FormulaNippon News - Motoyama Makes It Two
09/07/2007
The fifth round of the Formula Nippon championship, which took placed in Suzuka on Sunday, enthralled the 16,500 spectators with an action-packed race that saw pole-sitter Tsugio Matsuda loose a seemingly unassailable lead to Satoshi Motoyama who claimed his second victory of the season.
In qualifying, the first session was wet and the second time trial was spoiled by patchy drizzle, conditions that didn't help the teams that were already struggling for the correct set-up with the new aerodynamic regulations.
Matsuda was on the pace in Suzuka and claimed his sixth pole position, his fifth at Suzuka. Matsuda’s teammate Benoit Treluyer took second and Takashi Kogure was placed third.
Race day dawned dry, and despite leading from pole through to the half-way point of the race, Matsuda’s efforts came to nothing when the race was red-flagged after Treluyer crashed out in a spectacular fashion when he collided with another car. This scuppered his one-stop strategy, forcing him to pit and, despite a valiant push towards the end of the race, loose first place to Satoshi Motoyama who was running a riskier no-stopper race.
“I started from sixth spot with a no-pit strategy and I was hoping for a podium finish but not to win,” said a victorious Motoyama. “Although I am very glad that Treluyer is fine and unharmed, he red flag played into my hands. This is my second win this season and of course, I will try to get another win and go for the championship title.”
“The first half was my race,” said Matsuda, “but after the race was stopped, I tried to pit late and I pushed as hard as I could after rejoining the race. At least I am still leading the points standing, despite not making the podium, and I’ll keep on pushing hard for the title.
“Race day conditions were better than those in qualifying, but it was hot,” explained Yasuo Teranishi, Bridgestone’s senior technical adviser.
"The teams had to choose one of two strategies but the red flag regulation gave them another set of tires for the second start. Motoyama got lucky but Matsuda sadly lost despite a strong final showing. So with the championship still open, I am looking forward to rest of the races.”