Yamakoshi Takes Pole as Nakamura Lands Sprint Podium in Japanese FIA Formula 3 Breakthrough at Spielberg

Hiyu Yamakoshi

Yamakoshi laid down the benchmark from qualifying onwards. After finishing ninth in practice, the Van Amersfoort Racing driver produced a 1:21.730 to secure his first FIA Formula 3 pole position and earn the right to lead the field away for Sunday's Feature Race.

Starting from eighth on the reversed Sprint grid, Yamakoshi remained inside the points throughout to finish eighth.

The Feature Race began positively as he defended into Turn 1, but Ugo Ugochukwu carried stronger momentum on the exit and completed the move at Turn 3. A first-lap Safety Car reset the race before a frantic closing stint saw Yamakoshi locked in a four-car fight involving Jin Nakamura, Taito Kato, and Pedro Clerot. Despite the constant position changes, he brought the car home in eighth to cap a landmark weekend with his maiden pole position.

Jin Nakamura

Nakamura enjoyed his most complete FIA Formula 3 weekend to date. Sixth in practice and ninth in qualifying placed the Hitech driver on the second row of the reversed Sprint grid, where he capitalised on the opportunity with a composed drive to third.

Holding off sustained late pressure as battles unfolded around him, Nakamura secured his first Sprint Race podium in FIA Formula 3 before carrying that momentum into Sunday.

The Feature Race produced another mature performance. Nakamura stayed in the lead battle throughout the closing laps and crossed the line fifth, finishing just 0.283 seconds ahead of Kato after one of the closest fights of the race. The result marked his biggest points haul of the season and continued his climb up the championship standings.

Taito Kato

Kato once again demonstrated consistent front-running pace across the weekend. After going second fastest in practice, the Japanese driver qualified seventh before converting that speed into points in both races.

Seventh in the Sprint kept him firmly inside the top ten, but it was Sunday's Feature Race where Kato came closest to a standout result.

Running as part of the lead battle in the closing laps, he briefly moved ahead of teammate Yamakoshi with a decisive move into Turn 1 before Yamakoshi responded around the outside. Kato immediately fought back with another move into Turn 3, highlighting one of the race's most entertaining exchanges. He ultimately finished seventh, less than three tenths behind Nakamura after battling to the flag.

Kanato Le

The B-Max Racing driver qualified eighth after finishing tenth in practice, placing him fifth on the reversed Sprint grid. He finished P6 on the road before a technical infringement led to being disqualified from the Sprint Race, ending what looked to be another points finish.

Sunday's Feature Race provided redemption. Le drove a measured race to finish tenth, collecting the final championship point and moving up to nineteenth in the drivers' standings.

Spielberg underlined the depth of Japan's current Formula 3 generation. Yamakoshi celebrated a career-first pole position, Nakamura claimed his maiden Sprint podium, Kato continued his run of consistent points finishes, and Le recovered from Sprint disappointment to ensure every Japanese driver left Austria having contributed to the country's strongest collective Formula 3 weekend of the season.