July 27, 2019 Rd 13 Sportsland Sugo

Miyata claims a perfect lights-to-flag victory and sets the fastest lap

Ritomo Miyata(Collora Chukyo Kuo TEAM TOM'S)

■Miyata secures pole position at the halfway point of qualifying as Fenestraz’s final attack falls a bit short of Miyata’s time

　In contrast to a fine weather on the previous day it was cloudy when the 30-min qualifying of 2019 Japanese Formula 3 championship started at 9:30 am on Saturday at Sportsland Sugo.

　With many of the drivers trying on three sets of fresh rubbers in the completely dry conditions despite occasional rain early on Ritomo Miyata in Corolla Chukyo Kuo TOM’S F317 took pole position for Rd 13 race with a time of 1m12.707 posted with 5 minutes to go.

Ritomo Miyata(Collora Chukyo Kuo TEAM TOM'S) Kazuto Kotaka(Collora Chukyo Kuo TEAM TOM'S)

　The qualifying results behind were Sacha Fenestraz (B-Max Racing with motopark F3) in second and Enaam Ahmed (B-Max Racing with motopark F3) in third ahead of Kazuto Kotaka (Corolla Chukyo Kuo TOM’S F317), Harrison Newey (B-Max Racing with motopark F3) who made a special appearance in the JF3A over the weekend, Yoshiaki Katayama (YTB by Carlin), Toshiki Oyu (TODA FIGHTEX), Shunsuke Kohno (RS FINE K&N F318), Esteban Muth (YTB by Carlin), Ameya Vaidyanathan (B-Max Racing with motopark F3) and the sole Master class competitor DRAGON (TEAM DRAGON F3).

　Muth, however, would be given 5-place grid penalty due to an engine change made before this Sugo event, leaving him to start from the last row.

■Miyata gets a holeshot to retain his lead throughout the race in scorching and slippery conditions, marking his fourth win of the season

　Contrary to the forecast calling for showers in the afternoon the weather had been getting better with the track temperature reaching 34 deg C. when the formation lap started with 12 cars at 2:30 pm.

　Miyata made a good start and got a holeshot to retain his lead over Fenestraz. “I got a reasonably good start, but not as good as to take the lead”, said Fenestraz.

　With a strong getaway Kotaka take the third spot from a delayed Ahmed.

　Having forging a big gap before the opening lap even was completed Miyata suddenly lost grip on his rear tyres through the first corner on lap two, running off the track under braking, with charging Fenestraz closely behind.

　Possibly prompted by Miyata, however, Fenestra made a mistake at the first corner. The Frenchman nevertheless kept up with Miyata until turn three, only to see the TOM’S driver multiply his lead while setting a fastest lap of 1m15.019 on lap three and 1m14.833 on lap four.

　Fenestraz pace ranging from 1m15 to 1m15.4 would gradually lag him behind Miyata. Kotaka in third was also seeing a gap to Fenestraz open up, but it was significantly reduced to 1m2 secs on lap eight when Fenestraz locked up his right front brake at the first corner as Miyata did on lap two, slightly going off the track across the kerb stone, dropping his lap time to 1m16.395. From here Fenestraz switched to focus on a tyre saving strategy to make sure not to make any further mistakes.

Sacha Fenestraz(B-Max Racing with motopark) Ritomo Miyata(Collora Chukyo Kuo TEAM TOM'S)

　Keeping his pace at less than 1m16 secs in a controlled manner Miyata completed 18 laps, marking his fourth win of the season. His 1m14.833 was never beaten, adding a point to his championship standings. “I concentrated on remaining on the very slippery track (due to high track temperature and in the aftermath of a support race) with no mistakes,” said Miyata.

　Fenestraz was second and Kotaka was third.

　Newey placed fifth on his first appearance in the JF3 behind Ahmed. Having passed Katayama at the start Oyu scored the last point in sixth.

　Muth finished in eleventh on his first appearance in the JF3.

　DRAGON clinched three consecutive Master class wins.