October 13-14, Fuji Speedway (Shizuoka prefecture)
The 14th and 15th rounds of the All-Japan F3 Championship were held at Fuji Speedway, and Nissan Driver Development Program (NDDP) driver Daiki Sasaki (#23) took lights-to-flag victories in both rounds to seal the N-Class series championship title.
The #23 of Daiki Sasaki
NDDP RACING
If Sasaki, who was approaching the final round of the series in first place, could get pole position in either of the two official qualifying sessions and obtain one point, the championship would be decided. The NDDP driver faced the official qualifying sessions with rock-solid preparation in his efforts to take the title, having posted the overall best time from the weekend's practice session on the 12th (Fri.). In the first qualifying session, displaying a momentum no different from the day before when he recorded the best time in the second sector, Sasaki won second place overall with a mere seven hundredths of a second difference to the top driver. In so doing, he took pole position in the N-Class, sealing this season's N-Class title in the All-Japan F3 Championship during qualifying. In the second qualifying session, he further modified his driving style and reduced his time, taking the best time overall for the first time. Although he was penalized with a three-place grid demotion for driving off track, he was able to start from a position in the overall order that enabled him to take aim at the winner's podium.
Round 14 got underway at 2:40 on Saturday afternoon. Starting from the front row overall, Sasaki was behind in terms of acceleration in comparison to the Championship-class machines, which have an edge in engine power, but he stayed at the top of the class and even ended the opening lap in fifth place overall. Sasaki battled furiously with the machine in fourth place for the entire 21-lap race distance. Throughout the laps he closed the gap with the rival machine, and they went neck-and-neck several times, to the delight of spectators. In the end he crossed the finish line in fifth place overall, winning the N-Class. This was his eighth victory of the season.
Round 15 began on Sunday, the 14th, at 8:30a.m. From fourth on the grid Sasaki was plagued with a stalling engine at the start and fell back to nearly last place but then gave strong chase on every lap. By the halfway point of the race he had caught up with the top class and on the main straight on lap 12, passed his rival to emerge ahead. He followed up by forcefully closing in on Championship-class machines, setting the fastest lap and wrapping up the season with an N-class victory.
Daiki Sasaki (Round 14: winner, Round 15: winner)
"In round 14, I was very excited about having a front-row start for the first time in a long time, but ended up being overtaken by the quicker Championship class cars. My mind was set on reaching the overall winner's podium, so it was tough. At the beginning of Round 15 I had a good start but then the engine stalled. By pushing it hard on every lap I was able to get back to the top class, but it was a grueling race. This season I've talked a lot with Director Hasemi and everyone on the team, and we've been able to compete as a single, cohesive unit. That relates to the speed and strength we've displayed to this point, and I've learned a lot of things this year. I'm full of gratitude to the people at Nissan for helping me to have a really great and competitive season. Thank you."
| Pos | No | Machine | Drivers | Time / Behind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 23 | S Road NDDP F3 | Daiki Sasaki | 34'31.477 |
| 2 | 35 | TDP SPIRIT F307 | Takamoto Katsuta | 3.852 |
| 3 | 20 | KCMG | Gary THOMPSON | 18.853 |
| Pos | No | Machine | Drivers | Time / Behind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 23 | S Road NDDP F3 | Daiki Sasaki | 24'31.648 |
| 2 | 7 | TDP SPIRIT F307 | Kazuki Hiramine | 5.644 |
| 3 | 19 | KCMG | Naoya Gamo | 7.014 |
The All-Japan F3 championship is a race series using F3-class formula cars. It is divided into two classes; the Championship Class (C Class), for machines compliant with current FIA vehicle standards and the National Class (N Class), for machines using a single make of engine produced by TOM'S, a Toyota affiliate.
Nissan, Toyota and Honda have each established their own driver development programs, and support participating drivers in the championship. In Nissan's development program, the NDDP (Nissan Driver Development Program), the aim is to educate young drivers, enabling them to compete worldwide and in the top Japanese category. In 2012, Nissan is supporting the participation of NDDP Advanced Scholarship driver Daiki Sasaki (N Class).
<Related Link>
NISSAN MOTORSPORTS Web Site
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