Auckland’s Liam Sceats leaves the latest round of the 2023 Japanese Formula Regional Championship at Okayama sitting second on the table, having taken his maiden series victory in the third race.
The teenager qualified well and was on the front row for all three races, paving the way for two fourth-place finishes before victory in the finale.
“I’m stoked to have won at Okayama in Formula Regional Japan,” said Sceats. “The competition is tough in Japan, so it feels great to have got a win under my belt here. I want more now.
“It was good to come back with a win this weekend after an error battling for the lead cost us a podium in Race 1, and an unfortunate wrong tyre choice on a drying track in Race 2 cost us any chance of a win or podium.”
Fortune was in his favour come Sunday’s Race 3, leading from lights to flag to take a hard-fought but well-earned victory.
“We had a great start off the front row, which allowed me to get into the lead on Lap 1. I was confident with the car all weekend, so pushed hard on the opening laps, which created a slight gap to second,” he said.
“The competition was super tight, with the top four lapping within a tenth of each other the entire race, so I felt a little bit of pressure towards the end but was comfortable enough to hold on for the win.”
Sceats moves from fifth to second in the championship following the round, trailing runaway leader Sota Ogawa by 59.5 points with eight races remaining in the season.
Having now taken his maiden win, he has momentum on his side and time in hand to overturn the margin.
The Formula Regional Japanese Championship returns for three races in Round 4 at Mobility Resort Motegi on July 22/23.
“I’m looking forward to the challenge of learning the Motegi track,” said Sceats.
“Each weekend over here, I have felt more and more familiar with the environment, so I am looking to continue this form next round.”
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