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Yuki Sano makes it back-to-back wins in Rd 2 with two SC’s
Yuki Sano（Mobility Chukyo TOM’S TGR-DC SFL)
The final day of the Super Formula Lights’ first event was blessed with fine weather even in the winter chill in the morning and evening.
In the qualifying for Rd 2 where top times were broken one after another just before the end of the session 1m50.615 that Souta Arao (DELiGHTWORKS) set on his last lap would have brought first pole position to DELiGHTWORKS, but it was erased for his off-the-track running, and Yuki Sano driving Mobility Chukyo TOM’S TGR-DC SFL took pole position, instead, for the second race in a row with 1m50.628, leaving Arao in third behind Rikuto Kobayashi (in Mobility Chukyo TOM’S TGR-DC SFL). Yuto Nomura (HFDP WITH B-MAX RACING) was qualified fourth.
Start of Round.2■Safety Car summoned following a stoppage for Kobayashi
All the cars got clear start in the morning sunshine except Zach David who stalled his (B-MAX RACING 324). Arao went around the outside of Kobayashi at Turn two, but was not able to overtake the TOM’S driver.
With a pack with Arao in third heading Nomura and Kaylen Frederick (Pilot ONE Racing with B-MAX) battling, Kobayashi suddenly dropped off the pace at the exit of Astemo chicane on lap two due to transmission trouble and came to a halt on the outside of the final turn.
In order to clean up Kobayashi’s car and oil leakage the Safety Car was summoned on lap three to, and pulled in on the following lap.
As the field was being formed for the restart on lap five, Arao, now in the runner-up position, went off the track on the run down to Astemo chicane with plumes of smoke coming out of his machine.
He managed to return to the track without clashing, but lost several positions and was given a post-race penalty for running off the track during the safety car period.
Yuki Sano（Mobility Chukyo TOM’S TGR-DC SFL)
■Sano holds on for his second win
The race restarted with Sano leading Nomura, Frederick and Yuga Furutani (Deloitte. HTP TOM'S SFL). Kazuhisa Urabe (B-MAX RACING 324) overtook Reimei Ito (LMcorsa OTG 320) at the restart to move up to fifth.
On lap seven DRAGON (TEAM DRAGON 324) suffered an off at Spoon Curve and came to a halt over the gravel, sparking another Safety Car period.
DRAGON’s car was quickly removed, and as the race resumed properly on the final lap Sano firmly retained his lead to hold on for his back-to-back wins.
Nomura finished second for the second race in a row. Frederick marked his first podium result of the season in third ahead of Furutani. Urabe made a second consecutive fifth finish. Ito completed the points-scoring position in sixth for the first time of the season.
Having been left in the field as the only master class driver after the DRAGON’s retirement Yasuhiro Shimizu (GNSY RACING) took his second consecutive class win.
