The Latest Breaking News from Ukyo Sasahara

Following this month's Sugo race, TOM'S took the decision to stand down the struggling Alesi and replace him with former Team Mugen driver Ukyo Sasahara for the remaining four races of the season.

Yamamoto was the only driver to break the 1m22s barrier during four hours of on-track running on Friday, setting a time of 1m21.897s to claim the top spot by 0.112s.

The news that Giuliano Alesi is stepping down from his TOM’S Super Formula drive was both surprising and unsurprising in equal measure. Few expected he would survive beyond the end of 2023 with his current form, but equally a mid-season change of drivers didn’t seem to be on the cards…

Otsu hadn’t even planned to be at Autopolis until a sudden call at around 4pm on Friday afternoon. With Tomoki Nojiri out of action after being diagnosed with a collapsed lung earlier that day, Team Mugen was in need of a substitute.

The paddock was greeted by warm, sunny weather on Tuesday ahead of the start of track action for SUPER GT’s traditional midweek fixture on Wednesday, and forecasts indicate that both days of running will be completely dry - which would be a welcome change after two days of tempestuous weather…

A total of 41 cars, 15 in GT500 and 26 in GT300, are entered for the annual Golden Week classic, the first of five 450km races on this year's schedule.

The #36 Toyota GR Supra shared by Sho Tsuboi and Ritomo Miyata was on course for at least second place until their charge was ended by a loose front left-wheel in the closing stages of what proved to be a weather-shortened curtain-raiser.

The #14 Rookie Racing Toyota concluded the final official test with the fastest time of 1m39.293s, set by the returning Kenta Yamashita during a phase of slightly lighter rain during the two-hour afternoon session.

Mitsunori Takaboshi set the day's benchmark time of 1m36.400s aboard the #3 NDDP Racing-branded Nissan Z he shares with Katsumasa Chiyo in the two-hour afternoon session, when conditions were at their best.

The Japanese single-seater series' 2023-spec car, an updated version of the previous SF19, features revised aerodynamics aimed at reducing downforce and making it easier for cars to follow each other closely.

Tsuboi set the third-fastest time of the opening day of the test on Saturday and overall in the #36 TOM'S Toyota he shares with Ritomo Miyata, lapping within two tenths of the pace set by ARTA Honda's Nirei Fukuzumi.