Igor Fraga clinched his first full‑length Super Formula victory at Fuji on Saturday, taking the 41‑lap race from pole to a smooth win.
The Nakajima Racing driver dominated the field from the start, handling the circuit untroubled until the mandated pit cycle, after which he regained the lead and lapped the front‑running squad before settling for the final victory. It is Fraga’s third career triumph, the previous two having come in shortened replacement races, one earlier at Fuji this year.
Ohta’s relentless challenge
Kakunoshin Ohta of Dandelion Racing finished a commendable second, extending his championship lead to 48 points. With Fraga now his closest rival, Ohta remains in a position to close the title margin to a cushion of 46 or more and claim the championship before the season’s final dual‑head‑to–head meeting at Suzuka. The Japanese star followed Fraga’s pace for most of the race, but a sudden steering issue in the closing laps cost him precious seconds and opened the door for Team Impul’s Zak O’Sullivan.
Close‑quarters battle for second
Zak O’Sullivan advanced from sixth on the grid to fourth after an early pass on Tomoki Nojiri and Yuto Nomura. He then removed Ayumu Iwasa from third on lap 12, was undercut by Iwasa in the pit stop phase, but regained the position at the start of lap 26. When his steering hiccup allowed O’Sullivan to reduce Ohta’s margin, the Britishman pushed hard during the final lap, though he could not overcome Ohta’s lead. Iwasa finished fourth, leaving Sho Tsuboi in a fierce duel with Nirei Fukuzumi to seal the top five.
Standings ripple
With his 48‑point advantage, Ohta’s performance keeps the title within reach, and if he maintains a margin of 46 or more over Fraga and other contenders, the championship will be secured without the need for the finale at Suzuka in November.
Other key retirees and breakthroughs
Nobuharu Matsushita finished seventh for the brand‑new Delightworks Racing squad, while Toshiki Oyu took eighth for Inging. Rikuto Kobayashi and Kamui Kobayashi – the 40‑year‑old veteran in his first race back – completed the scorers. Williams Formula One reserve driver Luke Browning slipped to 15th from 16th on the grid. Tomoki Nojiri faded to 16th for Mugen, and Yuto Nomura, despite qualifying third for B‑Max Racing, retired after a second pit stop. Rookie Kazuhisa Urabe, who stepped in for the injured Sena Sakaguchi, qualified 11th in Q2 but crashed out early to finish 21st.
Looking ahead to Suzuka
As the race weekend wraps up, the championship picture tightens: Ohta’s margin is wide enough to appear secure but still hinges on maintaining a 46‑point cushion over Fraga. The full‑minisat race at Suzuka will determine whether the championship remains within reach or if Ohta’s lead becomes unassailable.
Ohta prepares to defend his lead, Fraga aims to close the gap, and the rest of the field readies for the decisive finale on the rolling Edo Circuit.
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