Qualifying – Motegi: Ayumu Iwasa sets the pace from the start

Japan officially kicked off its 2026 Super Formula season with the first qualifying session at the Motegi circuit. This year, the series gains even more depth with a grid bolstered by two additional entries compared to last season, bringing the total to 24 drivers.

The reigning champion didn't leave any doubt for long. Ayumu Iwasa, spearheading Team Mugen, secured pole position with absolute mastery in 1:29.847, launching his title defense campaign under the best possible auspices.

Behind him, the usual hierarchy has been shaken up. The surprise comes particularly from the other side of the Mugen garage: veteran and multi-champion Tomoki Nojiri seemed to falter, only managing the eighth fastest time. The same is true for the runner-up in the 2025 standings, Sho Tsuboi, who only managed eleventh place.

On the other hand, with six European and South American drivers on the grid, Super Formula has never seemed so international. The first of this group to make an impact was Brazilian Igor Omura Fraga, already experienced in this type of racing, who finished fifth in this opening session. Franco-Argentine Sacha Fenestraz secured seventh position for Tom's. Behind him, former Invicta driver Roman Staněk occupied ninth place, while Zak O'Sullivan and Luke Browning were closely followed in thirteenth and fourteenth. The transition to the Japanese elite, however, proved more challenging for Charlie Wurz, who moved from the F3, which brings up the rear of this international contingent in nineteenth place while it gets to grips with the subtleties of the Motegi course.

Super Formula – Motegi
The Qualifications ranking

1 – Ayumu Iwasa – Team Mugen Autobacs
2 – Kakunoshin Ohta – DOCOMO Team Dandelion Racing
3 – Ren Sato – PONOS Nakajima Racing
4 – Yuto Nomura – San-Ei Gen with B-Max
5 – Igor Omura Fraga – PONOS Nakajima Racing
6 – Syun Koide – ThreeBond Racing
7 – Sacha Fenestraz – Vantelin Team TOM’S
8 – Tomoki Nojiri – Team Mugen Autobacs
9 – Roman Staněk – Buzz MK Racing
10 – Tadasuke Makino – DOCOMO Team Dandelion Racing
11 – Sho Tsuboi – Vantelin Team TOM’S
12 – Sena Sakaguchi – Vertex Partners CERUMO･INGING
13 – Zak O’Sullivan – Team IMPUL
14 – Luke Browning – Realize KONDO Racing
15 – Toshiki Oyu – Vertex Partners CERUMO･INGING
16 – Rikuto Kobayashi – KDDI TGMGP TGR-DC
17 – Kenta Yamashita – KCMG
18 – Seita Nonaka – KCMG
19 – Charlie Wurz – Team GOH
20 – Juju – HAZAMA ANDO Triple Tree Racing
21 – Ukyo Sasahara – Realize KONDO Racing
22 – Nobuharu Matsushita – DelightWorks Racing
23 – Kamui Kobayashi – KDDI TGMGP TGR-DC
24 – Nirei Fukuzumi – NTT docomo Business ROOKIE

ALSO READ > What place does Super Formula have towards the top of the pyramid?