The 2022 All Japan Super Formula Championship has reached its climax at Suzuka Circuit, where a demanding double-header weekend will crown this season's champion. With Saturday and Sunday both featuring morning qualifying sessions and afternoon races, the title battle narrows down to three contenders: points leader Tomoki Nojiri (TEAM MUGEN), Sascha Fenestraz (KONDO RACING), and Ryo Hirakawa (carenex TEAM IMPUL). Before the serious business begins, the field took to the track on a brilliant autumn Friday for a 90-minute exclusive practice session under 22℃ temperatures and a 35℃ track.
Toshiki Oyu (TCS NAKAJIMA RACING) laid down the benchmark by setting the fastest time of the session, stopping the clocks at 1 minute 37.487 seconds. Sho Tsuboi (P.MU/CERUMO･INGING) slotted into second, while title contender Fenestraz showed strong early pace in third. Hirakawa finished the session in fifth place. Meanwhile, championship leader Nojiri had a quiet start, ending up 16th with a lap of 1 minute 38.496 seconds, though the gaps remain tight.
Action kicked off with drivers feeling out their machine setups on the clear, crisp day. Ukyo Sasahara (TEAM MUGEN) was among the early movers into the 1-minute 39-second bracket, quickly joined by Nirei Makino (DOCOMO TEAM DANDELION RACING), Naoki Yamamoto (TCS NAKAJIMA RACING), Oyu, and Giuliano Alesi (Kuo VANTELN TEAM TOM’S). Makino continued to drop times as the session developed, eventually pushing into the 1-minute 38-second bracket alongside other front-runners.
With under 30 minutes remaining, Kamui Kobayashi (KCMG), rookie Atsushi Miyake (TEAM GOH), and Ren Sato (TEAM GOH) joined the frantic pace. But the session turned when Oyu punched in his 1 minute 37.487 second lap with roughly 15 minutes left on the clock, pulling nearly 0.6 seconds clear of Makino at the time. As the clock ticked down to the final six minutes, the field bolted on fresh rubber for qualifying simulations.
Fenestraz responded with a 1 minute 37.966 second effort to briefly threaten, before Tsuboi eclipsed him with a 1 minute 37.829 second lap. Oyu crossed the line shortly after with a 1 minute 37.702 second tour, unable to better his earlier personal best but still untouchable at the top. Oyu, Tsuboi, and Fenestraz ultimately stood as the only drivers to break into the 37-second barrier during the run.
Behind the top three came Ritomo Miyata (Kuo VANTELIN TEAM TOM’S), Hirakawa, Yuhi Sekiguchi (carenex TEAM IMPUL), Makino, Fukuzumi, Kobayashi, Hiroki Otsu (DOCOMO TEAM DANDELION RACING), Sasahara, Yuji Kunimoto (KCMG), Yamamoto, Kenta Yamashita (KONDO RACING), and Sena Sakaguchi (P.MU/CERUMO･INGING). Though Nojiri languished down in 16th, the field spread remains close enough that the reigning pacesetter will undoubtedly factor into tomorrow's knockout qualifying session, which kicks off at 9:15 AM local time.
