GT300 Title to Hybrid Honda CR-Z, Race Win Taken by Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3

Twin Ring Motegi, November 3: Milestones were plenty at Motegi as the GT300 class saw the #61 SUBARU BRZ R&D SPORT take a record fifth pole position of the season on Saturday, while the title-winning #16 Honda CR-Z GT also created a precedent; earning the first-ever title for a hybrid machine in the series with its second-place result in the race.

The final round of any SUPER GT season always produces a peak of excitement as all machines run without any of the 'weight-handi' (success ballast) they've accumulated throughout the course of the eight-round season - and there's typically an all-out fight for pole (and the race win), with perhaps a little less concern for collateral fallout than there might be mid-season.

This year was no different as the lap record was broken in qualifying (in both classes) while each team vied for that last smidgen of performance. In the end, the BRZ proved unbeatable, and if the cards fell their way, the title could have gone to the retiring triple champion Tetsuya Yamano and his teammate Kota Sasaki. As it happened however, the pair was denied glory as in the race the #11 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3 of Bjorn Wirdheim and Katsuyuki Hiranaka came through for a consummate victory. The Subaru crossed the line in third place.

With the season now officially complete, the final chance for enthusiasts to witness these cars before the 2014 season gets underway in late March is the upcoming Fuji Sprint Cup, taking place from November 22-24.