Yamamoto did not qualify above 10th all season, only narrowly making the cut in 6th in the Q1 group, he was 1m 30.423s ahead of Sacha Fenestraz in the Q2 pole battle 0.316 seconds for pole position.
This is Yamamoto’s first pole position since Suzuka 2020 and Nakajima’s first since 2019 IndyCar champion Alex Palau First pole position since pole position on the same track.
“I’m very happy, especially since I’ve been fighting for a year and a half, and I’m very grateful to [Satoru] Nakajima-san and all the staff on the team,” Yamamoto said.
“Honestly, I don’t think I have the pace on pole. Yesterday [teammate Toshiki] Oyu [in practice] was fast, but looking at his stats, we were able to compare it with our The best aspects are combined to set. This is the limit through Q1 and it reminds us how hard super equations are.”
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Kondo Racing’s Fenestraz’s front row position, giving him two key bonus points, after an engine problem in Friday’s only practice session deprived him of qualifying It’s also surprisingly analog.
Nojiri Nojiri (Mugen), who is at the top of the standings, has no points for the first time since the fourth season opener at Fuji, One behind Yamamoto’s Nakajima teammate Toshiki Oyu.
But Nojiri’s 29-point championship lead remained intact, with closest rival Ryo Hirakawa in 13th.
Tadasuke Makino finished fifth with Dandelion Racing, followed by Sho Tsuboi (Ining), Kenta Yamashita (Kondo) and Nobuharu Matsushita (B-Max Racing).
Rounding out the top 10 was the best of Ritomo Miyata (TOM’S) and Yuhi Sekiguchi Impul.
Like Mugen teammate Nojiri, Ukyo Sasahara was at the top of the group in Q1, but in Q2, he failed to start the final attacking lap in time before the checkered flag fell, condemning him for being ranked No. 12 bits.
Hirakawa’s elimination was a big surprise in Q1 – the Impul driver was one of the first drivers in Group A to set a representative lap, but as his rivals were gradually shuffled to set them up fast time.
Ryo Hirakawa, carenex TEAM IMPUL
Photo by Masahide Kamio
He ended up missing a spot in Q2 by just 0.013 seconds, leaving him 13th in Saturday’s race.
Red Bull Junior is under pressure this weekend after Helmut Marko’s comments on his performance so far this season, he was also knocked out in Q1A , and will start at No. 15.
Giuliano Alessi (TOM’S) is one of those who dropped out in Group B and will start 18th, his worst starting position this year.
Motegi Super Formula (Rd. 7) – Q2 Results:
1. TCS NAKAJIMA RACING 1’30.423
2. Sacha Fenestraz(KONDO RACING)1’30.739
3. Toshiki Oyu (TCS NAKAJIMA RACING) 1’30.801
4. Nojiri Tomoki (TEAM MUGEN) 1’30.813
5. DOCOMO TEAM DANDELION RACING 1’30.908
6. Sho Tsukui(P.MU/CERUMOï½¥INGING)1’30.915
7. KONDO RACING 1’30.962
8. Panasonic Nobuharu (B-Max Racing Team) 1’31.033
9. Ritomo Miyata(Kuo VANTELIN TEAM TOM’S)1’31.300
10. Yuhi Sekiguchi (carenex TEAM IMPUL) 1’31.459
11. Hiroki Otsu(DOCOMO TEAM DANDELION RACING) 1’31.67912. Sasahara Ukyo (TEAM MUGEN) 2’04.157
