08.09.2011
, Twin Ring Motegi, Tochigi prefecture, Japan
KATSUMASA CHIYO TAKES THIRD VICTORY OF THE SEASON
Japanese Formula 3 Championship Race Reports
Rounds 8 and 9 of the Achievement Japanese Formula 3 championship (F3) were held over the August 6-7 weekend at the circuit in Tochigi prefecture. In Round 8, Nissan Driver Development Program (NDDP) driver Katsumasa Chiyo (#23) won the race, posting his third victory of the season.
Chiyo, who set promising times from the practice session held on Friday the 5th, took pole position for both rounds in the qualifying session. Meanwhile, the driver of the #22 machine, Daiki Sasaki also set good times in qualifying, taking 4th on the grid for Round 8, and netting 3rd for Round 9 – good omens for podium finishes for both drivers.
Round 8 (14 laps) took place in the afternoon of Saturday, August 6th. The sky was darkening as the cars left their respective pits, when suddenly, just five minutes before the start, rain began to fall in torrents. Most of the N class cars started the formation lap on slicks. However, Chiyo and Sasaki didn’t make it to the grid, returning to their pits and swapping to rain tyres, thus necessitating a start from their pits rather than the grid. Both were forced to get behind a pair of machines that had undertaken tyre changes before the start, but excellent pit work by the team saw Chiyo get back on track in 3rd, with Sasaki right behind him in 4th. The race was then suspended as the rain became too heavy. After about an hour’s break, the race resumed on lap 4, run behind the Safety Car.
Chiyo, who had regained his lead just before the race was suspended, dominated the event with an improved pace after the race resumed. He took a dominant win with over 17 seconds in hand over his nearest rival as he cruised to his third win of the season.
Sasaki meanwhile, sat in 4th as the race was restarted, and quickly passed a pair of cars to run 1-2 behind Chiyo. His pace slowed somewhat from the mid-point of the race and he took the chequered flag in 4th.
The following day, Sunday, August 7th was typically tropical by Japanese standards, with the mercury reaching above 30 degrees Celsius. Round 9, a 20-lap event, got underway at 10:40a.m. and was run in dry conditions. Chiyo started from pole, though fell to second and started chasing the leader. The gap between the two cars was closing up until lap 7, when Chiyo went off track at the 90-degree corner. He quickly recovered, but had fallen to third by the flag.
Sasaki, who had qualified in third place, was passed by a trio of cars at the start, though got by one of them during the chaos just after the start. He completed the opening lap in fifth place. Throughout the first half of the race he pushed hard, eventually coming within 0.6 seconds of the 4th-placed car, though with few places in which to pass at this track, Sasaki took the chequered flag in fifth place.
Katsumasa Chiyo (winner of Rd.8, 3rd in Round 9)
“Most of my rivals were already on slicks, so we started on slicks too. However, the rain was starting to get very heavy during the formation lap so the team decided to quickly call us in for a change of tyres. We normally don’t change tyres much during a race, but the mechanics did super quick work, allowing me to pass two cars that were leading as they hadn’t needed to change their rubber. I was therefore able to regain the lead before the race was suspended. Even after the restart, the car ran beautifully in the wet conditions, so my race was really smooth. This victory is thanks to the team who prepared an excellent machine and did perfect pit work. I’m confident with my speed in dry conditions as well, however (in Round 9) I slipped suddenly, causing me to lose a position. I’m really frustrated with this 3rd place as I was given a car with which I could have won.”
Japanese F3 Championship Rd.8
Pos
No
Driver
Machine
Time/Behind
1
23
Katsumasa Chiyo
NDDP RACING
1:33’46.195
2
37
Yuichi Nakayama
TDP SPRIT F306
+17.317
3
8
Tomoki Nojiri
HFDP RACING F307
+19.989
4
22
Daiki Sasaki
NDDP RACING
+22.510
Japanese F3 Championship Rd.9
Pos
No
Driver
Machine
Time/Behind
1
20
G.Tompson
SGC by KCMG
37’10.430
2
37
Yuichi Nakayama
TDP SPRIT F306
+9.042
3
23
Katsumasa Chiyo
NDDP RACING
+9.930
5
22
Daiki Sasaki
NDDP RACING
+14.528