#77 PORSCHE 996 GT3-R CHOROQ RACING

Haruki Kurosawa (J)

Kazuyuki Nishizawa (J)

Manabu Orido (J)

Kamil Klapka (CZ) u.r.

Viktor Mechl (CZ) u.r.

Richard Granát (CZ) u.r.

RACE FACTS - The Choroq Porsche caused earlier a surprise at the Monza 1,000-kms where the car finished 13th overall and as third GT, preceeded by the #85 Freisinger Yukos Porsche and the #70 Ferrari 360 Modena of JMB Racing. During the qualifications that good result was not directly confirmed, since the car came not higher than 34th (sixth in the GT class). During the first hour Haruki Kurosawa wins a place, but immediately after Kazuyuki Nishizawa spins off the road and ends in the gravel at the Ford Chicane. The car looses valuable time before rejoining the track. When Nishizawa hands the car over to Manabu Orido alternator and battery must be changed. Just before midnight the car is back into 19th position, only preceeded by the #90 Petersen/White Lightning Porsche, the #85 Freisinger Yukos Porsche and the #83 Seikel Porsche (which will be retired one hour later). Then Orido suffers a puncture in the rear left. One lap is lost. After 13 hours the car is 17th, now preceeded by the #85 Freisinger, the #90 Petersen/White Lightning and the #87 Orbit Racing. At 06.07h Oribo goes off in the gravel at the Ford Chicane, but can resume. One rank is left. A second pucture at 06.48h at the Mulsanne Hill makes the car loosing one additional lap. After 18 hours the car is 17th, and third in the GT class, despite the fact that Kurosowa missed the Michelin Chicane. During a troublefree last six hours the car can move up from rank 17 to rank 12. Eventually Kurosawa brings the car home as third in the GT class, only one lap down to the class's runner-up, the #85 Freisinger Porsche.