Super Formula at Twin Ring Motegi: Maiden victory for Ryo Hirakawa

Ryo Hirakawa (Itochu Enex Team Impul) has won the Super Formula Championship race at Twin Ring Motegi, the fifth round of the 2019 season. It’s maiden Super Formula victory for the 25-year-old Toyota driver in his 35th start in Japanese premier single-seater championship. Hirakawa is the fifth different winner in five SF races this year.

Hirakawa was joined by Kamui Kobayashi (KCMG) and Nick Cassidy (Team Tom’s) on a podium, making it the 1-2-3 victory for Toyota. Nakajima Racing’s Alex Palou, who started from pole position in the #64 Honda, finished the race in the fourth place. Nirei Fukuzumi (Dandelion Racing Honda) completed the top 5.

Ryo Hirakawa on the top podium spot

The other three point-scorers are Hiroaki Ishiura (JMS P.mu/cerumo Inging Toyota), Lucas Auer (B-Max Racing Honda) and Tomoki Nojiri (Team Mugen Honda).

Naoki Yamamoto (Dandelion Racing Honda), who came to Motegi as the championship leader, scored no points with a ninth-place finish, dropping to the second place in the championship standings. Nick Cassidy is a new leader with 28 points on his account, just one more than Yamamoto. Alex Palou is third with 20 points, one more than Kobayashi.

Two more races are on the calendar, the first is scheduled for September 29 at Okayama International Circuit.