GT3-Rs of 910 Racing and Scuderia Forme did not make it to the end and were already out of the race after just one hour. The Hitotsuyama Racing Zytek had a troubled race again, they crossed the line fifty-five laps down in seventh place. GT2 was won by Porsche. The Porsche 997 GT3 RSR of Hitotsuyama Racing finished the race in fourth place overall while the Team Kawamura Ferrari 430 GT2 was 18 laps behind in sixth place overall place.

JAPAN LE MANS CHALLENGE OKAYAMA: Race Results:

1. AIM Sports GC-21 LMP2 - 228 laps
2. Team Mugen Courage Mugen LC70 LMP1 - 28.610s
3. Hitotsuyama Racing Ferrari 550 GT1 - 3 laps
4. Hitotsuyama Racing Porsche 997 GT3-RSR GT2 - 13 laps
5. Jidousha Koubou Myst RS.Oscar.SK-93 LMP2 - 21 laps
6. Team Kawamura Ferrari 430 GT GT2 - 31 laps
7. MAX Racing RS.KK-LM LMP2 - 32 laps
8. Hitotsuyama Racing Zytek 05S LMP1 - 55 laps
9. Scuderia Forme Porsche 996 GT3-R GT1 (DNF)
10. 910 Racing Porsche 996 GT3-R GT2 (DNF)

Teams were puzzled for tire choice for the start in cloudy, half-wet condition. With the expectation of better weather, finally all teams had chosen the slick tires for dry course. 1,000km (209 laps) or up to 6 hours of round 3 started at 12:00.
No sooner than all cars made a start, No.22 DUNLOP Zytek attacked to pole-positioned No.16 MUGEN COURAGE LC70 approaching from outside and succeeded to overtake. COURAGE LC70 underwent unendurable aggressive attack causing inevitable breaking led him out of course and stopped in the gravel. However recovered COURAGE LC70 made drastic driving for catching-up Zytek 05S, raised 2nd position and closed the gap just 2 laps.
Almost 4 hours past from the start, 2nd positioned MUGEN COURAGE LC70 had trouble of drive-train and stopped the sideway by compulsion, eventually retired the race without recovering. Rest 2 hours, 1st Zytek 05S kept solid driving aiming for the checker flag, then nearly nights fell at 18:00, race was finished with the flag waving. Zytek 05S got his third winning kept top position from start to finish determining before last round series champion.
The 2nd position of all class and LMGT-1 class winning were brought to No.21 DUNLOP Ferrari 550GTS, even caught the electronic trouble at rolling start and took from the pit. DUNLOP Ferrari 550GTS also got the series championship for all previous 3 rounds winning. Meanwhile LMGT-2 class No.27 KRH F430GT got 3rd of all classes and all 3 rounds winning as well and 4th was LMP-2 class, No.15 KK-LM MAX MYST ADVAN.

Comment of each class winner:
LMP1 classNo.22 DUNLOP Zytek 05S
Hideki Noda
I feel relief more than glad for winning. Seeing made 3 cars entry including our car in each class owner, Mr. Hitotsuyama was in tears, I also had same feeling. We did experienced regretful moment with continuous troubles in last year, I am really happy to get the series championship before last round.
Shinsuke Yamazaki
We had trouble of engine start failure at pit-out in last stint and much time required for leaving. But with the great team support brought us to the finish. I’m glad to have so good experience; the owner gave a chance to drive Zytek and become the series championship.
LMP classNo.15 KK-LM MAX MYST ADVAN
Toshiya Ito
I got many 2nd positions until this round, so I hope to win. Through some setting trial, our car archived competitive level but more speed required. We kept enduring driving and because of troubles of rivals we could accomplish to the victory.
Masayuki Ueda
Our car did not come to be competitive spec yet comparing with rivals. I am lucky to win though I thought we could get the podium.
Kazuyoshi Takamizawa
I did not know we drove as class top until finish, until found team staffs rejoiced. When I realized our winning, an emotion came to my heart and became impressive.
LMGT1 class No.21 DUNLOP Ferrari 550GTS
Akira Iida
It was fierce battle against the heat. Our battery went out at start, so we are obliged to start from pit. I could not expect this position gaining on but MUGEN COURAGE LC70 retired and we could get 2nd of all classes, class winning and class series championship.
Tomonobu Fujii
It was really hot, but our car completed no trouble race without running out of battery. I appreciate to the owner Mr. Hitotsuyama gave me a chance to become LMP-2 champion last year, and LMGT-1 in this year.
LMGT2classNo.27 KRH F430 GT
Koji Aoyama
At my turn, the temperature suddenly became high causing tire grip changed low, so very hard to drive. However, I am satisfied to accomplish my purpose of winning.
Shinichi Takagi
I drove last 2 stints fighting against the heat with keeping medium-hard tire nurturance, and finally I could finish with enough margins from rivals. My cool suit became out of order; it was exhausted finish for me.
Morio Nitta
When I made for the dummy grid from pit with intermediate tire, I found rival Porsche chose slick tires, so we changed to same slick. After the road temperature become high, medium tires matching was also good, and we won 3rd winning.
Team director: Ryuichi Kawamura
We do not care about the all class position through now, but we gained to 3rd because of LMP-1 car retire then aimed for 3rd for first time. However, endurance race cannot be off our guard until complete as you know, so I was so happy when they finished.

