Tomoki Nojiri Claims Thrilling First Win of 2025 Super Formula Season at Suzuka!
In a breathtaking display of speed and strategy, Tomoki Nojiri has clinched his maiden victory of the 2025 Super Formula season during the electrifying opening race of the final weekend at the iconic Suzuka Circuit. This triumph comes amidst dramatic twists and turns that left fans on the edge of their seats!
The race unfolded with high expectations as Ayumu Iwasa, Nojiri’s teammate at Mugen and a Red Bull Formula 1 reserve driver, stormed into the championship picture by securing two pole positions earlier in the day. However, disaster struck almost immediately for Iwasa, who found himself entangled in first-lap chaos. A slow start allowed Nojiri to seize the lead into Turn 1, and Igor Fraga, who lined up third, was quick to capitalize on the opportunity.
As the cars navigated the challenging Esses for the first time, contact between Fraga and Iwasa sent the latter crashing into the barriers, ending his race prematurely. Thankfully, Fraga was spared a penalty, as officials deemed the incident a racing accident. The ensuing chaos brought out the safety car, with Nojiri taking the reins at the front, flanked by Nakajima teammates Fraga and Ren Sato, along with Dandelion Racing’s Tadasuke Makino.
With the race resuming on lap 6 of 26, the tension remained palpable. However, lap 9 saw another safety car deployment due to Zak O’Sullivan’s unfortunate crash at Turn 1. This incident coincided perfectly with the opening of the pit window, forcing the entire field to pit simultaneously on lap 10. Nojiri maintained his lead, but Sato suffered a setback as Nakajima’s double-stack strategy faltered, allowing Makino to surge into third place.
As the race progressed past lap 12, it became evident that Fraga’s challenge for the lead was fading. Despite this, securing second place—just 1.159 seconds behind Nojiri—marked Fraga’s best Super Formula finish to date and solidified his status as the Rookie of the Year. Makino held strong in third, while TOM’S driver Sho Tsuboi finished fourth, extending his championship lead to a commanding 16.5 points with 40 still up for grabs in the following races.
In a nail-biting climax, Tsuboi had to fend off fierce competition from Kakunoshin Ohta, who demonstrated remarkable tenacity after a dismal start that saw him drop to 12th. Ohta’s audacious overtaking maneuvers, including a stunning around-the-outside pass at Turns 1 and 2 on Nirei Fukuzumi, showcased his skill and determination. Although Ohta attempted to overtake Tsuboi at the chicane on the penultimate lap, he ultimately had to settle for fifth, which leveled his points with Iwasa in the standings.
Completing the top 10 were Kazuya Oshima from Rookie Racing, who bids farewell to the series this weekend, Fukuzumi of KCMG, a recovering Sato, and Atsushi Miyake, who impressively snatched ThreeBond Racing’s first point of the year by overtaking Kenta Yamashita on the final lap.
Looking ahead to Sunday morning’s replacement race, Tadasuke Makino faces a 20.5-point deficit but has secured pole position from the cancelled Fuji race last month. Alongside him, Fraga will start in the second position, while Ohta lines up third for an intense 19-lap sprint with no mandatory pit stops. The afternoon’s grand finale promises to be even more thrilling, featuring a 31-lap showdown with Iwasa and Nojiri on the front row ahead of Sato.
As the excitement builds for the concluding races, fans are left to ponder: can Nojiri maintain his momentum and claim another win, or will Tsuboi’s championship lead prove insurmountable? Only time will tell in this high-stakes battle for Super Formula glory!
