The Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli Japan Round 4, Race 1, took place at Fuji Speedway. Despite unseasonably cool temperatures for early summer at Fuji, the race featured intense battles all across the track.

Sota Muto, winner in the Trofeo Pirelli: “In this qualifying session, the track conditions had improved compared to practice runs earlier in the week, which allowed me to drive well. With the lower temperatures, I made sure to carefully warm up the tires, and that was another key factor in setting a strong lap time. As in the previous round, I was able to take pole position, but in Round 3, I made a mistake at the start and lost my advantage. This time, I thoroughly practiced the race start using the simulator, so I was able to keep the lead right from the beginning and control the race. I’ve secured pole position for tomorrow’s Race 2 as well, so I hope to achieve another pole-to-win finish just like today.”

Kanji Yagura, winner in the Trofeo Pirelli Am: “It was an intense battle all the way until the final lap, so I’m thrilled to come away with the victory in the end, I’m really moved by how things turned out. The lap before the final, I was in third place going into the last corner, but I managed to get into the slipstream of the car in second and made a decisive move on the straight to take the lead. Up until now, even if I wasn’t the fastest in qualifying, I’ve always felt confident in my race pace. But today, even when I was chasing from behind, everyone was really good at managing their tires, so it was tough to catch up. Going forward, I think my biggest challenge will be improving my one-lap pace in qualifying so I can be more competitive from the start.”

Phil Kim, winner in the Coppa Shell: "This time, I paid close attention to tire pressures. Thanks to the experience I gained in Round 3, I was able to find a good setup and did a better job raising tire pressure during the formation lap, which allowed me to get a good start. In the first corner of the opening lap, I was able to gain positions because I chose the outside line. In the previous Round 3, I went for the inside and ended up crashing, so this time I deliberately took the outside to avoid risks. Last time’s approach didn’t work out, so today I focused on safe driving and minimizing the risk of contact, and that allowed me to win. I aim to drive safely again in tomorrow’s Race 2 and hopefully secure another victory."

Alex Fox, winner in the Coppa Shell Am: "I really love Japanese racing culture. In “European-style” races, things can be a bit rough sometimes, but in Japan, even really fast professional drivers are careful and considerate towards beginners like me. They never try to bump into you, and I feel that’s something unique to Japanese culture. Thanks to that, I really feel respected, and it makes me happy. I had an amazing time at Fuji."

Motoyuki Hori ,winner in the Trofeo Pirelli 488 Challenge Evo: “I am truly overjoyed to have won my very first race. My passion for racing began when I watched the movie "Gran Turismo." At first, I started by playing racing games, but a friend of mine who actually participates in real races encouraged me to try racing on an actual circuit. After dedicating a year to practicing at the track, I finally had the opportunity to compete in my first real race. Everything was a new experience for me, and I found the qualifying round especially nerve-wracking. Of course, the final race itself was also something I had never experienced before, but the adrenaline rush carried me through. When the race started, the sound of the engines intensified, and I felt an incredible surge of excitement. Tomorrow, in Race 2, I will do my best to stand at the top of the podium once again.”