Nobuharu Matsushita secured his second consecutive pole for the 2014 Japanese Formula 3 Championship Rd. 4 at Twin Ring Motegi. While Kenta Yamashita of PETRONAS TEAM TOM’S set 1m45.614s at the last minute of the qualifying 1m45.567s that Matsushita set on his first attack was never beaten. Mitsunori Takaboshi (B-MAX Racing with NDDP) qualified 3rd ahead of Takamoto Katsuta (PETRONAS TEAM TOM’S). While in F3-N class Tairoku Yamaguchi (TAIROKU EXCEED) took his first pole in the class with Hiroshi Koizumi (HANASHINA RACING) in second and Rintaro Kubo (TOCHIGI Le Beausset Motorsports) in third.

◎ Matsushita Nailed the Start to Lead the TOM’S Pair in Early Stages
The starting grid presentation for the Rd. 4 started at 9:35 am to complete 14 laps in almost the same condition as in the Rd.3 at air temperature of 25 deg. C and track temperature of 35 deg. C. Matsushita nailed the start again while Yamashita made a reasonably good start with Katsuta in 3rd spot having overtaken Takaboshi. The lead trio were quickly pulling away from the rest of the field, but Matsushita’s pace was so outstanding that he built 1.2s lead over the Tom’s duo before the opening lap was completed. In the F3-N class Koizumi made a good start to get ahead of Yamaguchi, while the winner of the Rd. 3 screwed up with the start allowing Shohei Yuzawa of KCMG to coast past him.
Matsushita was easing clear of the field continuing to set fastest laps until Yamashita set the fastest lap on lap 5 and then edged up to the race leader. Just one more effort, however, was needed for the Tom’s rookie to take lead, and Matsushita held on to the spot to squeak to victory. “I’ll maximize the car’s potential for my third consecutive win,” Matsushita expressed his hope. Yamashita finished 2nd and Katsuta finished 3rd. These podium finishers were never threatened in the race.

◎ Koizumi Held off Yamaguchi to Earn his First Win
With Motoyoshi Yoshida of B-MAX RACING TEAM in the upper class in tow as a cushion Koizumi was opening up his big lead over his pursuers in the early stages. As Yoshida retired on lap 4 the 2nd placed Yamaguchi got a clear visibility ahead, but was already left over 2 seconds behind the F3-N class leader. Without breaking his pace Koizumi clinched his first win. Yamaguchi also got his first podium finish ahead of Yuzawa with Kubo failing to score his consecutive podium finish to settle for 4th.