Super Formula - Sugo: Pole, victory and championship lead for Sekiguchi

Yuhi Sekiguchi is the winner of the Japanese Super Formula race at Sportsland Sugo. For the 28-year-old driver of the Team Impul it was the second Super Formula victory of the season and he took the championship lead after six rounds, with one more race to go.

Sekiguchi started from pole, after he was by 0.018sec faster than Kazuki Nakajima in qualifying. However, Nakajima was penalized because of hitting Kamui Kobayashi’s car in the pits during the Q1 and he was moved to the third starting position. Tomoki Nojiri was promoted to the front row at the start.

The #20 Toyota started from pole

Sekiguchi’s #20 Toyota remained in the lead from the light to the ckeckered flag, crossing the finish line with 14.278sec advantage over Daisuke Nakajima (Nakajima Racing), who started fourth on the grid in the #64 Honda. One more Honda driver reached the podium, as Tomoki Nojiri (Docomo Dandelin) finished third, ahead of Kazuki Nakajima. Other points scorers are Andre Lotterer, Stoffel Vandoorne, Takashi Kogure and James Rossiter.

Yuhi Sekiguchi is the new championship leader after six rounds, with 29 points on his account. Yuji Kunimoto didn’t scored points todady and he dropped to second place wirh 23,5 points, ahead of Andre Lotterer (22 points). The season’s finale is scheduled for Suzuka on October 29-30.