The day after the dramatic debut win Kenta Yamashita was expected to make it back-to-back win from pole in the Rd. 2 at Suzuka Circuit. “I’m not really happy about my driving (in the qualifying) but I’m glad I took pole,” said the PETRONAS TEAM TOM’S rookie. “I hope I can get a good start because I am not good at starting. But even if lose places I will stay calm and make out,” he showed enthusiasm.
Mitsunori Takaboshi of B-MAX Racing Team with NDDP gained second on the grid ahead Takamoto Katsuta of PETRONAS TEAM TOM’S. In F3-N class Rintaro Kubo of TOCHIGI Le Beausset Motorsports secured consecutive pole position, with Shohei Yuzawa (KCMG) in second and Ai Miura (EXEDY RACING) in third.
The weather forecast said it was going to rain but despite overcast skies the conditions were kept dry with lower air and road surface temperatures than in the Rd.1 when 15 machines lined up for 17-lap race.
Yamashita got a late start again as he had feared, dropping himself to 4th while Takaboshi made a flying start and leapt into turn 1 ahead of Katsuta. Takaboshi, Katsuta, Nobuharu Matsushita (HFDP RACING) and Yamashita rounded out the opening lap in this order, and with the addition of Tsubasa Takahashi of HFDP RACING from lap 2 onward a fierce battle for the lead was fought.

◎ Takaboshi Snatches the Lead Back from Katsuta

There was no change in the order with each of the contenders watching for a chance until Katsuta made a move on lap 6 as he got within the striking distance to Takaboshi. “When I caught up with Takaboshi through the spoon I thought I would overtake him at chicane,” said Katsuta. This he did by passing through the outside line, but Takaboshi reacted in a calm manner following him closely out of the chicane and slipstreaming down the start/finish straight to take back the lead from him. The next move was made by Yamashita, but it was only through the turn 1 on lap 12 when he finally made it through Matsushita’s tight defense and placed behind Katsuta. Yamashita put his car side-by-side with Katsuta down the straight just before the finish line but was not fast enough to get ahead of Katsuta while Takaboshi steadily opened up the gap to lead home.
“As I was overtaken I thought now was my only chance to fight back and drove aggressively to take Katsuta through Turn 1,” said Takaboshi who scored his first win of the season and his first overall win in the championship. “I am really glad I won by a big margin.” Katsuta finished second with Yamashita in third missing making it consecutive wins and Matsushita in forth.
Miura got the best start in the F3-N class again to take the lead into turn 1 ahead of Kubo while Hiroshi Koizumi started from the tail of the field and quickly made up one spot to place fifth behind Tairoku Yamaguchi (TAIROKU EXCEED) before the opening lap had even been completed. Back in the qualifying Koizumi went off the track on his first run and the time from his second run was not recorded. Once the HANASHIMA RACING driver rocketed to third on lap 6 he was reduing the gaps to Miura and Kubo. With the leading pack each waiting for an opportunity a battle for the top continued for a while.

◎ Miura Becomes the First Female Winner in the Series

Kubo carried out an attack on Miura at the chicane on lap 8 as he did in the Rd.1 only to be repulsed. Continuing to follow Miura closely he challenged her into the spoon and then into chicane on the final lap, but Miura took it in stride and while in the F3-N class she claimed victory as the first woman winner in the Japanese F3 Championship. “I am so happy about the result. Everything went too well for me to believe,” said Miura with a smile. Kubo finished second well clear of Koizumi, who had been so exhausted from his fast pace in the first stages, ending up defending from charging Yamaguchi.