MUGEN

2012.09.26

Japanese Championship Formula NIPPON Round6

Now there are Two!
Although opportunities were limited due to heavy rain, the performance promises triumph may be possible at Suzuka.

Series name: 2012 Japanese Championship Formula NIPPON Round6 Sportsland SUGO
Event name: 2012 Japanese Championship Formula NIPPON Round6 Sportsland SUGO
Course: 3.704km × 68 laps (251.872km)
Qualifying: 2012-09-22 sat / Fine / Attendance 6,600 (Announcement from the organizer)
Race: 2012-09-23 sun / Rain / Attendance 8,400 (Announcement from the organizer)

For the first time there were two FN09 carrying the traditional MUGEN corporate colors of white, red, and gold taking to the grid. Having finished his competition in the 2012 IndyCar Series, Takuma Sato joined Team MUGEN regular driver, Naoki Yamamoto, for this race in the 2012 Japanese Formula NIPPON Championship. Takuma Sato continues his racing activities to bring relief and raise the spirits of the victims of the Great Tohoku Earthquake, and with Naoki Yamamoto, having experienced the frustration and limitations of being just one driver accumulating data, both drivers and Team MUGEN had a great desire to win this race.

With less experience of Formula Nippon than many of their fellow competitors, in qualifying neither driver could quite achieve the good result they were aiming for, and with heavy rain affecting them quite badly there would be no opportunity for either of them to take the race win on this day. However, with the final race in this year’s Championship to be held at Suzuka circuit, where SRS (Suzuka Racing Circuit School) is based, from which both Sato and Yamamoto graduated, and the invaluable data gained by both cars completing this race, Team MUGEN and both drivers are totally united and focused on maximizing the opportunity for victory at the next race.

█ Qualifying
#16 Naoki Yamamoto 9th place (Q1: 13th place, Q2: 9th place, Q3: -)
#15 Takuma Sato 14th place (Q1: 14th place, Q2: -, Q3: -)

Even though neither machine was able to progress to Q2 on this occasion, their performance offered great promise for the final race of the season. Takuma Sato narrowly missed out on progressing to Q2 by only 0.02 second, while Naoki Yamamoto barely lost out on a chance to go on to Q3 ending up in 9th place. However their overall performance was much better than previous races and TEAM MUGEN remain optimistic of seeing a promising result at the final race.

█ Race
#15 Takuma Sato 9th place (68 laps 1hr43mins18.105secs Best lap 1min23.009secs.)
#16 Naoki Yamamoto 14th place (66 laps 1hr43mins22.314secs Best lap 1min24.158secs.)

Despite starting from a lower grid position, Takuma Sato was able to make steady progress through the field with consistent laps, and by virtue of perfect teamwork at the pitstop, which owed much to the experience of Sato gained through world-wide competition, TEAM MUGEN moved up one further place. However with a spin by a car in front of Sato, causing him to take avoiding action and leave the track, the opportunity to gain Championship points was lost.

While the safety car was leading the machines, the spray due to heavy rain caused severely reduced visibility, and an unsighted Naoki Yamamoto made contact with another car. Although both cars were within the regulated speed for behind the safety car, the impact caused underbody damage to the car of Yamamoto and forced him to pit for a change of tyres. After which the number 16 car was able to rejoin and complete the race gaining more critical data for the team.

♦ Photo Gallery for Takuma Sato

♦ Photo Gallery for Naoki Yamamoto