"My goal is just to win a race:" Sho Tsuboi on Super Formula at Fuji, Super GT title and more

Credit: Super Formula

2024 Super Formula Drivers’ Champion Sho Tsuboi has been having a relatively quiet season this year, scoring only two podiums in the eight races so far. Super Formula returns to the Fuji Speedway this weekend, a circuit where the Saitama native has previously excelled at, providing him with a great opportunity to turn his season around.

The Team TOM’S driver spoke with DIVEBOMB following the Free Practice sessions ahead of Rounds 9 & 10 at the Fuji Speedway.

Tsuboi made the circuit his own in his championship winning year, 2024, after he won all three races at the circuit, becoming the only driver in series history to win three races at a single circuit in one season. He won only one of the three races at Fuji last year, but stood on the podium at all of them. 

This year, however, he’s only been on the podium once in the three races that took place here. He elucidated his thoughts heading into the race weekend.

“I like the Fuji Speedway; it’s been a great track for me in Super Formula. But everyone using the Honda engines is fast, and we are using the Toyota engine, but I’ll try my best. This year, I still haven’t won a race. That’s what I’m aiming for this weekend.”

The difference between Honda and Toyota engines has been a major talking point of late, with drivers in the Toyota camp like Zak O’Sullivan and Tsuboi calling it out. Engine development is frozen, but much of the Toyota drivers feel as though the gap has grown. 

At a circuit like the Fuji Speedway, where straight line speed is king, power output differences could decide the race. This time around, his criticisms towards the engine differences were much more toned down and introspective.

“The rules haven’t been changed. Both Honda and Toyota, we can't develop our engine systems. I don’t know how they’re this much faster. Of course, the setup is also important. Maybe their people, their teams, are much more in tune with the car. My car hasn’t seen much improvement. Maybe both my driving and my car need some improvement.

Credit: Super Formula

As mentioned earlier, straight-line speed is pivotal at the Fuji Speedway, owing to its long 1.475 KM main straight, the longest on the calendar. Teams often run low-downforce setups to make the most of the straight. Tsuboi walked us through his setup for the weekend.

“We run low-downforce setups only at the Fuji Speedway. The most important thing with low-downforce setups is having mechanical grip. If we can get enough mechanical grip, there’s a good chance for us to win this weekend.”

Tsuboi had previously mentioned he had hopes to close down the gap to Kakunoshin Ohta for the championship, but the gap has almost doubled since then, and Tsuboi has toned down his expectations accordingly.

“The gap from just first to second in the championship is so big. My goal right now is just to win a race. Climbing up the drivers’ ranking is difficult now.”

While he has been having a rough season for his high standards in Super Formula, things have been going much more smoothly in Super GT. Tsuboi is on the verge of a record-breaking fifth drivers’ title and his fourth in a row. Most recently, at SUGO, he finished fourth despite facing the maximum Success Weight of 100KG, something he thinks was down to his tyres.

“SUGO’s track surface was resurfaced last year, so tyre degradation has been high. So, of course, tyre choices are important. In GT500, almost all the teams use Bridgestone tyres, but each team make their own choices with the tyre compounds and their construction. My choice in tyres was good. The car was also good, and that’s how we got that good result.

Credit: Super Formula

Despite an early lead and strong performances since, the gap to second in the standings has been decreasing, and after the race at SUGO, the Real Racing crew of Koudai Tsukakoshi and rookie sensation Yuto Nomura are just 13 points behind after their win last round.

“I have some pressure on me now. Next race is at Autopolis; it’s a long 3-hour race. If we can get some good points there, then maybe we can win the championship. If I become the champion this year, I’d have won it five times. Nobody else has achieved that, so my focus is on that. ”

Tsuboi has been expected to make a surprise move to Formula 2 next year, leaving Super Formula and Super GT to race in Europe after impressing Haas in their Testing of Previous Cars (TPC). He declined to comment on the matter.

Tsuboi will be racing this weekend in Super Formula. Round 9 will kick off tomorrow, on Saturday and Round 10 will go green on Sunday, both starting at 15:00 JST (07:00 BST).