Sho Tsuboi took a significant step towards the Super Formula title on Saturday at Suzuka, finishing second in the opening race of the final weekend, behind a dominant Kakunoshin Ota. The race was a crucial moment in the 2024 season, as it brought Tsuboi closer to clinching the championship after a highly competitive year.
Ota, starting from pole position, was untouchable throughout the 31-lap race, which was interrupted by two safety car periods. The Dandelion Racing driver never lost the lead and crossed the finish line 4.5 seconds ahead of Tsuboi, who was unable to mount a serious challenge in the final laps despite his best efforts. The last three laps after the final restart proved to be a tense battle, but Ota maintained control, securing a well-earned victory.
Tsuboi, who qualified fifth, had a tricky path to second. He started the race one position behind his closest championship rival, Tadasuke Makino, but was able to take advantage of several key moments. Ayumu Iwasa, who was starting second, stalled on the grid, and Ren Sato lost a wheel during his pit stop, both of which contributed to easing Tsuboi’s journey to the podium. Tsuboi also managed to execute a crucial overcut on Makino by pitting a lap later than his rival. The TOM’S driver emerged from the pit stop in net second place, despite the challenge of managing cold tires on his outlap.
Although Tsuboi didn’t have the pace to challenge Ota for the lead, he was able to hold off Makino and retain his position in second place. Despite two safety car restarts, Tsuboi was never threatened by his title rival, who was unable to close the gap or make any progress. This result gave Tsuboi an 18.5-point lead over Makino with only one round left in the season, where 23 points remain up for grabs.
The race also marked the end of Tomoki Nojiri’s hopes of securing a third Super Formula title. The Mugen driver struggled with a poor qualifying session, which left him starting in 14th, his worst grid position since 2020. Although Nojiri made a strong recovery during the race, finishing fifth, it wasn’t enough to keep him within the crucial 23-point window required to stay in the title race. Nojiri’s disappointment was clear, as he had been a strong contender throughout the season but was ultimately unable to capitalize on his chances in Suzuka.
Sena Sakaguchi achieved his best result of the season, finishing in an impressive fourth place for Inging. Nojiri, after a series of battles and a strong performance, passed Nirei Fukuzumi’s KCMG car to secure fifth position after the final restart. Naoki Yamamoto, who is making his penultimate appearance in Super Formula, finished seventh in the only surviving Nakajima Racing car. Kenta Yamashita (Kondo Racing), Iwasa (Mugen), and Toshiki Oyu (Inging) completed the points-scoring positions.
The race was one of the most attritional of recent memory, with only 14 cars finishing. The race saw multiple incidents, including a red flag in the first qualifying segment, which left Nojiri with his lowest grid slot in years. The first safety car period was triggered by Hibiki Taira’s wheel detaching during his pit stop, bouncing onto the track. The second safety car was caused by an incident between Ukyo Sasahara and Kazuya Oshima at Spoon Curve. Sasahara, attempting an outside pass, lost control, spinning and hitting Oshima, which brought out another caution period.
Juju Noda had a brief stint in 10th place but eventually dropped to 12th, while Kamui Kobayashi, racing for KCMG, finished last in 14th after being penalized with a drive-through penalty for rear-ending Kazuto Kotaka. Kobayashi also received a five-second penalty for a separate incident involving Noda.
As the season nears its conclusion, Tsuboi’s 18.5-point advantage over Makino gives him a strong chance of securing his first Super Formula title, though the final race will undoubtedly be a dramatic showdown. With only one round remaining, everything is still to play for, but Tsuboi’s consistent performance in Suzuka has put him in a commanding position.
