Sobagiri took Saturday’s Round 7 before Tano claimed his breakthrough victory on Sunday, as Sobagiri’s strong weekend cut into championship leader Masashi Yokoi’s advantage ahead of the season finale.
Saturday’s Tanso qualifying was led by Hideyuki Fujino, who scored 98.69 to take the top spot and four points. Junya Ishikawa followed at 98.59, with Sobagiri third on 98.30.
Sobagiri then converted his qualifying pace into the Round 7 Tsuiso win, earning the full 25 points. Naoki Nakamura finished second, ahead of Fujino in third, Tano in fourth, and Ishikawa in fifth.
Tano moved to the front in Round 8, defeating Sobagiri in the Tsuiso final to secure 25 points and his first victory of the season. Sobagiri finished second on 21 points, followed by Fujino in third and Nakamura in fourth. Sayaka Shimoda completed the top five, giving Team TOYOTIRES DRIFT and Team VALINO two drivers each among the leading finishers.
Sobagiri also topped Sunday’s Tanso qualifying with a score of 99.50, earning the maximum four points. Across both days, he scored in both Tanso and Tsuiso, making Autopolis a significant weekend in his championship campaign.
The standings battle now heads into the final double-header at Tokyo’s Odaiba course on November 14 and 15. Yokoi's absence in Round 7, serving a penalty-points suspension, allowed Sobagiri to make up ground in the title fight. With two rounds remaining, the championship will be decided at Odaiba.
Image: D1GP
