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Round 6 of Super Formula took place under 27℃ conditions (track temp. 34℃) at Sportsland SUGO Circuit in Miyagi Prefecture. #20 Yuhi Sekiguchi (ITOCHU ENEX TEAM IMPUL) started the race from the pole position. He got off to a solid start, as did #37 Kazuki Nakajima (VANTELIN TEAM TOM’S), who was able to jump up from the 3rd grid to 2nd place. As Sekiguchi began setting a fierce pace, 2nd running Nakajima suddenly slowed down. 2nd grid starter #40 Tomoki Nojiri (DOCOMO TEAM DANDELION RACING) was able to jump up into 2nd because of Nakajima’s temporary setback. Nakajima’s younger brother #64 Daisuke Nakajima (NAKAJIMA RACING) also was able to move up 2 spots into 3rd.

#36 Andre Lotterer (VANTELIN TEAM TOM’S) headed to the pit early. Lotterer didn’t change tires, but fueled up. #19 Joao Paulo de Oliveria (ITOCHU ENEX TEAM IMPUL) also headed to the pit for fuel early in the race, and was able to get back out onto the track in front of Lotterer. Many of the other cars headed to the pit after that. This included Daisuke Nakajima. Daisuke was able to fuel up and get back out on the track ahead of J.P. de Oliveria and the others in the group that headed to the pit early because it only took him slightly over 6 seconds to have pit work completed.

J.P. Oliveria lost control of the back end of his car in the SP Out Corner, and was forced to retire from the race. This caused the safety car to be deployed. Consequently, Sekiguchi and the rest of the cars lost a bit of the margin that they had built up to that point.

Kazuki Nakajima moved up a spot when his teammate Andre Lotterer over ran the course. Lotterer was able to get back out on the track soon however. After that, Kazuki Nakajima poured on the pressure to 3rd running Nojiri, but Nojiri held his own.
The news of the day was Sekiguchi’s speed of over a little 1 min. 6 sec. per lap. Daisuke Nakajima was running at lap times of 1 min. 9 sec., but Sekiguchi used his overtaking system to record even faster lap times than Daisuke. On the 55th lap, Sekiguchi had more than a 35 sec. lead over 2nd running Daisuke before he headed to the pit. Super Formula rookie Sekiguchi was easily able to get back onto the track before Daisuke and captured the checkered for his 2nd win of the 2016 season.

Nojiri finished in 3rd followed by Kazuki Nakajima in 4th, Andre Lotterer in 5th and Stoffel Vadoorne in 6th place, who drove a consistent race.