Super Formula – Hiroaki Ishiura crowned at Suzuka

Only six points separated Hiroaki Ishiura (P.mu/cerumo ? Toyota) of its closest rival Kazuki Nakajima (Petronas Team TOM’S? Toyota) before featuring in the 2015 Super Formula double-final showdown at Suzuka, Japan. But André Lotterer (Petronas Team TOM’S? Toyota) and João Paulo de Oliveira (Lenovo Team Impul? Toyota) also remained in the running, 14 points behind the leader.

Starting from pole position, Lotterer did what was necessary in race 1 to maintain his chances by winning the event contested in wet conditions, but Ishiura's second place put an end to the Audi driver's hopes of victory in WEC. Kamui Kobayashi (Team Kygnus Sunoco? Toyota) completed the podium ahead of Kazuki Nakajima, who remained the only and last line of defense for Ishiura in the fight for the title before the final round.

This last event will see the success of the poleman Naoki Yamamoto (Team Mugen? Honda), Honda's first victory in 2015, ahead of Nakajima who cannot prevent the coronation of Ishiura, fourth under the checkered flag behind João Paulo de Oliveira. André Lotterer was forced to retire.

>>>>> Suzuka video summary <<<<

Find the full report of the Super Formula final at Suzuka, in issue 2037 of AUTOhebdo, available from tomorrow evening in digital version, and from this Wednesday on newsstands.