Thrills and Spills at Fuji: Iwasa Conquers, Ohta's Crown Awaits
Ohta's Early Title Ambitions Derail Amidst On-Track Drama
Kakunoshin Ohta's pursuit of an early Super Formula championship title was dashed during Sunday's second Fuji race. A significant collision with Igor Fraga abruptly ended his hopes, while Ayumu Iwasa, the reigning champion, finally broke his long winless streak with a commanding performance.
Chaotic Beginnings and Shifting Fortunes
Ohta, representing Dandelion Racing, entered the event with a chance to secure the title two races early, needing to outpace Saturday's victor, Fraga. The initial phase of the chaotic 41-lap competition suggested Ohta was on track, as Iwasa quickly seized the lead from pole-sitter Fraga, and Ohta advanced to second by the fourth lap. An early safety car, triggered by Yuto Nomura's incident with Toshiki Oyu, briefly stabilized the race. However, the mandatory pit stops became a turning point. Ohta pitted on lap 17, only to be undercut by Oyu, who had stopped earlier.
Critical Collisions and Championship Implications
The race intensified as Ohta and Oyu made contact at Turn 3, sending Oyu into a spin. Though Ohta's car remained undamaged, the lost time allowed Fraga to execute an overcut after his pit stop. Determined to regain position and secure the title, Ohta attempted an aggressive move on Fraga at Turn 10, running wide. Moments later, in an unconventional overtaking spot at Turn 15, Ohta collided with Fraga, forcing Ohta out of the race and severely damaging Fraga's vehicle. This incident significantly impacted the championship standings.
Pit Lane Pandemonium and Further Safety Car Deployments
The subsequent safety car period led to a frantic rush into the pit lane, resulting in a multi-car pile-up. Luke Browning was turned sideways, Nirei Fukuzumi was released into Browning's path, and Syun Koide rear-ended Browning, trapping his car between Fukuzumi and Koide. Rikuto Kobayashi further complicated the situation by crashing into Koide, leading to an extended safety car phase to clear the debris.
Iwasa's Dominance and the Battle for the Podium
When racing resumed on lap 25, Iwasa held a comfortable lead over Nobuharu Matsushita and Zak O’Sullivan. However, the safety car was deployed almost immediately again after Sho Tsuboi crashed into Kenta Yamashita, reportedly due to brake failure. Iwasa executed a flawless restart on lap 32, securing his first victory of a challenging season. The fight for the remaining podium positions was fierce in the final laps.
O'Sullivan's Stellar Charge and Farewell Performance
Zak O’Sullivan, initially dropping to fifth, staged a remarkable recovery. Within five laps, he overtook Makino and Oyu, then challenged Matsushita for second place. In a bold move on the final lap at Turn 13, O'Sullivan nudged Matsushita wide to claim second, escaping any penalties. Post-race, O'Sullivan announced that this would be his final Super Formula appearance as he transitions to Formula E, with conflicting pre-season testing commitments preventing him from participating in the Suzuka finale.
Final Standings and Championship Outlook
Matsushita secured Delightworks Racing's second podium of the season in third. Oyu finished fourth, and Sacha Fenestraz overtook Makino late in the race for fifth. The top ten was rounded out by Tomoki Nojiri, Charlie Wurz, Giuliano Alesi (scoring his first points), and Fukuzumi. Iwasa now moves into second in the championship standings, trailing Ohta by 33.5 points, with 46 points still available at the upcoming Suzuka event, setting the stage for an exciting season finale.