Qualifying Report 2020/11/15 Rd-4 Weather：Fine Temperature：22℃ 20cars

In moderate weather with the temperature of over 20 degrees, Super Formula Rd4 was held at Autopolis International Racing Course, the only circuit in Kyushu, as a lot of spectators looked on under the measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19. 2-group format was taken in Knock-out QF1. Fukuzumi in GrpA went on-track with the used tires as soon as QF1 started to grasp a feeling of car performance. With 6 min and a half remaining, he went on- track again, and after warming the tires carefully, started to attack on his third lap. He became second and moved on to QF2, while checking the surface conditions and heat generation of tires. As well as Fukuzumi, Yamamoto in GrpB did a check run with the used tires, and went on-track in the last 6 min. Right after Yamamoto finished attacking, a crashed car caused a red-flag interruption. The session was restarted with 3 min remaining, and Yamamoto who was the only one recording 24 seconds’ made it to QF2 in first place. After an interval of 10 min, QF2 started. The two cars of DOCOMO TEAM went on-track in the last 6 min of the session. Yamamoto came in second recording the same lap time as the first place, and Fukuzumi followed in the third for QF3. In QF3 to determine the top eight drivers, the surface temperature rose to near 30 degree. Tire management was the key. Both Yamamoto and Fukuzumi went on-track with 5 min remaining. First, Yamamoto marked the second fastest time. Then, Fukuzumi shortened Yamamoto’s lap, however, he could not reach Nojiri’s by 0.001 sec and ended up in second place. Yamamoto finished QF in third.

#5: Naoki Yamamoto Position 3rd (QF1 Grp B 1st , QF2 2nd , QF3 3rd ) 3rd among users I am very frustrated, but it was the best result this season. I think my fast team mate and I showed our team’s total capability. I hope to stand on the podium together, just I will be on the highest.

#6: Nirei Fukuzumi Position 2nd (QF1 Grp A 2nd , QF2 3rd , QF3 2nd ) 2nd among Honda users I had a good feeling about my car since the free practice yesterday, and I was confident to finish QF in the top group. In QF2, I made a small mistake, but I could attack without restraint in QF3 and I was so close to the pole position! I will start from the front row tomorrow, and I am aiming for my first win.

Race Report 2020/11/15 Rd-4 AUTOPOLIS Weather: fine Temperature: 23℃, 20cars

Audience: 2,550/14th (Sat.) 4,410/15th (Sun.) 6,960 total

Thanks to the good weather at Autopolis, the 41-lap race opened in good condition with the atmospheric temperature of 23 degree and the surface temperature of 28 degree. Tire change of all four was mandatory after the 10th lap. Fukuzumi in the front row and Yamamoto in the third grid were enhancing concentration in the start. Fukuzumi kept the second position to the first corner, while Yamamoto could not make a good start and dropped his position to 5th. On Lap7, the safety car came in because of an accident and the race was restarted on Lap9. After Lap10, several cars started to change tires, however, on Lap11, a car stopped in the track and the safety car came in again. So, DOCOMO TEAM DANDELION RACING decided to call Fukuzumi into the pits for tire change. However, equipment trouble occurred, and Fukuzumi fell far behind when he went back on-track. Yamamoto took a stay-out strategy and pushed hard to increase time difference to Nojiri leading the drivers who had made mandatory pit-stop. Yamamoto marked 1 minute 28 seconds’ again and again. He needed more than 28-second difference to Nojiri to be in front of him after tire change, however, he made a pit stop on Lap39 with 25.4-second difference. The team changed his tires in 6.6 sec, unprecedentedly fast, and he went back on-track in second position, 3.7 sec behind Nojiri. He kept pushing until the very end, but regretfully, he finished in second by 0.6 sec. Fukuzumi could not quicken his pace in the group. After close fights all round the track, he ended up in 9th place with points.

#5: Naoki Yamamoto Position 2nd (2nd among HONDA users) I dropped my position because of my own mistake at the start. I could deal with the safety car situation well and our strategy worked. It was good to compete for a victory, but something wasn’t enough. All through the weekend, I was slightly inferior to my rivals at key points. Anyway, I am glad that I could stand on the podium two races in a row, considering the additional points to the season total. I will determine good and bad points with my team and go into the next two races at Suzuka Circuit.

#6: Nirei Fukuzumi Position 9th (5th among HONDA users) Even though I couldn’t come out on top at the start, I had a very good feeling in the first half. I dropped my position a lot because of the trouble during the tire change, and I couldn’t raise it in the group at Autopolis where it is very hard to overtake. My car was in good shape in both QF and the race and I was confident, so I am very frustrated. My team and I will pursue quickness and strength together for next Suzuka.