August 19, 2018　Rd. 12 Twin Ring Motegi

Tsuboi conquers Motegi round with 3 consecutive wins scoring 35 points

Sho Tsuboi（Collora Chukyo Kuo TOM'S F317）

Start of Japanese F3 Round.12

According to the results of the Rd 10 race on Saturday Sho Tsuboi in Corolla Chukyo Kuo TOM’S F317 started Rd 12 race from pole position with Ritomo Miyata (Corolla Chukyo Kuo TOM’S F317) as a fellow front-row starter, and Toshiki Oyu (TODA FIGHTEX) and Yu Kanamaru (B-MAX RACING F3) on the second row. Having got his YTB F318 repaired in time Yoshiaki Katayama was able to line up on the grid in sixth place behind Sena Sakaguchi (TODA FIGHTEX).

■Tsuboi multiplies his lead from the start

Sho Tsuboi（Collora Chukyo Kuo TOM'S F317）

As the formation lap started five minutes late at 4:35 pm after the Super Formula Rd 5 race Tsuboi on a winning streak got the best start of the field to leap into the first corner in front while Miyata got a bit tardy start but managed to retain the second spot.

Oyu and Kanamaru entered the first corner in this order with a rapidly approaching Sakaguchi right behind them. However, Sakaguchi went off the track at the exit of turn three on the opening lap and then at the same place a lap later before momentarily suffering an engine stall and quickly falling off in pace, dropping down the order. “I was pushing on because I was desperate for podium finish,” said Sakaguchi.

Tsuboi gradually multiplied his lead over Miyata, and Miyata also opened up a sizeable advantage over Oyu, which would be as much as 11.246 secs as the race hit the halfway point on lap 10. The gap between Oyu and Kanamaru also expanded.

The rear of the field saw scraps going on, a stark contrast of the race leaders enduring rather lonely late afternoon, with a pack of Katayama at the front, Yuuki Nemoto (Albirex-RT) and Shunsuke Kohno (HubAuto F318) fighting for fifth spot, which would be joined by Ukyo Sasahara (THREEBOND) on lap 10 who had clambered his way one by one from the tail of the field.

Toshiki Oyu（TODA FIGHTEX）

■Lead two fight for picking up fastest lap in closing stages

Once he forged a healthy buffer over Miyata Tsuboi set about picking up a point for setting fastest lap of the race. His 1m44.964, a comparable time to those in the qualifying, that he posted on lap 16 after a series of fastest laps would never be broken even by Miyata who pushed on but could not do under 1m45 secs.

Tsuboi completed the 20 laps, ending up 4.674 secs ahead of his team-mate at the line, wrapping up the Okayama event with the maximum possible 35 points and clinching his fourth straight win.

Miyata finished second for the fourth race in a row. Oyu claimed his first podium finish in third since Rd. 10. Kanamaru placed fourth.

Prevailing in the close battle with Kohno and Sasahara in the closing stages Katayama held on to the fifth place. Kohno placed sixth, his first point finish since Rd. 7 at Okayama.

Despite impressive catch-ups Sakaguchi could only finish ninth behind Nemoto.
Jake Parsons (NODA RACING) finished 15th, earning full-points again from this race.