Hirakawa has scored two podium finishes from the opening three races of the 2023 season, with third-place finishes in each the opening race at Fuji and the latest spherical at Suzuka.
Nevertheless, he needed to come by means of from ninth on the grid on the latter monitor after ending up a bit of over a second off the tempo of pacesetter Toshiki Oyu within the Q2 pole shootout.
Key to qualifying success in Tremendous Method is adjusting the automotive between the primary and second segments to higher go well with the situations, one thing that two-time champion Tomoki Nojiri has confirmed explicit adept at.
Reflecting on his persevering with lack of one-lap tempo relative to the likes of Nojiri, Hirakawa stated that for subsequent week’s Autopolis spherical Impul ought to take into account making an even bigger change to the set-up after Q1.
“To be sincere the automotive felt good, however the laptime was not there,” Hirakawa advised Motorsport.com. “We have to do one thing aggressive, as a result of normally we’re solely doing little issues.
“We must always attempt to do an enormous change in Autopolis, to see the distinction and see how the automotive stability modifications. In the event you make it by means of Q1, there is not a lot to lose.”
Hirakawa’s cost to the rostrum was aided by a security automotive interval that allowed he and eventual winner Ritomo Miyata to vary their tyres late on and go on the assault within the remaining a part of the race.
Nevertheless, any probabilities of Hirakawa successful evaporated when he was handed by the TOM’S machine of Miyata – who began twelfth after shedding his greatest time in Q2 for a monitor limits infraction – within the opening stint.
“I don’t know why however I felt a vibration with the primary set of tyres,” stated Hirakawa. “It was affecting the automotive stability, so I couldn’t push sufficient. I had loads of understeer, so I used to be struggling.
“I knew if I didn’t field on lap 10 I needed to keep out lengthy, so I attempted to maintain up the tempo, but it surely was exhausting.
“I believe we targeted an excessive amount of on Saturday and we forgot about Sunday. We noticed this time that Miyata may win from P12 on the grid. You probably have good race tempo, you possibly can at all times have an opportunity.”
Hirakawa now heads to Autopolis desperate to repeat his victory on the scenic Kyushu venue of 12 months in the past.
“In fact we have to enhance qualifying however we should always take into account extra the race tempo,” stated the 29-year-old. “So I hope I can do the identical as final 12 months.”
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