Winners and losers from Super Formula's Autopolis round

A look back at who was up and who was down following last weekend's second Super Formula race of the season at Autopolis (All photos: JRP)

WINNER: Sho Tsuboi

After failing to score points at Suzuka, a place on the podium was much more like it for the driver anointed as reigning champion Ritomo Miyata’s successor at TOM’S. And that was despite Tsuboi qualifying sixth, albeit second among the Toyota users, and then losing two places off the line, although he rescued one on the opening lap.

The straight line speed issues that afflicted both TOM’S cars at Suzuka had been solved in time for Autopolis, and while one-lap speed still left something to be desired, Tsuboi showed exactly the kind of long-run pace you would expect of a driver of his calibre, and didn’t put a foot wrong with any of his late overtaking moves on fresh tyres. With the championship standings so close at the top, Tsuboi is still well and truly in the game, and with the usually TOM’S-friendly Sugo up next.