Spring sunshine and calmer winds welcomed the Super Formula paddock back to Fuji Speedway for the second and final day of official joint testing, serving as the de facto start to the season after the planned opening test at Suzuka was postponed. With 11 teams and 20 drivers hitting the track, the morning session kicked off at 10:00 AM under a 12℃ air temperature and 17℃ track temperature. Rookies busied themselves practicing starts and pit stops, while veterans shook off a three-month rust and worked through setup programs.
Action heated up early when Kazuki Nakajima (VANTELN TEAM TOM’S), Tomoki Nojiri (MUGEN), Nirei Fukuzumi (DANDELION RACING), and Toshiki Oyu (TCS NAKAJIMA RACING) dipped into the 1:22s. Sasha Fenestraz (KONDO RACING) soon pushed into the 1:21s, before a red flag halted proceedings when Tadasuke Makino (TCS NAKAJIMA RACING) ground to a halt at the exit of Turn 2 right after setting a personal best.
Once the machine was cleared, Nojiri took command by lowering the benchmark to 1:21:775 and then 1:21:509. Ryo Hirakawa (TEAM IMPUL)—who topped both sessions on day one—responded with a 1:21:548 before improving to 1:21:203. As the clock wound down and drivers bolted on fresh rubber, Nojiri dropped a 1:20:942, only to be outdone by Fukuzumi, who carried his strong day-one form into a session-topping 1:20:785. Hirakawa secured third, followed by Oyu, Jüri Vips (MUGEN), Nick Cassidy (VANTELN TEAM TOM’S), Nakajima, Sho Tsuboi (INGINGMOTORSPORT), Fenestraz, and Kenta Yamashita (KONDO RACING).
The afternoon session got underway at 2:30 PM with immediate long-run simulations and setup tweaks, punctuated by three separate red flags. Nakajima triggered the first by spinning out at the 100R, leading to a brief stint where Fenestraz and Cassidy traded quick laps. Kamui Kobayashi (carrozzeria Team KCMG) caused the second stoppage with a spin at the 100R, shortly before Vips jumped to the provisional top spot with a 1:21:819. Yuji Kunimoto (carrozzeria Team KCMG)—who moved to the team for this season—brought out the final red flag of the day by going off at the 300R.
As the final minutes ticked away and fresh tires came out, Fukuzumi laid down a 1:21:207 to secure the top spot of the afternoon, though it fell shy of his morning best. Hirakawa chased hard but finished 0.2 seconds adrift in second, with Fenestraz taking third after an early flyer. Behind them, the afternoon order rounded out with Naoki Yamamoto (DANDELION RACING), Yuhi Sekiguchi (TEAM IMPUL), Oyu, Vips, Sergio Sette Camara (B-MAX RACING TEAM), Makino, and Kobayashi.
Next up, a test at Suzuka Circuit is scheduled for April 3-4, acting as the rescheduled first official test. If it goes ahead as planned, it will mark the final running before the lights go out for real.
