Report: Luke's best Super Formula qualifying headlines Fuji weekend
An extended Fuji schedule tested Luke with three races and more opportunities
Published
21 JUL 2026
Est. reading time
2 min
Header image from @kondoracingteam
Luke Browning's rookie Super Formula campaign continued at Fuji Speedway with one of the most demanding weekends of the season, as the Japanese circuit hosted an expanded triple-header featuring three races across two days.
Originally scheduled as a double-header, the Fuji event was revised after Round 3 at Autopolis was abandoned due to heavy rain. The postponed race was added to the Fuji timetable as a 25-lap sprint, joining the two planned full distance races.
Saturday
The highlight of the weekend came in Saturday's qualifying session for Round 6, where Luke secured third place on the grid in wet conditions – his best qualifying result since joining the championship. A strong race start allowed him to remain amongst the frontrunners during the opening stages while demonstrating impressive pace throughout his first stint.
A later pit stop ultimately cost Luke track position, dropping him down the order, but he still brought home an P8 finish to score valuable championship points.
Reflecting on the race, Luke said:
"Ultimately, I finished the race in eighth place, but I'm glad I was able to score some points. I had a great start, and I was able to lap at a very strong pace during the first stint. However, I lost positions after the pit stop. Perhaps I should have pitted a little earlier.
"Makino overtook me from behind, but the two Team Dandelion cars were very fast, and it didn't come down to a battle, so I congratulate them.
"I will be starting from the back tomorrow, and it will be difficult to catch up in dry conditions, so I want to learn as much as I can and find something that will help me get a little closer to the benchmark car."
Sunday
Sunday began with the rearranged Round 3 sprint race, giving Luke another opportunity to gain experience in Super Formula machinery. Starting from the rear of the field, he worked his way through the pack to finish tenth in the shortened race.
The weekend concluded with Round 7, where Luke qualified 17th on the grid. Another determined drive saw him make up seven positions over the course of the race, crossing the line in tenth and narrowly missing out on the points-paying positions.
While the results only tell part of the story, the weekend showcased Luke's growing confidence in Super Formula. A qualifying result, a points scoring finish, and strong recovery drives through the field provided plenty of positives to take away from Fuji.
Attention now turns to Sportsland Sugo, where Luke will return to action for Round 8 of the Super Formula season in August.
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