MUGEN

2014.5.23

TEAM MUGEN #1 Yamamoto became 5th on the Race and earned 2 points!

Series name: 2014 Japanese Championship SUPER FORMULA Round 2 at Fuji Speed Way
Event: 2014 SUPER FORMULA Round 2 Fuji
Course Race 1: 4.563km × 25 laps (114.075km)
Course Race 2: 4.563km × 35 laps (159.705km)
Qualifying: 2014-05-17 Sat / Fine / Attendance 9,000 (Announcement from the organizer)
Race: 2014-05-18 Sun / Fine / Attendance 14,500 (Announcement from the organizer)

The 2nd race for SF14 with newly developed chassis and engine is taken at Fuji Speed Way in Shizuoka prefecture. Team Mugen participated to the race with two machines #1 Yamamoto and #2 Nakayama. The event was taken with two races, 25 laps 114.075 km race 1 and 35 laps 159.705km race2.

May 17th, (Sat)

■  Qualifying session
#1 Naoki Yamamoto Q1:8th position (00:01:23.956), Q2: 6th position (00:01:23.396), Q3: 7th position (00:01:23.234)
#2 Yuhki Nakayama Q1:16th position (00:01:24.427), Q2:-, Q3:-

The event was consisting of two races. 3 qualifying sessions are taken. The Q1 result makes the Race 1 starting grid order and top 13 machines proceed to Q2 session, Q2's top 8 machines proceed to Q3 to determine Race 2 starting grid order.

Q1 session is started from 14:15 with dry condition. The time attack simulation was taken with the used tires at the free practice session. #1 Yamamoto took the 13th position and #2 Nakayama took 11th position to return to the pit.

#1 Yamamoto marked 00:01:23.956 with the new tire to get 8th position and forwarded to Q2 session. However, #2 Nakayma was not able to have new tire for the time attack and marked 00:01:24.727 to become 16th position for Race 1 and Race 2.

Yamamoto marked 00:01:23.547 to become 5th position at Q2 session. Yamamoto took 6th position with 00:01:23.396 to proceed to Q3 session. Yamamoto was the only Honda engine loaded machine forwarded to Q3 session. #1 Yamamoto finally concluded Q3 session with 7th position with 00:01:23.234.

May 18th, (Sun)

■   Race 1
#1 Naoki Yamamoto Retire (19 laps 00:28:06.374 / Best lap 00:01:23.223)
#2 Yuhki Nakayama 12th position (25 laps 00:36:31.959 / Best lap 00:01:26.650)

The Race 1 started from 10:05 with the fine weather condition at Fuji Speed Way. #1 Yamamoto started the race from 8th position, but spined at the 1st corner to drop the position to the end, it was because he was attacked by the right side back machine. #2 Nakayama kept 11th position at the 1st lap.

#1 Yamamoto pushed hard towards the front machine but took turbine engine trouble at lap 20th and stopped machine in the pit to retire the race. #2 Nakayama completed the race with 12th position.

■   Race 2
#1 Naoki Yamamoto 5th position (35 laps 00:51:10.553 / Best lap 00:01:25.676)
#2 Yuhki Nakayama 18th position (34 laps 00:51:21.591 / Best lap 00:01:26.145)

The Race 2 was also started in fine weather from 14:30. At least 1 set of tire exchange at pit stop was required during the 35 laps race. The machines orders are changed right after the race starts due to some teams strategically which is to make pit stops at the early point of the race.

Both #1 Yamamoto and #2 Nakayama are planned to make pit stop at the middle point of the race so #1 Yamamoto became to 2nd position on 13th laps and #2 Nakayama became to 3rd position on lap 14th.

Yamamoto took pit stop to exchange the tire after 14 laps. #2 Nakayama also took the pit stop after #1 Yamamoto. #1 Yamamoto took 6th position and #2 Nakayama took 16th position when all machines are completed the pit stop by lap 20th.

However, Nakayama made flat spot on the front right tire by hard braking and forced another pit stop to exchange the tire, and then dropped the position to the very end.

On the other hand, #1 Yamamoto pushed hard for the front machine to pull out the former machine mistake and became 5th position. #1 Yamamoto finished the race with 5th position and it was also the top position among Honda engine machines. Finally #1 Yamamoto took 1 series point and ranked at 10th with 2 series points in total.

■ Comments from the team director, Nagataka Tezuka

Test menu were scheduled to maximize the machine ability on the Friday free practice session. However it was unfortunate to have engine trouble and not able to complete the all test menu. All staffs including the engineers and drivers worked hard to repair the machine and at the end we were able to continue the race.

#1 Yamamoto took the top position among the Honda engine machines at the qualifying session but the position was 8th and 7th. I am sorry that #2 Nakayama was not able to take proper time attack due to the time limit.

#1 Yamamoto forwarded to Q3 but it was our best. It was very clear since the first race in this series that maximum engine power is not enough, but now it is closing to the rivals with many efforts. However, I assume there will be further inprovements for the drivability to come close to the rivals.

Cornering performance and braking specification are well seted up for Fuji Speed Way and we are confidence with current conditions. We are going to take further effort for the engines and improvement on the chassis to come close to the top team machines.

♦ Photo Gallery (Round2)