Daniil Kvyat made an attention grabbing begin to his Tremendous GT profession by ending sixth within the GT300 class within the 2026 season opener on the Okayama Worldwide Circuit.
The previous Formulation 1 driver shared the #88 JLOC Lamborghini Huracan GT3 with Takashi Kogure on his debut within the Japanese collection.
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Kvyat’s transfer to Tremendous GT had generated important curiosity over the winter, however the Russian arrived with restricted expertise — not solely was it his first time racing in Japan, nevertheless it was additionally his first race in a GT3 automobile. Consequently, he had prioritised studying above all else and said earlier than the season that he had set no particular targets.
Regardless of these modest expectations, Kvyat made an instantaneous influence.
After qualifying 14th in Q2, he took over from Kogure for the second stint and delivered a robust efficiency within the race. Working on a method that concerned altering solely the rear tyres, he climbed to seventh whereas heading off strain from behind.
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Kvyat then produced a decisive transfer on the double hairpin to overhaul the #52 Inexperienced Courageous Toyota Supra GT300 — which was making an attempt a no-tyre-change technique — securing sixth place on the end.
“Superb!,” he stated when reflecting on his weekend.
“I’d say I am fairly blissful. To start with, with all of the teamwork. Everybody was superb, good communication. First qualifying was good and I reached a great degree.
“Now, I can work on making the final step, however I am there with all the opposite guys from the group who’re much more skilled than me. So it is good. I believe I am beginning to perceive.
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“Within the race, I used to be in a position to actually push laborious. We had a great technique with the group. Good out lap, good first laps after pit cease, some overtaking.
“Then the battle for P6 was very thrilling and really troublesome as a result of they (GreenBrave) had been quick on the straight. Each time I am closed within the nook, however I am within the straight and I am like, ‘I can’t come shut!’ I needed to invent one thing totally different.”
#88 VENTENY Lamborghini GT3
#88 VENTENY Lamborghini GT3
Kvyat had beforehand expressed confidence in his means to adapt, and after securing a robust end result on debut, he believes that course of is already forward of schedule.
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“A variety of studying as a result of it is also my first race in a GT automobile in any respect,” he stated.
“GT3 automobile, Tremendous GT, GT3 is the primary time ever, however I realized quick – possibly a bit quicker than I anticipated, which is sweet, however I want it that means and now we are able to give attention to the small print.
“I simply needed to perceive the tyres, braking and all the pieces. It is fairly totally different to method vehicles and all the pieces else. So I needed to study and now I really feel like I am blissful the place I’m however now I can study to give attention to smaller issues.”
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Consideration will now flip to the following spherical at Fuji Speedway, which can current one other new problem for the 31-year-old.
Requested if he can intention for a podium within the coming races, he stated: “I hope so. If we glance purely at qualifying, some vehicles had been very quick. So it isn’t simple to seek out this hole shortly with only a easy set-up change.
“However I heard right here possibly issues can change race to race, totally different automobile situations and so forth. So we are going to see; it is all new to me.
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“Additionally, at Fuji, I should adapt to situations and [then] we see the place we’re. After all, I want to combat as far forward as attainable, however I want to take it step-by-step and do my greatest in each session.”
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