8/3/2013　Round 10 Motegi Twin Ring

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Lights-to-Flag for Nakayama and Takaboshi
PETRONAS TEAM TOM'S Secures the Team Title

IThe Rd 10 of Japanese Formula 3 Championship was held at Twin Ring Motegi at midsummer. Setting 1:45.138 in the qualifying with air temperature of 30 degrees C and track temperature of 41 degrees C the point leader Yuichi Nakayama of PETRONAS TEAM TOM’S took 8th pole this season. “I was able to drive as I had intended,” he smiled. It was Tomoki Nojiri (TODA RACING) and Katsumasa Chiyo (B-MAX ENGINEERING) who broke through the impregnable Tom’s front row for the first time with 1:45.595 and 1:45.679 respectively while another Tom’s driver Takamoto Katsuta set only 1:45.792 to place 4th. Setting 1:48.661 Mitsunori Takaboshi of NDDP RACING marginally topped the F3-N class, followed by Nanin Indra-Payoong (TOM’S SPIRIT) with a time of 1:48.889 and Ryo Ogawa (TOCHIGI LE BEAUSSET MOTORSPORTS).
When the race was about to begin with almost the same temperatures of 30 degrees C for air and 41 degrees C for track the sky looked threatening with black clouds and a wind was blowing up.
Now no one could prevent Nakayama from clinching the championship title except Nojiri and Katsuta the start for the Rd 10 was critical, especially for these two chasers, but despite their determinations Nakayama made a getaway best, while Nojiri was passed by Chiyo in his start to drop to 3rd, followed by Katsuta.
Takaboshi got a good start into the first corner out in front ahead of Ogawa, who had also got a good start to come ahead of Indra-Payoong. The F3-N class had incidents as early as on lap 2 when Indra-Payoong in his overtaking attempt had a contact with Ogawa out of the 90 degrees corner, pitching the Le Beausset driver into spin. There came Hiroshi Koizumi of NET MOVE HANASHIMA RACING, who was unable to avoid Ogawa and was sent into the  barriers before bouncing back to the course and coming to a halt. This crash brought out safety car over 2 laps as well as eliminating Ogawa and Koizumi from the race although Indra-Payoong barely stayed on the track.
While safety car was deployed to remove 2 stalled cars Nakayama lost the lead that had reached over 1.1s. Despite being almost overtaken by Chiyo and Nojiri as the race resumed, the pole-sitter, profiting from slowed down Chiyo on the straight who had had his rear slipped through the final corner, stayed calm and completed the lap with a newly opened lead. With an even better start than Chiyo and Nojiri Indra-Payoong immediately darted past Motoyoshi Yoshida of B-MAX ENGINEERING and then on the following lap aimed his sight on Takaboshi running in front of the F3-N class. The gap between the two leads was reduced lap by lap before the black flag came out and Indra-Payoong was awarded a drive-through penalty for his contact with Ogawa, which was judged as a dangerous action.
In the meanwhile a shifting problem slowed down Katsuta on lap 9, costing him 2 spots, and in a fight over 4th place between the HFDP RACING duo on the same lap Kiyohara got ahead of his team-mate Shinji Matsushita out of the 90 degrees corner.
Indra-Payoong’s pit on lap 11 brought DRAGON of B-MAX ENGINEERING up to 2nd place in the class. Closely following him Shohei Yuzawa of TEAM NOVA WITH NIPPON IMM challenged him again and again, but the B-Max driver dealt with it each time in a calm manner, and although Indra-Payoong approached them in the closing stages, DRAGON and Yuzawa maintained their positions to cross the line 2nd and 3rd respectively. It was the 2nd podium finish of the season for DRAGON.
Displaying a strong performance throughout the race Takaboshi achieved his 9th win to come closer to securing the class title. “I slowed down in the latter stages. I will need to work on this, but I am sure I will regain my form in the next race. I hope to clinch the title tomorrow, but what I really want to do is score a runaway victory in the race.”
Nakayama enjoyed a 4-second advantage at the flag, scoring his 8th win to come closer to the championship title. His win also brought the team title to Petronas Team Tom’s and the engine tuner title to TOM’S Co., Ltd. with still 5 races to go. “I was able to drive naturally with constant pace. I will probably be able to secure the driver’s title tomorrow, but I want to concentrate on proving myself rather than thinking about it too much.” Chiyo finished 2nd – his best result of this season, followed by Nojiri, who scored 5th podium finish.

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