Super Formula Autopolis round cancelled by heavy rain

Super Formula’s third round of the season at Autopolis has been cancelled due to heavy rainfall.

The decision was reached and announced by organiser JRP at 3:20pm local time, just over half an hour after the race was red-flagged after one lap behind the safety car owing to the amount of standing water that had accumulated.

With fewer than two laps complete, the race was declared null and void with no points awarded.

JRP stated that a replacement race could be held later in the year, as was the case last year when Round 10 at Fuji Speedway was called off due to the fog, which led to a third race being added to the schedule for the season finale at Suzuka.

Second practice was held in the morning, albeit being red-flagged after a crash for Luke Browning at Turn 3, while both Super Formula Lights support races were held on schedule.

What had been light rain intensified following the completion of the reconnaissance laps, with fog also descending on the circuit, and the decision was made to push back the start by just under 20 minutes from its original time of 2:30pm.

By the time the field departed the grid behind the safety car, the fog had mostly lifted, but the rain became significantly heavier and did not abate until an entrants’ meeting was called shortly before the cancellation became official.

In qualifying on Saturday, Ayumu Iwasa scored pole ahead of championship leader Kakunoshin Ohta, topping the five-car Q3 shootout that was held for the first time since the 2021 season and winning the one million yen prize fund (approx. £4,600).

The three bonus points scored by Team Mugen’s Iwasa means he moves up to second in the standings, cutting Dandelion Racing driver Ohta’s points lead to 19.5.

Should a replacement race be held later in the year, then the same grid order will be used, with Iwasa leading Ohta, Tomoki Nojiri (Mugen), Sacha Fenestraz (TOM’S) and Sena Sakaguchi (Inging).

Browning’s Kondo Racing car was repaired in time for the reconnaissance laps after his crash in FP2, and the Briton took the start of the race in 17th.

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– The Autosport.com Team