First of all, we wish to extend our deepest sympathies and condolences to the friends and family of those lost during the heavy rain in the Kyushu district.
【Yuji Kumimoto won his first pole position】
Yuji Kunimoto
#1 P.MU/CERUMO · INGING Yuji Kunimoto was in top form by qualifying and this was the first experience in his Super Formula career.
On July 8th, Super Formula Round 3 qualifying race was held at Fuji Speedway. The air temperatures were around 32°C and track temperatures 49°C. Qualifying race was held under dry conditions on an exceptionally hot day, as if it wasn’t currently the rain season.
Cars going onto the course from pit road
Q1 was contested in 20 minutes. Among them, the top 14 machines advanced to Q2. It was a very intense time attack because there were 19 machines all within 1 second of each other. Unfortunately, 2 machines of NAKAJIMA RACING were withdrawn in Q1.
Kamui Kobayashi’s engine stopped and stuffed on the track after spinning approximately 1 minute before the end of Q2. The red flags came out due to this accident.
After the interruption of approximately 5 minutes, Q2 was extended by 3 more minutes. The red flag had a significant influence on each driver’s time attack. It meant that the time attack was forcibly ended.
It was especially the case after #36 Andre Lotterer, who was point leader with 12 point this season, withdrew from Q2 and placed the 12th place overall. In the free practice session 1, #36 Andre Lotterer recorded the fastest time (1'23.727). Kobayashi's spin was not intentional, however it upset the plans of many teams.
Yuji Kunimoto
In the Q3, 8 machines started. P.MU/CERUMO · INGING Yuji Kunimoto won the first pole position at 1’23.044. Teammate Hiroaki Ishiura got 2nd place at 1’23.107. The 3rd position went to Yuhi Sekiguchi at 1’23.193.
P.MU/CERUMO · INGING team monopolized the front row in the finals of tomorrow.
Yuji Kunimoto and Hiroaki Ishiura
The final of the 3rd round will be contested for 55 laps from 14:10 on July 9 tomorrow.