The Latest Breaking News from Kondo

Zak O’Sullivan says his focus is on improving his qualifying performances after a tougher-than-expected start to his Super Formula campaign with Kondo Racing.

Williams Formula 1 junior driver Zak O’Sullivan has been announced at Kondo Racing as part of a 13-strong Toyota roster for the 2025 Super Formula season.

After two days of running at Okayama in late July, the 2024 GT500 machines of Nissan, Honda and Toyota again shared the track last week at Motegi, as the final 2023 tyre test involving all four manufacturers also took place.

On what will be the last visit for the NSX to Honda’s home track before it is replaced by the new Civic Type R-GT next year, Fukuzumi posted a 1m46.385s at the end of the Q2 pole shootout to grab the top spot in the #16 ARTA car he shares…

The #24 Kondo Nissan Z of Sasaki and Kohei Hirate entered qualifying firmly among the favourites for pole, carrying only 6kg of success ballast and having taken the top spot last time out at Suzuka, only to be stripped of pole due to a fuel tank infraction.

Bandoh pair Yuji Kunimoto and Sena Sakaguchi finished second on the road when Sunday's race was abandoned after a horrifying crash involving Nissan driver Tsugio Matsuda on lap 59 of 77, but were promoted to what many felt was a rightful win after a penalty for the NDDP Racing Nissan.

The #3 Nissan Z of Katsumasa Chiyo and Mitsunori Takaboshi was ahead on the road at the time of Matsuda's huge crash on lap 59 of 77 by virtue of not yet having completed its second refuelling stop.

The new chairman of championship promoter JRP, whose eponymous Kondo Racing team is active in both Super Formula and SUPER GT, has previously expressed his desire to broaden the category's international appeal.

The occupants of the #36 Toyota GR Supra came through from sixth on the grid to beat the pole-sitting Team Kunimitsu Honda NSX-GT of Naoki Yamamoto and Tadasuke Makino by 28 seconds in the 450km race, which ran completely caution-free.