Rising motorsport talent Igor Fraga made a powerful statement during the final day of the Super Formula winter test at Suzuka Circuit, leading a strong group of 12 rookie drivers and showcasing his immense potential for the upcoming 2025 season.
Fraga Shines Brightest Among Rookies
Fraga, a crossover star from both real-world and sim racing, set the fastest rookie lap of the day with a 1m36.077s in the morning session, piloting the No. 64 Nakajima Racing Dallara/Honda. This impressive time not only topped all rookie performances for the day but ranked fifth overall across the three-day test, which featured 30 drivers. Fraga’s dominance continued in the afternoon, clocking a 1m36.848s and maintaining his position as the rookie to beat.
Fraga’s consistent performances across all six sessions underscored his readiness to challenge in the highly competitive Super Formula series, building anticipation for his 2025 campaign.
Toyota Protégé Nonaka Impresses
Not far behind Fraga was Seita Nonaka, a standout from Toyota Gazoo Racing’s Driver Challenge academy. Nonaka, driving the No. 8 KCMG Toyota, posted a 1m36.383s in the morning session, securing the second-fastest rookie time. His afternoon performance remained solid, with a best time of 1m36.999s, cementing his place as one of Toyota’s top young prospects.
Bearman Makes a Splash at Suzuka
The test also marked the Super Formula debut of Oliver Bearman, the 19-year-old British driver newly signed to Haas F1. Bearman, in the No. 7 KCMG Toyota, thrilled local fans eager to see a future Formula 1 star in action. Completing 43 laps, Bearman clocked a best time of 1m36.940s, earning the third-fastest rookie performance of the day. His Suzuka experience is expected to prove invaluable when he returns for the Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix in April 2025.
Notable Performances and Incidents
Other standouts included:
- Syun Koide, reigning Super Formula Lights champion, who clocked the third-fastest time in the afternoon session (1m37.028s) in the No. 50 B-Max Racing Honda.
- Mitsunori Takaboshi, a Nissan factory driver, who rounded out the top five with a best time of 1m37.545s in the No. 20 Team Impul Toyota.
The day wasn’t without its challenges. Several drivers experienced mishaps, including:
- Riki Okusa (Nakajima Racing) crashed out on his out lap in the morning session, bringing his test to an early end.
- Williams Racing Academy driver Zak O’Sullivan spun into the gravel at Degner Curve, while GB3 race winner James Hedley went off at Spoon Curve, both causing red flags.
- Yuui Tsutsumi had a minor crash at the S-Curves in the afternoon but emerged unscathed.
Looking Ahead to 2025
The three-day test concluded with clear indications of exciting talent ready to take on the upcoming 2025 Super Formula Championship, set to begin on March 8-9 with a double-header at Suzuka. Fraga’s stellar performance has firmly placed him as a driver to watch, while the presence of international stars like Bearman highlights the global appeal of Japan’s premier single-seater series.
With such a strong showing from rookies and veterans alike, the 2025 season promises thrilling battles and new storylines in one of the world’s most competitive motorsport championships.
