The SUPER GT Fuji 450kms has been red flagged after 58 laps after a major accident along the front stretch involving Mitsunori Takaboshi, driver of the #3 CraftSports Motul Nissan Z.
Takaboshi was contesting for the lead in GT500 against the #39 Denso Kobelco SARD Toyota GR Supra of Yuhi Sekiguchi and the #37 KeePer TOM’s GR Supra of Ritomo Miyata. All three were running tail-to-nose, when they approached a slow moving GT300 class vehicle, the #50 Arnage Toyota MC86 of Takeshi Suehiro. Sekiguchi and Miyata were able to take evasive action, but as Takaboshi tried to steer out of the trajectory of the Arnage MC86, his car spun off to the left and crashed at full speed, head-on into the metal guardrail.
SUPER GT have confirmed via their official social media accounts, and J Sports pit reporter Shima Takeuchi also confirmed that Takaboshi, 29, was able to get out of his car under his own power, and was taken to a medical centre for further evaluation. GT Association (GTA) Chairman Masaaki Bandoh also confirmed to host broadcaster J Sports that Takaboshi is in good condition and suffered no fractures in his body.
It was the second red flag of the scheduled 100 lap race. The first was for an accident involving Hisashi Wada in the #22 R’Qs Mercedes-AMG GT3, who crashed heavily into the tyre barriers at Advan Corner. Wada was able to walk away from his incident under his own power.
Currently, the #39 Denso Supra of Sekiguchi and Yuichi Nakayama is scored as the leader in GT500, and the #10 TanaX Gainer Nissan GT-R GT3 of Ryuichiro Tomita, Riki Okusa, and Yusuke Shiotsu is scored as the leader in GT300.
UPDATE – NISMO have confirmed that Takaboshi will undergo further examination at a local hospital for further evaluation.
Further updates will follow.