1 22 LMP1 DUNLOP Zytek05S Zytek05S 219 6:00'36.608 166.217 Hideki NODA 110 1'33.363 Shinsuke YAMAZAKI 109 1'33.117
2 18 LMP2 AIM SPORTS GC-21 GC-21 204 6:00'40.296 15Laps 154.803 Masaru TOMIZAWA 84 1'42.269 Yuji ASO 82 1'42.002 Tsubasa KUROSAWA 38 1'41.857
3 27 LMGT2 KRH F430GT F430 GT 201 6:01'56.044 18Laps 151.993 Koji AOYAMA 39 1'45.890 Sinichi TAKAGI 85 1'44.077 Morio NITTA 77 1'43.621
4 15 LMP2 KK-LM MAX MYST ADVAN RS.KK-LM 197 6:01'19.630 22Laps 149.218 Toshiya ITO 78 1'44.824 Masayuki UEDA 28 1'43.037 Kazuyoshi TAKAMIZAWA 91 1'44.471
5 20 LMGT2 DUNLOP PORSCHE 997 997 GT3 RSR 197 6:02'03.835 22Laps 148.914 Hideo FUKUYAMA 68 1'45.203 Yasuo MIYAGAWA 74 1'45.494 Yukinori TANIGUCHI 55 1'45.067
6 21 LMGT1 DUNLOP Ferrari550GTS 550 GTS MARANELLO 193 6:01'31.585 26Laps 146.106 Akira IIDA 75 1'41.560 Tomonobu FUJII 118 1'41.195
7 910LMGT2 910 WAKO'S PORSCHE 996 GT3R 192 6:02'18.058 27Laps 145.038 Yoshiaki NAKAYAMA 71 1'48.520 DRAGON 40 1'46.864 Motoyoshi YOSHIDA 81 1'47.987
8 7 LMGT1 SCUDERIA FORME GT3-R 996 GT3R 170 6:02'35.602 49Laps 128.310 Tadakazu KOJIMA 83 1'52.791 Masahiro FUJINO 87 1'53.782

Although the track was still wet during the warm up morning session, all the drivers bet on slick tires for the race, which was fortunately welcomed by clear blue skies.Apart from Aim Sports GC-21, Team Shinsuke YAMAZAKI/Yuji ASO/Masaru TOMIZAWA, who started from the pits after repairing some electrical problems, all the other cars left to the opening lap from the grid.
On top and 4 seconds ahead of all the others, right from the very first lap, was DUNLOP Zytek 05S Team Hideki NODA/KATO. Throughout the track and regardless of class rank,the race was displaying incredible battles: DUNLOP Ferrari 550GT1(Tatsuya KATAOKA/Naoki HATTORI/Eiichi TAJIMA) and LAV-TEC MYZ GC-21,(Yuya SAKAMOTO/Yoshihisa NAMEKATA/Tomonobu FUJII), MURCIELAGO RGT(Koji YAMANISHI/Yasutaka HINOI/WADA-Q), and MAGAMI POWER-ADVAN MYST RS CLUB(Ryohei SAKAGUCHI/Masayuki UEDA). It took only 12 laps and 15 minutes for the top DUNLOP Zytek 05S to lap all the other cars, a fantastic performance much to the surprise and fascination of all spectators. Following the DUNLOP Ferrari 550GT1 and in 3rd position was the MURCIELAGO RGT cruising on a steady pace, until on the last corner of the 41st lap it suddenly stopped. Apparently the rear left hub had been damaged. Unfortunately, this was the end of the weekend for the MURCIELAGO RGT.
10 laps later, DUNLOP Zytek finally heads for its very first pit stop, 50 laps from the start. KATO takes the wheel; they are now 4 laps ahead of the 2nd position. Pit stop resumed, Zytek 05S is soon back on the track in the leading position until the 65th lap, then suddenly KATO slows down, deviates to the pit road but unfortunately can't even make it to the pits. The engine goes dead. The engineers replace the ECU, search everywhere for the cause of the engine trouble, but without success. The race is also over also for the DUNLOP Zytek 05S.
Ten minutes later DUNLOP Ferrari 550GT1 takes the lead. At this stage the runner up is Aim Sports GC-21 and although it had started from the pits, it has succeeded in keeping a steady pace throughout the race successfully reaching 2nd place. After 2 hours the DUNLOP Ferrari 550 GT1 has completed 84 laps. The car is driven first by KATAOKA then HATTORI, TAJIMA and back to TAKAOKA for the final stint. All the three drivers keep an incredible pace of between late 1'24's and early 25's.
SHINWA SERVICE RSR - Koji AOYAMA/Shinichi TAKAGI/Morio NITTA - Only a few laps to go and plenty confidence in the car's good mileage, no driving mistakes and a steady pace leads the team to third position. 5hours from the start, the top 3 ranking goes as follows: 1- DUNLOP Ferrari 550GT1, 2- Aim Sports GC-21 and 3- SHINWASABI'S RSR.
As we thought this would be the final result, coming up the last corner LAV-TEC MYZ GC-21 unexpectedly crashes to a stop in the middle of the track. Red Flag. 75% of the race has been completed, so according to the regulations the race is now over.
The winner's trophy for the first round of the JLMC series goes to:DUNLOP Ferrari 550GT1 driven by KATAOKA/HATTORI/TAJIMA.

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