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Oyu, who has joined the rebranded Servus Japan-run TGM outfit for 2023 after three seasons at Nakajima Racing, certified third for the second spherical of the season, and handed poleman Nojiri on the opening lap into Flip 3.
He maintained the benefit till the security automotive was known as shortly earlier than the pit window opened on lap 10 of 41, which prompted virtually your complete area to return in for his or her necessary tyre adjustments underneath warning.
Oyu was jumped by Mugen driver Nojiri within the pits, however when the race resumed on lap 13, Oyu launched an assault on the two-time champion heading all the way down to Flip 1, solely to lock up and flatspot his tyres.
That was the beginning of a descent down the order for Oyu, who was all the way down to sixth place and struggling for tempo by the point he bailed out and pitted for a second time, condemning him to a Twentieth-place end.
“I used to be gradual on the straights,” Oyu advised Motorsport.com’s Japanese version. “The timing of the security automotive wasn’t good and Nojiri handed me within the pits.
“On the time, I didn’t suppose I used to be going to get one other probability, I assumed he would simply draw back. However I received an excellent restart when the security automotive got here in and I made a decision to problem him.
“We had been each utilizing the OTS, however after I pulled out of the slipstream, I dropped again a bit, and I had no selection however to brake as late as doable.
“Usually if you end up within the slipstream that lengthy, you need to be capable to at the least get your nostril in entrance. However we couldn’t, so our straight line pace should be dangerous.
“The flat spot was not that dangerous, however I initially had a sense that the entrance [grip] would get harder by way of set-up because the race went on, in order that simply exacerbated the issue, and I misplaced tempo.”
Regardless of the frustration of shedding an opportunity to combat for a podium end, Oyu mentioned he was happy with the potential he and TGM had been capable of display over the course of the Fuji weekend.
“On the plus facet, I used to be capable of set the quickest lap, and my battling on the high I used to be capable of present my energy and that of the group,” mentioned Oyu.
“So if we will enhance much more any further, I feel we’ll be capable to be on pole and win races this season.”
Bolukbasi delighted with first Tremendous System factors
Within the opening race at Fuji, Oyu led residence team-mate Cem Bolukbasi, who managed to bag 4 factors on his Tremendous System debut in eighth.
The Turkish driver, who contested a part-season in System 2 final yr, made his method up from Twentieth on the grid with a clear run as many different drivers bumped into bother with contact and penalties.
“It wasn’t that a lot of a shock, as a result of I knew from qualifying the automotive was good,” Bolukbasi advised Motorsport.com.
“The beginning was superb and the timing of the security automotive helped us. I simply stored it constant and clear, managed to overhaul a couple of vehicles.
“I am completely satisfied as a result of it has been fairly some time since I completed within the factors. It is good motivation for myself and the group, as a result of I anticipated the progress to be a bit slower.
“I have been having fun with working with the group, on and off the observe, serving to me to really feel at residence right here. I feel we will construct from right here.”
Bolukbasi was a extra subdued seventeenth on Sunday, reporting struggles with understeer after in a single day changes and gearbox points.
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