Ralf Schumacher, current Formula Nippon Championship point leader and signed with Jordan Grand Prix for 1997 Forumla One Championship, set the fastest time for Sunday's All Japan GT Championship Round-5, The Sugo GT Champion Race with McLaren F1 GTR. Younger brother of Formula One Champion Michael Schuchamher marked 1'22.066 on Second Qualifying session and continued to try faster time. Although he spun off at HP Corner on next lap, his fastest time was kept until end of session.
"I thought I would be able to mark better time, unfortunately, I spun. We couldn't get points since first race in this season. So I hope to win tomorrow. But it will be hard race because Nissan Skylines and Toyota Supras have been faster and faster," said Ralf Schumacher after Qualifying Session. He will race with Naoki Hattori, current Formula Nippon second runner.
1996 All Japan GT Championship Round-5,
Sugo GT Champion Race Starting Grid
Sportsland Sugo (3.704km)
Weather: Fine, Course: Dry October 5, 1996
Pos No Class Driver Driver CAR TIME Behind km/h
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1 60 GT5 N.Hattori R.Schumacher(D) McLAREN F1 GTR 1'22.630 161.375
2 556 GT5 Toshio Suzuki M.Kondo SKYLINE BCNR33 1'23.220 0.590 160.231
3 36 GT5 M.Sekiya P.D.La Rosa (E) TOYOTA SUPRA JZA80 1'23.613 0.983 159.478
4 37 GT5 E.Comas (F) H.Takeuchi TOYOTA SUPRA JZA80 1'23.754 1.124 159.209
5 61 GT5 D.Brabham(UK) J.Nielsen(DK) McLAREN F1 GTR 1'23.824 1.194 159.076
6 3 GT5 M.Hasemi T.Tanaka NISSAN SKYLINE BCNR33 1'23.890 1.260 158.951
7 8 GT5 T.Kristensen(DK) B.Gachot (F) TOYOTA SUPRA JZA80 1'24.086 1.456 158.581
8 30 GT5 Y.Yamada E.Tajima PORSCHE993/380LL 1'24.189 1.559 158.386
9 1 GT5 Kaz.Hoshino Masahiko Kageyama NISSAN SKYLINE BCNR33 1'24.245 1.615 158.281
10 2 GT5 Aguri Suzuki H.Fukuyama NISSAN SKYLINE BCNR33 1'24.326 1.696 158.129
11 39 GT5 Naoki Nagasaka A.FERTE (F) TOYOTA SUPRA JZA80 1'24.891 2.261 157.077
12 35 GT5 O.Larrauri(RA) A.Reid (UK) PORSCHE 911GT2 1'25.250 2.620 156.415
13 25 GT5 Masami Kageyama H.Tachikawa NISSAN Fairlady Z 1'25.254 2.624 156.408
14 100 GT5 Kuni.Takahashi K.Tsuchiya HONDA NSX NA1(E-NA1) 1'25.269 2.639 156.380
15 34 GT5 H.Matsuda O.Nakako PORSCHE 911GT2 1'25.538 2.908 155.889
16 5 GT5 K.Iida T.Ota PORSCHE 911 GT2 1'26.901 4.271 153.444
17 55 GT5 K.Tohira H.Kawai NISSAN SKYLINE BCNR33 1'26.944 4.314 153.368
18 88 GT5 T.Wada S.Ikezawa Lamborghini Diablo 1'27.047 4.417 153.186
19 19 GT5 T.Kobayashi M.Koma NISSAN SKYLINE BNR32 1'27.880 5.250 151.734
20 12 GT3 S.Motoyama F.Mizuno NISSAN SILVIA 1'27.990 5.360 151.544
21 28 GT5 M.Orido T.Tsuchiya TOYOTA MR-2 1'29.317 6.687 149.293
22 43 GT5 Y.Okamoto Y.Hinoi PORSCHE CARRERA RS 1'29.554 6.924 148.898
23 16 GT5 T.Toda E.Yamada PORSCHE 933GT2 1'29.570 6.940 148.871
24 6 GT3 T.Kawasaki T.Fukushima TOYOTA MR2 SW-20 1'29.692 7.062 148.669
25 26 GT3 K.Suzuki M.Nitta PORSCHE964 CARRERA RSR 1'29.897 7.267 148.330
26 91 GT3 M.Matsunaga T.Kawai TOYOTA MR-2 1'30.269 7.639 147.718
27 31 GT3 K.Iketani K.Mogi PORSCHE993 CARRERA RS 1'30.508 7.878 147.328
28 910 GT3 S.Sodeyama H.Tamamoto PORSCHE 933RSR 1'30.765 8.135 146.911
29 72 GT3 T.Kinoshita N.Makiguchi BMW M3 E30 1'30.765 8.135 146.911
30 7 GT3 S.Yamaji H.Matsumoto MAZDA RX7 FD3S 1'30.862 8.232 146.754
31 70 GT3 Y.Ishibashi Kaoru Hoshino PORSCHE993RS 1'31.383 8.753 145.918
32 15 GT5 M.Sekine T.Ito PORSCHE 911 TURBO 1'31.753 9.123 145.329
33 21 GT3 Y.Hitotsuyama T.Yamamoto BMW M3 E36 1'31.867 9.237 145.149
34 20 GT3 K.Takahashi H.Suga PORSCHE 933RS 1'31.998 9.368 144.942
35 51 GT3 M.Ishihara H.Noji PORSCHE911 CARRERA RSR 1'32.523 9.893 144.120
36 17 GT3 T.Nogami T.Koshimizu MAZDA RX7 1'33.392 10.762 142.779
37 95 GT3 N.Oyagi T.Mankumo NISSAN SILVIA PS13 1'33.757 11.127 142.223
38 57 GT3 T.Fukasawa M.Nagashima MAZDA RX7 FD3S 1'34.048 11.418 141.783
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GT5=GT500, GT3=GT300