Duval claims third win of the season at Suzuka17/07/2009

Japan's Suzuka Circuit played host to round 5 of the Formula Nippon Championship on Sunday 12 July, in only the second completely dry race weekend of the season.  Nakajima Racing driver, Loic Duval, started from pole position and went on to claim his third Formula Nippon win this year.
   
Saturday’s qualifying saw the two Nakajima Racing cars of Duval and Takashi Kogure dominate the session.  Kogure was quickest in Q1, though Duval battled hard to take the top spot in Q2 and Q3, setting a 1 min 41.214 second lap for his second consecutive pole position. Kogure claimed second, whilst rising rookie driver Koudai Tsukakoshi (HFDP Racing) finished third.      

Clear skies on Sunday allowed the race to be contended in dry conditions for the first time since the season opener at Fuji in April.  Confusion at the start of the race meant five cars, including the no. 1 car of Tsugio Matsuda (Lawson Team Impul) were penalised for jump-starting the lights. Duval also made a bad start allowing his team-mate Kogure to move to the front of the pack.  Gear box problems with only 10 laps remaining meant Duval was able to reclaim the lead, with the two Nakajima Racing drivers crossing the finishing line first and second. Benoit Treluyer (Lawson Team Impul) who started from sixth on the grid, finished third.   

Nakajima racing driver, Loic Duval, said;
“The bad start I made was disappointing but I decided my best option was to keep second position. I suffered from oversteer in the first half of the race and so I asked the pit crew, over the radio, to change the tyre pressure before I came into the pits.  Fortunately it worked well. I feel sorry for Kogure as these issues can affect any driver at any time, though I do feel happy for winning this race.”  

Bridgestone Senior tyre technical advisor, Yasuo Teranishi, said:
“It was first dry race weekend in Suzuka this season, with high air and track temperatures. Our slick tyres performed well for all drivers from start to finish. Congratulations to Duval for his third win this season.”