Natori withdraws from Super Formula opener
Teppei Natori has withdrawn from Super Formula's season-opening race at Motegi after suffering from dehydration on Saturday.
Photo by: Masahide Kamio
The B-Max Racing/Motopark team made the decision to withdraw its sole entry for the 2020 curtain-raiser after Natori fell ill following Saturday's opening Super Formula Lights race.
Natori had struck a last-minute deal to make his Super Formula debut at Motegi, as both of the B-Max/Motopark squad's regular drivers Sergio Sette Camara and Charles Milesi could not make it to Japan due to travel restrictions.
However, this resulted in a punishing schedule for the 19-year-old, who is also racing this weekend in Super Formula Lights for Toda Racing - made even tougher by the sweltering heat at Motegi, which basked in temperatures of 34 degrees on Saturday.
After being taken to the medical centre following his third-place finish in the support category's first race, Natori was given clearance by doctors to drive in Sunday morning's final practice session and qualifying in Super Formula.
However, after he qualified 18th of the 19 runners, B-Max/Motopark opted to withdraw Natori's entry, reducing the size of field to 18 cars.
Natori finished seventh in Sunday morning's second Super Formula Lights race of the weekend and he is expected to take part in the final race, which takes place immediately after the 35-lap Super Formula event, as planned.
Motorsport.tv will be showing Sunday's Motegi Super Formula race live, from 2pm JST (GMT +9). Available worldwide, except Japan. Click here for details.
Be part of Motorsport community
Join the conversationShare Or Save This Story
Super GT prepares to clamp down on off-season testing
Super GT to allow limited number of spectators at Fuji
Natori's Super Formula debut in doubt after dehydration
Natori apologises for triggering Yamamoto's huge Sugo crash
Natori takes break from racing as planned F2 move falls through
Super Formula Lights champion Natori gets F2 test chance
Honda junior Kimura snatches Super Formula Lights title
Gran Turismo-backed Fraga scores first Super Formula Lights win
HPD scholarship winner Hyman explains Fuji stall woes
2024 F1 Chinese GP sprint qualifying results: Lando Norris takes pole
Why Herbert prefers a car he had to wrestle above his F1 winners
Oliveira reckons MotoGP “looks too easy” on TV now
Ocon wants set-up changes after China F1 sprint as "performance left on the side"
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.
Top Comments