MUGEN

2013.8.07

Yamamoto achieves 4 points scores in a row, and at 3rd position in the points ranking is ready for the latter half races!

Series name: 2013 Japanese Championship SUPER FORMULA Round4
Event name: 2013 Japanese Championship SUPER FORMULA Round4 MOTEGI 2&4 RACE
Course: 4.801km × 52 laps (249.652km)
Qualifying: 2013-08-03 Sat / Fine / Attendance 9,500 (Announcement from the organizer)
Race: 2013-08-04 Sun / Cloudy / Attendance 15,500 (Announcement from the organizer)

The 2013 Japanese Championship SUPER FORMULA Round4 was held at TWIN RING MOTEGI in Tochigi pre. TEAM MUGEN competed in this race with drivers, #16 Yamamoto and #15 Kobayashi. With #16 Yamamoto holding 2nd place in the overall ranking after his results at 2nd and 3rd race events.

█   Race
#16 Naoki Yamamoto 8th place (52 laps: 1hr25mins24.424secs / Best lap: 1min36.535secs)
#15 Takashi Kobayashi NC (41 laps: 1hr24mins59.462secs / Best lap: 1min36.517secs.)

From noon clouds started to cover the sky in the TWIN RING MOTEGI and as all cars were ready at the dummy grid, it started to rain. However, the weather was not expected to get worse and all the cars started out with slick tires.

#16 Yamamoto was a little late away from the line giving the #40 the chance to get close to him and take the opportunity to pass at turn 4. However, at the 90 degree corner #16 Yamamoto out-braked his rival and regained the position.

Just after that #16 Yamamoto lost his shape and again #40 went past. Then as #16 Yamamoto tried the re-pass they contacted at the inside of victory corner. #40 was pushed out of the course and #16 Yamamoto was passed by the car behind and finished the first lap in 8th place.

Elsewhere #15 Kobayashi dived into the 3rd corner along with two other cars and the resulting contact damaged the steering tie rod of #15 Kobayashi’s machine. With this damage he was not able to steer well so he was forced to slow and try to recover back to the pit. However at the 5th corner Kobayashi went off the circuit and was stopped in the gravel trap. Led by the marshal car, Kobayashi was able to make it back to the pit where the pit crew were able to make the necessary repairs. #15 Kobayashi rejoined the race 10 laps down.

#16 Yamamoto was running 8th position one second behind the car in front, but was unable to make a pass. At the end of 16th lap the car in front made a pit stop for fuel whereupon TEAM MUGEN made a strategy change and tried to make the pass in the pits by calling #16 Yamamoto to make a pit in at the next lap for fuel; however they were not able to make it. After 30th lap all the cars made a second stop for fuel, and #16 Yamamoto remained in 8th position.

#16 Yamamoto made great efforts to make ground in the race but eventually tire wear forced him to slow his pace. At this point #16 Yamamoto was focused on finishing the race and gaining points for 8th and fended off the car behind to keep the position until the end.

#15 Kobayashi made it through the finish line, but as he had not completed the minimum number of required laps he was not classified as a finisher.

At this race #16 Yamamoto added just 1 point bringing his total tally to 18 and with it a regrettable drop to 3rd position in the championship. The 2013 Japanese Championship SUPER FORMULA Round 5 was scheduled to be held at Inje Speedium in Korea in August 24th and 25th but has since been canceled and instead the next race will be held at Sportsland SUGO in Miyagi pref as the 2013 Japanese Championship SUPER FORMULA Round 6.

█ Comment from the team director Tezuka

We were ready to win this race, however it was not possible. The contact of Yamamoto with the other machine was counted as a racing accident, but was initially down to the late start by Yamamoto and the frustration of trying to make up lost ground. Possibly we wanted to celebrate his win together.

We had originally planned to bring Yamamoto in for his first pit-stop much later, but we brought the strategy forward in order to attempt to make up a position. Even though this was not successful he could at least retain 8th position, though.

From the middle of the race onwards the tire wear was too much for the car to maintain the pace. Possibly something was wrong with its setting and this will be investigated thoroughly. Though the tie rod of Kobayashi’s machine was damaged, our crews repaired it and urged Kobayashi to go back to the race to gain the additional track time. The result of this race for both of our machines seemed to be settled at the first lap. We need to cool down and take a steady step.

Since we have some time before the next race, I will urge our crews to take a rest and get refreshed. There are not so many races remaining and we would like to do our best to win them. Please keep on cheering us on.