Qualifying Race 2 – Motegi: Kakunoshin Ohta confirms his form, rookies struggle

Following his victory in Race 1, held in torrential rain, Kakunoshin Ohta (Docomo Team Dandelion Racing) once again made a strong statement by securing pole position for the second race of the weekend. With a time of 1:30.369, the Japanese driver confirmed his excellent form and will start the 37-lap race from the front of the grid.

The usual hierarchy has been shaken up, starting with the reigning champion Ayumu Iwasa (Team Mugen). After having to concede victory to his rival the previous day despite starting from pole position, the defending champion is only in third position on the grid, leaving the front row to Ohta and Toshiki Oyu.

For several drivers, this qualifying session represented a chance for redemption after a tumultuous Saturday. Zak O'Sullivan (Team Impul), who suffered a collision that cost him his race in the first heat, managed to secure 10th place. He finished ahead of Sacha Fenestraz (Vantelin Team TOM'S), 13th, and Igor Omura Fraga (Ponos Nakajima Racing), 14th.

Further on the grid, Kamui Kobayashi (KDDI TGMGP) will start from only 17th position. Involved in the 18th lap collision the day before, he will have a hard time moving up, just like Ukyo Sasahara, the third protagonist of this same incident, who is in a distant 22nd place at the start.

Finally, adaptation remains complex for new international faces, occupying the bottom of the grid: Roman Staněk is ranked 20th, just ahead of Luke Browning, 21st and Charlie Wurz, 23rd.

Super Formula – Motegi
Qualifying standings for race 2 

1 – Kakunoshin OHTA – DOCOMO TEAM DANDELION RACING
2 – Toshiki OYU – SANKI VERTEX PARTNERS CERUMO-INGING
3 – Ayumu IWASA – TEAM MUGEN AUTOBACS
4 – Tomoki NOJIRI – TEAM MUGEN AUTOBACS
5 – Sena SAKAGUCHI – SANKI VERTEX PARTNERS CERUMO-INGING
6 – Syun KOIDE – ThreeBond Racing
7 – Nirei FUKUZUMI – NTT docomo Business ROOKIE
8 – Kenta YAMASHITA – KCMG
9 – Yuto NOMURA – San-Ei Gen with B-Max
10 – Zak O’SULLIVAN – TEAM IMPUL
11 – Ren SATO – PONOS NAKAJIMA RACING
12 – Sho TSUBOI – VANTELIN TEAM TOM’S
13 – Sacha FENESTRAZ – VANTELIN TEAM TOM’S
14 – Igor Omura FRAGA – PONOS NAKAJIMA RACING
15 – Nobuharu MATSUSHITA – DELIGHTWORKS RACING
16 – Rikuto KOBAYASHI – KOTI TGMGP TGR-DC
17 – Kamui KOBAYASHI – KOTI TGMGP TGR-DC
18 – Tadasuke MAKINO – DOCOMO TEAM DANDELION RACING
19 – Seita NONAKA – KCMG
20 – Roman STANĚK – Buzz MK RACING
21 – Luke BROWNING – REALIZE KONDO RACING
22 – Ukyo SASAHARA – REALIZE KONDO RACING
23 – Charlie WURZ – TEAM GOH
24 – JUJU – HAZAMA ANDO Triple Three Racing

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