After an interval of one month, the drivers and teams were eager to get back in the saddle for Rounds 7 and 8 of the All-Japan F3 Championship, held at Fuji Speedway over the July 17-18 weekend.

From the practice sessions on the 16th (Friday) both Kimiya Sato and Daiki Sasaki were looking good. During the first session Sasaki marked his first ever N Class top time. In the overall results Sato was 2nd and Sasaki 3rd.

For qualifying on the 17th the ambient and track surface temperatures were markedly higher than during the practice runs. Adjusting well to the changes in conditions Sato took front row finishes in qualifying for both Rounds 7 and 8. Sasaki took 5th and 4th.

-The difference in the results is just a matter of the difference in the number of driving styles that each of them has in their arsenal. Both Sato and Sasaki have the skill to compete for the top spot when the conditions suit them. But when things aren't so favorable the difference between holding on to 2nd or falling back to 4th or 5th is a matter of experience I think- said advisor Kazuki Hoshino in analysis.

On the 17th the hottest temperatures of the week coincided with the Round 7 race, which began at 3:45pm. With his advisors words taken to heart, Sasaki had an exceptional start from 5th place. He passed Sato, who had been in front, and caught up to the top spot machine.

Only a little bit behind 1st, Sasaki held on to 2nd place. Sato dropped position a little in the congestion after the start, but was able to return to 3rd place, right behind Sasaki.

At the 1st corner on lap 4, Sasaki and Sato collided. Sasaki was on the outside, and unable to prevent a spin, he came to a stop. He returned to the track, but had dropped back almost all the way to last place.

After the collision Sasaki was concerned about the condition of his machine and was unable to open up, but after getting the okay from the pit over the radio he began his pursuit with a pace that rivaled the top group. On lap 6 he posted a best time that was 3rd in class, and finished the race in 8th place overall.

Having moved up to 2nd place following Sasaki's spin, Sato kept up his pace, staying in hot pursuit of the leader. Sato was maintaining a lap time nearly 1 second faster than the leader, and on the home stretch on lap 9 finally overtook him.

Even after gaining the top spot Sato's pace did not change. He held on to the lead for the full fifteen laps to take the checkered flag. It was his first win of the season, and the first since last year's Round 15 at SUGO. After getting out of his machine he showed something that was long overdue, a beaming smile.

-All along the things I've had to work on are stable times in qualifying and the races, and especially keeping my lap times steady in the last half of the race. Compared to the rival teams we were well behind, but my team came up with a brilliant plan of attack,- Sato said.

On the 18th (Sunday), Round 8. Following the previous day's incident Sasaki had sworn to recover, but at the moment he put the car in gear the engine stopped and he was unable to start up again. When his car finally was able to move, all the other cars had already gone.

-This weekend I felt really great, so to lose my position right at the start, and have the race become about just trying to get back in it was a real waste. I had a few collisions in the first race, and in this one too, but it actually became a good opportunity to learn some tactics. I think I'll be able to use this experience for the races at Motegi as well,- said Sasaki, reflecting on the weekend.

Sato began in 2nd place, but got caught up in the confusion right after the start and dropped two places to 4th. However just like the previous day he raced well, and on lap 16 moved up to 3rd. He was still well behind 2nd place so was unable to move up any further, but secured a second straight podium finish.

-The car actually felt better than yesterday. Even with my mistakes I was still on the podium, so if the start had gone better I'm sure I could have done a lot better than 3rd,- said Sato. The stage appears set for Sato to overcome the gap with his rivals, and for both Sasaki and he to stand together on the podium.