Ohta wins and receives the Princess Yohko Cup as Fraga and Makino complete a podium lockout
Fuji SpeedwayOn Saturday 18 July, Round 7 of the Japanese SUPER FORMULA Championship (SF) was held at Fuji Speedway in Shizuoka Prefecture.
Round 7 Race
At 3:35pm, the formation lap began under lightly overcast skies. However, oil leaked from Ren Sato’s car (PONOS NAKAJIMA RACING) at various points around the circuit. The start was delayed while the track was cleaned, and the 41-lap race began behind the Safety Car (SC) at 4:20pm.
When the SC period ended and the race effectively began on Lap 6, Igor Fraga, running fourth, accelerated superbly and passed Ohta and Makino down the inside of Turn 1 to take second place behind Nojiri. He then challenged Nojiri for the lead, with both using the Overtake System (OTS), but Nojiri held the lead. Ohta passed Makino at Coca-Cola Corner on Lap 7, overtook Fraga at Turn 1 on Lap 8 and used OTS to take the lead from Nojiri on Lap 10. Nojiri pitted at the end of Lap 11, as soon as the pit window opened, in an attempt to undercut Ohta.
Ohta continued to lead on track, with Fraga in second and Makino behind. Fraga pitted at the end of Lap 25 and rejoined behind Nojiri and Ayumu Iwasa (TEAM MUGEN AUTOBACS), but ahead of Sho Tsuboi (Toyota). Ohta stopped one lap later and returned behind Nojiri and Iwasa, while Makino pitted on Lap 27 and rejoined behind Fraga and Tsuboi.
Ohta closed on Nojiri and Iwasa, passing Iwasa on Lap 29 and Nojiri on the main straight at the start of Lap 30 to retake the lead. Fraga used the remainder of his OTS allocation to pass both drivers and pursue Ohta. Makino also increased his pace after Lap 30, overtaking Iwasa, Tsuboi and Nojiri to move into third.
Ohta gradually extended his lead, while Makino reduced the gap to Fraga. Makino used the last of his OTS on the final lap in an attempt to take second, but could not complete the move, although he recorded the fastest lap.
Ohta, Fraga and Makino finished in that order, giving Honda/M-TEC-powered drivers a second podium lockout of the day following Round 3. After winning Rounds 6 and 7, Ohta received the third Princess Yohko Cup and extended his lead over Iwasa in the drivers’ standings to 50.5 points.
Round 8 is scheduled for 8–9 August at Sportsland SUGO in Miyagi Prefecture.
I’m really happy to have won two of the three races. In Round 7, the two TEAM MUGEN cars pitted early. I thought that even if we stopped at the same time, we might be able to retain our position because our pace was strong, but I expected the tyres to become difficult later in the race, so I changed my approach and decided to extend the first stint.
Igor pitted before me and effectively attempted the undercut, so it was very close, but I managed to stay ahead. We have built a lead in the championship standings, but I will continue to attack and aim to add more victories over the remaining five races.
I’m really happy to have won two of the three races. In Round 7, the two TEAM MUGEN cars pitted early. I thought that even if we stopped at the same time, we might be able to retain our position because our pace was strong, but I expected the tyres to become difficult later in the race, so I changed my approach and decided to extend the first stint.
Igor pitted before me and effectively attempted the undercut, so it was very close, but I managed to stay ahead. We have built a lead in the championship standings, but I will continue to attack and aim to add more victories over the remaining five races.
Unlike the Round 3 Sprint Race, P2 in Round 7 was a result we earned through our own performance, including the pit strategy, so I feel very positive about it. Our original plan after the start was to pit in response to Ohta, but there was a narrow window in which we might be able to rejoin ahead of Tsuboi, and the team called me in. Getting back out ahead of him at that point was important.
We could not match Ohta’s pace this time, but the car felt strong in the high-speed sections, so I expect we will be able to challenge for victory at SUGO and Suzuka.
Unlike the Round 3 Sprint Race, P2 in Round 7 was a result we earned through our own performance, including the pit strategy, so I feel very positive about it. Our original plan after the start was to pit in response to Ohta, but there was a narrow window in which we might be able to rejoin ahead of Tsuboi, and the team called me in. Getting back out ahead of him at that point was important.
We could not match Ohta’s pace this time, but the car felt strong in the high-speed sections, so I expect we will be able to challenge for victory at SUGO and Suzuka.
