Race 2 – Motegi: Kakunoshin Ohta scores a double, Luke Browning impresses

Under clearer skies than the previous day at Motegi, Kakunoshin Ohta, who started from pole position, saw his plans thwarted as soon as the lights went out. Taking advantage of a better start, Toshiki Oyu surprised the pole-sitter at the first corner to seize the lead.

The start of the round was, however, quickly neutralized by Rikuto's immobilization. KobayashiEnding his race in the gravel trap at the final corner on lap 4, Kobayashi brought out the safety car. At the restart on lap 7, the battle for the lead resumed with renewed intensity, with Ohta immediately putting pressure on Oyu, the two exchanging OTS (Overstake System) attacks.

The turning point of the race came in the pit lane. While Oyu opted to protect his position by pitting very early, as early as lap 11, Ohta took the opposite gamble. Staying out on track, the Dandelion driver took advantage of the clean air to set a series of fastest laps and extend his lead. A winning strategy: after his pit stop on lap 22, he rejoined the race comfortably ahead of his rival and cruised to his second consecutive victory. By converting his pole position into a win, Kakunoshin Ohta has made a perfect start to the season this weekend and firmly established himself at the top of the championship standings.

Luke Browning's comeback

Behind the leaders, the real action came from the back of the grid. Starting from a distant 21st position, rookie Luke Browning delivered a flawless performance. Extending his first stint to the maximum and only pitting on the penultimate lap, the Briton staged a spectacular comeback, ultimately finishing just off the podium.

In the pack, Zak O'Sullivan redeemed himself after his mistake the previous day, securing a solid 6th place. Conversely, the end of the race was cruel for reigning champion Ayumu Iwasa. Struggling, the Mugen driver made a mistake in turn 11 of the final lap, allowing Kenta Yamashita to slip to 8th.

On the downside, Sacha Fenestraz was forced to retire after his pit stop. The Franco-Argentine driver was stopped in his tracks by a loose right rear wheel, making him one of the few retirements of the day alongside Rikuto Kobayashi.

SACHA FENESTRAZ
Fue abandono a nueve vueltas del final

When the location is located in the second location, it is possible to set up the parada in boxes @sachafenestraz Ingresa and dirty the tire after it was lost when the road lost all chance and the view was abandoned pic.twitter.com/NynQ7HqIKi

— Corazondef1 (@Corazondef1) April 5, 2026

Super Formula – Motegi
Race 2 – Ranking

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