Frustrating Sunday for Pourchaire, Nojiri solo winner at Suzuka

• To Theo Pourchaire (Team Impul), this first round of Suzuka did not take the expected turn. Despite encouraging pre-season tests, on the same track, the Grassois never found the same level as that seen a few weeks ago.
• Like his qualifications on Saturday (16^e), the 2023 champion of F2 had another complicated day. And this from the start since he completed the first of 31 laps at 19^e position. The accident between his teammate Yuji Kunimoto and Kazuto Kotaka (Kondo Racing) at the same time certainly allowed him to recover two places for free, but Théo Pourchaire could not hope for better, suffering in race pace against more experienced drivers. than him in Super Formula.
• He moved up the order when the group in front of him stopped but a mistake halfway through the race definitively ended his hopes of a comeback. Too wide at the exit of the esses of the first sector, the Frenchman was unable to avoid the gravel trap and even took off. This forced him to make his only stop at the end of the 16^e round. A prolonged stop since he had to change his damaged front wing. From then on, there was nothing left to do except reach the finish line, unfortunately in penultimate place (18^e) classified drivers.

Nojiri as boss

• In search of a third Super Formula title after those of 2021 and 2022, Tomoki Nojiri (Team Impul) stood out as soon as the lights went out. From an excellent reaction, the double champion emerged from the 3^e position on the grid to take the lead at the first corner. Pole sitter Sena Sakaguchi (Cerumo-Inging) and Kakunoshin Ohta (Dandelion Racing) were unable to do anything against their compatriot.
• Untouchable, Tomoki Nojiri had no trouble applying his race plan to make his stop with complete peace of mind at 14^e turn to then recover the head and never let it go. In the end, he signed his 12^e career victory, equaling a certain Loïc duval. Kenta Yamashita (Kondo Racing) and Naoki Yamamoto (Nakajima Racing) completed the podium

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