Heikki Kovalainen wins Super GT title in Japan

  • Published on 13 Nov 2016 15:53
  • comments 0
  • By: Dominik Wilde

Heikki Kovalainen has won the Super GT title in Japan.

The former-Formula One driver, who won the 2008 Hungarian Grand Prix, claimed victory in the season finale at Motegi, racing a Lexus alongside ex-GP2 man Kohei Hirate.

The last round of the season was a double header event after a May round was canned after the Kumamoto earthquakes, with a second event added to the final weekend of the season to compensate.

Despite being fourth in the standings going into the weekend, Kovalainen and Hirate finished the first race in second place, behind the duo of Daiki Sasaki and Masataka Yanagida, which gave them a three point lead over reigning champions Tsugio Matsuda and Ronnie Quintarelli going into the final race of the year.

Kovalainen and Hirate started the race from pole position, holding onto the lead through the pit stop phase to win.

Surprisingly, it was their first win of the year, after finishing second three times. They had never finished a race this year lower than eighth.

The triumph was Team SARD's first title in 23 years, Kovalainen's first title since his 2004 Dallara-Nissan World Series triumph, and it was Hirate's second Super GT crown after winning the series in 2013.

Replies (0)

Login to reply

BE Grand Prix of Belgium

Local time 02:41

BEGrand Prix of Belgium

Local time 02:41

World Championship standings 2025

Show full world champion standings

Test calendar

See full test schedule

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2025

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
14 - Mar 16
Australia
21 - Mar 23
China
4 - Apr 6
Japan
11 - Apr 13
Bahrain
18 - Apr 20
Saudi Arabia
2 - May 4
United States of America
16 - May 18
Italy
23 - May 25
Monaco
30 - Jun 1
Spain
13 - Jun 15
Canada
27 - Jun 29
Austria
4 - Jul 6
United Kingdom
25 - Jul 27
Belgium
1 - Aug 3
Hungary
29 - Aug 31
Netherlands
5 - Sep 7
Italy
19 - Sep 21
Azerbaijan
3 - Oct 5
Singapore
17 - Oct 19
United States of America
24 - Oct 26
Mexico
7 - Nov 9
Brazil
21 - Nov 23
United States of America
28 - Nov 30
Qatar
5 - Dec 7
United Arab Emirates
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2025

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
14 - Mar 16
Australia Albert Park
21 - Mar 23
4 - Apr 6
11 - Apr 13
18 - Apr 20
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
2 - May 4
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
16 - May 18
23 - May 25
Monaco Monte Carlo
30 - Jun 1
13 - Jun 15
27 - Jun 29
Austria Red Bull Ring
4 - Jul 6
United Kingdom Silverstone
25 - Jul 27
1 - Aug 3
Hungary Hungaroring
29 - Aug 31
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
5 - Sep 7
Italy Monza
19 - Sep 21
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
3 - Oct 5
17 - Oct 19
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
24 - Oct 26
7 - Nov 9
Brazil Interlagos
21 - Nov 23
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
28 - Nov 30
5 - Dec 7
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule

Team profile

  • Team name Dallara
  • Base Parma, Italy
Show full profile
show sidebar