Oyu, who has joined the rebranded Servus Japan-run TGM outfit for 2023 after three seasons at Nakajima Racing, certified third for the second spherical of the season, and handed poleman Nojiri on the opening lap into Flip 3.
He maintained the benefit till the security automotive was referred to as shortly earlier than the pit window opened on lap 10 of 41, which prompted virtually all the discipline to return in for his or her obligatory tyre modifications beneath warning.
Oyu was jumped by Mugen driver Nojiri within the pits, however when the race resumed on lap 13, Oyu launched an assault on the two-time champion heading all the way down to Flip 1, solely to lock up and flatspot his tyres.
That was the beginning of a descent down the order for Oyu, who was all the way down to sixth place and struggling for tempo by the point he bailed out and pitted for a second time, condemning him to a Twentieth-place end.
“I used to be gradual on the straights,” Oyu informed Motorsport.com’s Japanese version. “The timing of the security automotive wasn’t good and Nojiri handed me within the pits.
“On the time, I didn’t assume I used to be going to get one other likelihood, I believed he would simply draw back. However I acquired a great restart when the security automotive got here in and I made a decision to problem him.
“We have been each utilizing the OTS, however once I pulled out of the slipstream, I dropped again a bit, and I had no alternative however to brake as late as attainable.
“Usually if you find yourself within the slipstream that lengthy, you need to be capable to not less than get your nostril in entrance. However we couldn’t, so our straight line velocity have to be dangerous.
“The flat spot was not that dangerous, however I initially had a sense that the entrance [grip] would get more durable by way of set-up because the race went on, in order that simply exacerbated the issue, and I misplaced tempo.”
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Regardless of the frustration of dropping an opportunity to struggle for a podium end, Oyu stated he was glad with the potential he and TGM had been capable of reveal over the course of the Fuji weekend.
“On the plus aspect, I used to be capable of set the quickest lap, and my battling on the high I used to be capable of present my power and that of the staff,” stated Oyu.
“So if we are able to enhance much more any more, I feel we’ll be capable to be on pole and win races this season.”
Bolukbasi delighted with first Tremendous Components factors
Within the opening race at Fuji, Oyu led house team-mate Cem Bolukbasi, who managed to bag 4 factors on his Tremendous Components debut in eighth.
The Turkish driver, who contested a part-season in Components 2 final 12 months, made his approach up from Twentieth on the grid with a clear run as many different drivers bumped into bother with contact and penalties.
“It wasn’t that a lot of a shock, as a result of I knew from qualifying the automotive was good,” Bolukbasi informed Motorsport.com.
“The beginning was excellent and the timing of the security automotive helped us. I simply saved it constant and clear, managed to overhaul a number of automobiles.
“I am glad as a result of it has been fairly some time since I completed within the factors. It is good motivation for myself and the staff, as a result of I anticipated the progress to be a bit slower.
“I have been having fun with working with the staff, on and off the observe, serving to me to really feel at house right here. I feel we are able to construct from right here.”
Bolukbasi was a extra subdued seventeenth on Sunday, reporting struggles with understeer after in a single day changes and gearbox points.
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