Suzuka – Théo Pourchaire in difficulty, pole position for Sena Sakaguchi

• To Theo Pourchaire, the first pole position in Super Formula will wait at least for the Autopolis round next May (17-19). Engaged with Team Impul, the Tricolore, author of a good start to the day with the 5^e time in free practice, failed to confirm during qualifying this Saturday.
• Placed in the first group to take to the track, the 2023 champion of F2 put all the chances on his side by waiting for the end of the clock to launch his real flying lap, supposed to allow him to get his ticket for Q2, or at least to fight for it. But despite an improvement compared to his mark in practice, Théo Pourchaire was not able to climb among the 6 fastest drivers and therefore reach the second part of qualifying.
• With a lap in 1'36"868, he ranked 8^e of Group A missing the passage to Q2 by 0“117 against Kenta Yamashita (Kondo Racing). Small consolation prize for Théo Pourchaire who got the better of his teammate, the experienced and 2016 Super Formula champion Yuji Kunimoto, 9^e of his group in 1'37"292. This Sunday, the comeback awaits the Frenchman during the race (6:25 a.m.) since he will start from the 16^e position. It's up to him to find the best strategy to gain as many places as possible.

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予選Q1 Agr いよいよスタート
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Q1(A Gr)⏰15:05-15:15#SFomula @suzuka_event pic.twitter.com/8qXiemppZE

— スーパーフォーミュラ公式 (@SUPER_FORMULA) March 9, 2024

• In Q2, the battle was intense between the favorites and it was finally won by Sena Sakaguchi (Inging) to everyone's surprise. While his best qualifying result last year remained a 3rd position, the driver of the Toyota N°38 put everyone in agreement with a lap in 1'35"789 after having improved 3 of his 4 sectors before lighting the last one purple. On the line, it didn't matter much since Kakunoshin Ohta (Dandelion Racing) finished just 91 thousandths behind. Tomoki Nojiri (Team Mugen), one of the big favorites of the season, completed the Top 3.
• Also arriving from F2 like Théo Pourchaire, Ayumu Iwasa (Team Mugen) was content with 11th place.

ALSO READ > Théo Pourchaire before his debut in Japan: “If I compete in a championship it’s to win it”