The Japan F3 championship outcome for Kiwi driver Nick Cassidy will be decided in the final round in October following a weekend of mixed results on the track.
Cassidy now sits on level points with TOM’S Toyota team-mate Kenta Yamashita.
Going into the penultimate round, Cassidy was the championship leader. He recorded a second place in the first race of the round at the 4.83 kilometre Twin Ring Motegi circuit but was unable to improve on his qualifying position of fifth in race two.
Nirei Fukuzumi won both races and is fourth overall.
Cassidy said he was very happy with second place in the first race: “I gave it everything and was comfortably second quickest to extend my championship lead. Congratulations to Nirei Fukuzumi on his first win in the championship.”
Tyre issues had slowed Cassidy in qualifying for the second race, meaning he was unable to improve on his start position.
The final round takes place at Sportland Sugo 17-18 October. In the intervening period Nick Cassidy will contest two round of the FIA European F3 Championship with the Prema Powersport team.
Race 14 – 14 laps (top five)
1 Nirei Fukuzumi
2 Nick Cassidy
3 Kenta Yamashita
4 Mitsunori Takaboshi
5 Yuhi Sekiguchi
Race 15 – 20 laps (top five)
1 Nirei Fukuzumi
2 Kenta Yamashita
3 Mitsunori Takaboshi
4 Keishi Ishikawa
5 Nick Cassidy
