Super Formula at Okayama: Maiden victory for Kenta Yamashita

Kenta Yamashita (Kondo Racing) scored his maiden Super Formula victory in the penultimate round of the 2019 Japanese Super Formula Championship at Okayama International Circuit.

The driver of the #3 Toyota climbed to the top podium spot for the first time since he debuted in Super Formula in 2017, sharing a podium with Kazuki Nakajima (Vantelin Team Tom’s Toyota) and Harison Newey (B-Max with Motorpark, Honda). The third-place-finish brought the first points to the 21-year-old British driver.

Kenta Yamashita

Nick Cassidy (Vantelin Team Tom’s, Toyota), who came to Okayama as championship leader, started from P10, progressed to P1 and then lost everything after an accident with Kamui Kobayashi. His closest rival Naoki Yamamoto (Docomo Team Dandelion Racing, Honda) finished seventh at Okayama, earning two points and taking the lead before the season’s finale at Suzuka on October 26-27.

Nakayama has 29 points, Cassidy is on 28 points. The other championship contenders are Alex Palou (25 points), Kenta Yamashita (21) and Kamui Kobayashi (19). There will be also an exciting battle between the teams as Docomo Team Dandelion Racing and Vantelin Team Tom’s have 40 points each, with Nakajima Racing trailing with 28 points.