Super Formula Sugo
Fukuzumi: First points for Drago Corse a confidence booster
Nirei Fukuzumi says his top 10 finish in last weekend’s Sugo Super Formula round will act as a major confidence booster for Drago Corse, even if the team’s race pace left much to be desired.
Rachit Thukral
Edited: Jun 23, 2022, 7:00 AM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Fukuzumi finished eighth in Sunday’s fifth race of the season, securing Drago Corse’s first points finish since its return to Super Formula in 2020.
The 25-year-old laid the foundation for the result with an excellent lap of 1m04.913s in qualifying that put him sixth on the grid, just two tenths shy of a spot on the front row.
Read Also:
- Yamamoto sees glimmer of hope after Sugo Super Formula round
- Video: Super Formula simulates V8 engine sound in Sugo test
Come the race, Fukuzumi stopped for fresh tyres as soon as the pit window opened at the end of lap 10, joining the majority of the field in taking advantage of an early safety car period to minimise the time loss.
Fukuzumi didn’t have the pace to prevent himself from being leapfrogged by the late-stopping Tadasuke Makino, or hold position against the fast-charging Ryo Hirakawa, but eighth place still marked a massive turnaround in fortunes for the one-car Drago Corse operation, whose previous best finish was 11th with Tatiana Calderon.
Fukuzumi admitted that the Ryo Michigami-led squad has a lot of work to do to challenge for a top 10 result again, but feels his run to eighth in Sugo will boost the morale of the entire crew.
“My pace in the race was not good at all; I think we achieved this result because we had a good qualifying session,” said Fukuzumi, who scored his maiden win at the same venue last year with Dandelion Racing.
“Race pace is an issue, but being able to get to the front in qualifying and racing in a position to score points was a step forward for the team, and I think it gave us confidence.
“In order to achieve similar results in the future, I think we need to study a lot of things, so I want to turn this result into confidence and do my best."
Ryo Michigami, Nirei Fukuzumi, ThreeBond Drago CORSE
Photo by: Masahide Kamio
Fukuzumi said he had trouble switching between fresh tyres and scrubbed rubber, explaining that the car’s behaviour would change dramatically whenever he put on a different set of tyres.
“A good car is always fast, and a bad car is no good at all, whether it's a used or new [tyre],” he said.
“I've experienced the feeling when it's good with the teams we've run with in the past, but we're struggling to make it the same, but I'm glad we've improved as a team.
“I think we need to work even harder in the future, so we'll do our best."
Fukuzumi's eighth-place finish in only his fifth race with Drago Corse has left the one-car Rookie Racing outfit as the only squad yet to score a point in the 2022 Super Formula season.
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Yamamoto sees glimmer of hope after Sugo Super Formula round
Next article Super Formula mid-season review ft. Joao Paulo de Oliveira
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Rachit Thukral
MotoGP announces new start time for Australian GP after weather delays
MotoGP
MotoGP
Australian GP
30 min
MotoGP announces new start time for Australian GP after weather delays
2026 MotoGP Australian Grand Prix – How to watch, session times & more
MotoGP
MotoGP
Indonesian GP
1 h
2026 MotoGP Australian Grand Prix – How to watch, session times & more
More from
Nirei Fukuzumi
SUPER GT driver market: Fukuzumi set for shock Toyota move
Super GT
Super GT
SUPER GT driver market: Fukuzumi set for shock Toyota move
ThreeBond takes over Drago Corse Super Formula entry
Super Formula
Super Formula
ThreeBond takes over Drago Corse Super Formula entry
Five drivers who need a big year in Super Formula
Super Formula
Super Formula
Five drivers who need a big year in Super Formula
More from
Drago Corse
Drago Corse splits with sponsor Busou, aims for Suzuka return
Super GT
Super GT
Drago Corse splits with sponsor Busou, aims for Suzuka return
Fukuzumi "volunteered" to join Drago Corse for Suzuka test
Super Formula
Super Formula
Suzuka December testing
Fukuzumi "volunteered" to join Drago Corse for Suzuka test
Honda set for another Super Formula driver reshuffle
Super Formula
Super Formula
Honda set for another Super Formula driver reshuffle
Latest news
MotoGP announces new start time for Australian GP after weather delays
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Australian GP
30 min
MotoGP announces new start time for Australian GP after weather delays
2026 MotoGP Australian Grand Prix – How to watch, session times & more
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Indonesian GP
1 h
2026 MotoGP Australian Grand Prix – How to watch, session times & more
There will be even less drag in Cup cars at Talladega on Sunday
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Talladega II
2 h
There will be even less drag in Cup cars at Talladega on Sunday
Kimi Antonelli delivers Austin surprise pole in tricky Mercedes: "Finally we're seeing the results"
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
United States GP
3 h
Kimi Antonelli delivers Austin surprise pole in tricky Mercedes: "Finally we're seeing the results"
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe