The Qualifying session for Round 5 of the 2022 Japanese Super Formula Championship was held on June 18th (Saturday) at Sportsland SUGO in Miyagi Prefecture, with Tomoki Nojiri (TEAM MUGEN) taking home the Pole Position. This is the 4th consecutive time this season and the 11th time in total that Tomoki Nojiri has won Pole Position.

A truly summer day at Sportsland SUGO, with air temperatures already exceeding 25 degrees Celsius in the morning. The knockout qualifying system consisted of two 10-minute sessions. The first session featured group A followed by group B with 10 and 11 cars in each group respectively. Later the total of 12 cars eligible, consisting of the top 6 cars from each group, continued on to the final 7-minute Q2 qualifying session.
　
In Q1 Qualifying A, both Ryo Hirakawa (CARENEX TEAM IMPUL), who had just won the 24 Hours of Le Mans last weekend, and Kamui Kobayashi (KCMG), who finished 2nd in that same race, struggled with the conditions unable to perform a good attack lap, secure position and proceed on to the following quali session. The top time in Q1 group A was achieved by Naoki Yamamoto (TCS NAKAJIMA RACING).
In Q1 group B, Nirei Fukuzumi (ThreeBond Drago CORSE), last year’s Sugo Round winner successfully passed the Q1 for the first time this season, while the top time in group B was set by Tadasuke Makino (DOCOMO TEAM DANDELION RACING).

After the 10-minute interval, it was time for the top 12 cars to contest the Q2 session. The Q2 field was dominated by this year’s top-ranked driver, Tomoki Nojiri, who has won pole position in 3 consecutive races so far. Nojiri grabbed the pole position for the fourth consecutive race.
Sascha Fenestraz (KONDO RACING) qualified in 2nd and Hiroki Otsu (DOCOMO TEAM DANDELION RACING) in 3rd position.

QF P.1 Tomoki Nojiri(TEAM MUGEN)

QF P.2 Sascha Fenestraz(KONDO RACING)

QF P.3 Hiroki Otsu(DOCOMO TEAM DANDELION RACING)