Tomoki Nojiri continues at Suzuka, Alesi 9th

The disillusionment will be hard to endure for Nirei Fukuzumi (Dandelion Racing – Honda) at the end of this Suzuka weekend in Super Formula. Author of pole and dominant at the start of the race, the Japanese saw his hopes disappear after a puncture on the 9th lap before tackling the 130R.

The first leader, however, managed to reach the pits after letting the peloton pass, but plunged directly into his box, with a visibly damaged suspension. A twist which then opens the way to Tomoki Nojiri.

Already a winner at Fuji at the start of the season, the driver of Team Mugen – Honda was offered the controls of the race on a plate, after having followed the pole sitter during the first laps, but without giving the impression of being able to stay in contact with the No. 5.

Shortly after Fukuzumi's misadventures, the salvo of compulsory tire changes began with Yuhi Sekiguchi, Naoki Yamamoto and Nobuharu Matsushita being the first to observe their stops.

In the lead, Nojiri extended his first stint and led the race 3rd ahead of Hirakawa, the rest of the peloton led by Sho Tsuboi then 10″ behind the leading duo. Nojiri observed his first stop at the end of lap 13, when Hirakawa waited until the next lap to dive into the pit lane.

At this moment, the two single-seaters of Team Tom's – Toyota of Ritomo Miyata and Giuliano Alesi dominate the race, being the only ones not to return to the pit box, when the race is neutralized after the big off-track of Yuji Kunimoto (KCMG – Toyota) in the 130R.

Helped by the commissioners, the latter can finally escape from his car which had ended up upside down in the protections.

Behind the safety car that came into action, and after the final stops, Nojiri led the peloton ahead of Hirakawa, Ukyo Sasahara (Dandelion Racing), Yuhi Sekiguchi (Team Impul – Toyota) and Hiroki Otsu (Team Mugen). After his pit stop, Alesi moved up to 11th position.

At the end of the 19th lap, the Safety Car fades and Nojiri maintains his advantage in an end of the race which will see no change in hierarchy in the top 5, Nojiri winning for the second time in two races in 2021. Hirakawa signs his first podium of the year, when Sasahara takes his first podium in the category.

Leader of the peloton after the restart, Giuliano Alesi finished in a convincing 9th place for his debut, after also showing an interesting pace yesterday in qualifying. The next Super Formula meeting will take place on the Autopolis track on May 16.

Discover the full report of the Suzuka Super Formula event, in issue 2309 of AUTOhebdo, available tomorrow evening in digital version and this Wednesday on newsstands.