Super Formula Fuji: Sasahara gifted win by Sekiguchi disaster

Mugen driver Sasahara was the prime beneficiary of the second of two safety car periods in an eventful 40-lap race, triggered by the Impul machine of Sekiguchi stopping after losing its left-rear wheel.

Sekiguchi had just exited the pits well clear of early-stopping rival Tomoki Nojiri at the end of lap 25, thanks to a lightning quick mandatory pitstop, having led the entire race up to that point from pole.

But the stop proved to be too hasty as Sekiguchi spun exiting the Turn 10-11-12 complex on his out-lap, his left-rear having parted company with the rest of his Impul car.

His stoppage played right into the hands of those drivers that had still yet to make their stops at that point, with Sasahara taking the lead after pitting on lap 27 and front-row starter Sho Tsuboi - who came in on the previous lap - moving up to second, barely nosing ahead of Nojiri at the pit exit.

At the restart on lap 31, Sasahara streaked away from Inging driver Tsuboi, reeling off the remaining laps without drama to claim a first Super Formula win by a margin of just over two seconds.

Points leader Nojiri attacked Tsuboi for second on the restart, but couldn't get the move done and had to turn his attentions to defending third from TOM'S driver Ritomo Miyata, another driver to benefit hugely from the second safety car period having started from last on the grid.

Yuhi Sekiguchi, carenex TEAM IMPUL

Photo by: Masahide Kamio

Nojiri nevertheless came away with an enhanced championship advantage of 29 points as both of his main title rivals, Ryo Hirakawa and Sacha Fenestraz, were eliminated in separate on-track incidents.

Hirakawa, who qualified 11th in the second Impul car, was taken out exiting Turn 1 as he was tapped from behind by the Nakajima