Motegi Super Formula: Nojiri on pole, Lawson takes points lead

After topping practice on Saturday morning, Nojiri went second-fastest in his group in the first segment before setting the fastest time of 1m31.955s in the Q2 pole shootout.

That was enough for the Team Mugen driver to outpace his nearest rival Kakunoshin Ota for Dandelion Racing by 0.223s to claim his third pole of the season and the 16th of his career.

Nojiri's team-mate Lawson meanwhile qualified third, 0.282s off the pace, scoring a crucial bonus point in the process.

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With TOM'S driver Miyata only qualifying down in eighth, it means Lawson moves into the championship lead on countback, with three wins so far in 2023 versus two for Miyata.

Toshiki Oyu topped his Q1 group on his return from injury for TGM Grand Prix but could only manage fourth in Q2, one thousandth of a second behind Lawson.

Yuhi Sekiguchi scored his best grid slot of the year in fifth for Team Impul ahead of Kamui Kobayashi (KCMG) and two-time Motegi winner Ryo Hirakawa in the second Impul car. 

Behind Miyata, Tadasuke Makino could only manage ninth despite having topped his Q1 group in the second Dandelion machine.

Completing the Q2 order were Naoki Yamamoto (Nakajima Racing) and Inging pair Sho Tsuboi and Sena Sakaguchi, who ended up with identical laptimes.

Among the more notable names to drop out in Q1 was Kenta Yamashita, who was only eighth-fastest in his qualifying group and will start down in 16th for Kondo Racing.

Ukyo Sasahara likewise couldn't clear his Q1 group in his second outing for TOM'S and will start 18th.

Motegi Super Formula - Q2 results:

Main Information Additional Data Driver Info

     

Driver Info			Main Information
Cla	Driver	#		Laps	Time	Interval	km/h
1	T. Nojiri Tomoki Nojiri Team Mugen	1		3	1'31.955		187.957
2	K. Ohta Kakunoshin Ohta Dandelion Racing	6		3	+0.223	0.223	187.502
3	L. Lawson Liam Lawson Team Mugen	15		3	+0.282	0.059	187.382
4	T. Oyu Toshiki Oyu TGM Grand Prix	53		3	+0.283	0.001	187.380
5	Y. Sekiguchi Yuhi Sekiguchi ITOCHU ENEX TEAM IMPUL	19		3	+0.338	0.055	187.268
6	K. Kobayashi Kamui Kobayashi Team KCMG	7		3	+0.415	0.077	187.112
7	R. Hirakawa Ryo Hirakawa ITOCHU ENEX TEAM IMPUL	20		4	+0.430	0.015	187.082
8	R. Miyata Ritomo Miyata Vantelin Team TOM'S	37		3	+0.436	0.006	187.070
9	T. Makino Tadasuke Makino Dandelion Racing	5		3	+0.513	0.077	186.914
10	N. Yamamoto Naoki Yamamoto TCS Nakajima Racing	64		3	+0.532	0.019	186.875
11	S. Tsuboi Sho Tsuboi JMS P.mu/cerumo-INGING	38		3	+0.806	0.274	186.323
12	S. Sakaguchi Sena Sakaguchi JMS P.mu/cerumo-INGING	39		3	+0.806	0.000	186.323
View full results