Ritomo Miyata overcame his championship disappointment to end the final Japanese Formula 3 race in Okayama on top.

Sakaguchi and Miura Return

The final race weekend under the Japanese F3 banner saw  a few driver changes made.

For the second time in 2019, Sena Sakaguchi stepped in to replace Kazuko Kotaka at Team TOM’s.

Additionally, Ai Miura made her long-awaited return to ThreeBond Racing following a  two-month absence with a wrist injury.

Meanwhile, the Masters Class saw Takashi Hata take up the vacant No.50 B-Max Racing with Motopark entry.

Miyata Dominates Race 1

Ritomo Miyata secured Pole for Race 1, with the newly-crowned Japanese F3 champion Sacha Fenestraz in second.

On the run into Turn 1, Miyata maintained the lead from Fenestraz, who teased a possible overtake.

Having the door shut firmly in the early stages, Miyata pulled a comfortable to claim the win.

Sena Sakaguchi claimed third place, ahead of Hiroki Otsu and Toshiki Oyu, while Yoshiaki Katayama took the final point in sixth.

In the Masters Class, Ryuji ‘Dragon’ Kumita cruised to another victory. This marked his fifth successive triumph and his tenth of the season.

Miyata Repeats Performance in Race 2

Ritomo Miyata was once again on Pole and immediately had to defend from Sacha Fenestraz.

On the run down to Turn 1, Miyata cut across the Frenchman to maintain the lead.

Behind them, Sena Sakaguchi was third, ahead of Yoshiaki Katayama, Toshiki Oyu and Hiroki Otsu.

Enaam Ahmed started fourth but bogged down off the line and subsequently dropped to seventh place.

Miyata then pulled out a gap to Fenestraz, with Sakaguchi in a lonely third. Consequently, the only noteworthy battle occurred between Katayama and Oyu over fourth place.

On several occasions Oyu threatened to make a pass, but Katayama held the line and defended the position.

Back at the front, Miyata remained unchallenged to win the final race of the Japanese F3 season. Fenestraz finished his championship-winning campaign in second, with Sakaguchi claiming another podium in third.

The trio of Katayama, Oyu and Otsu rounded up the top six.

In the Master’s Class, ‘Dragon’ topped off a dominant campaign with another victory, with Takashi Hata in second place.

2019 Japanese Formula Three Championship – Final Drivers’ Standings:

1 Sacha Fenestraz (FRA), B-Max Racing with Motopark 162 Points

2 Ritomo Miyata (JPN), Corolla Chukyo Kuo Team TOM’s 142 Points

3 Enaam Ahmed (GBR), B-Max Racing with Motopark 63 Points

4 Toshiki Oyu (JPN), Toda Racing 60 Points

5 Kazuko Kotaka (JPN), Corolla Chukyo Kuo Team TOM’s 48 Points

6 Hiroki Otsu (JPN), ThreeBond Racing 36 Points

7 Yoshiaki Katayama (JPN), ORIC Team YTB by Carlin 34 Points

8 Sena Sakaguchi (JPN), Corolla Chukyo Kuo Team TOM’s 20 Points

9 Charles Milesi (FRA), ORIC Team YTB by Carlin 13 Points

10 Shunsuke Kohno (JPN), RS Fine 10 Points

11 Harrison Newey (GBR), B-Max Racing with Motopark 5 Points

12 Ukyo Sasahara (JPN), B-Max Racing with Motopark 3 Points

2019 Japanese Formula Three Championship – Master’s Class:

1 Ryuji ‘Dragon’ Kumita (JPN), B-Max Racing with Motopark 162 Points

2 Tairoku Yamaguchi (JPN), Tairoku Racing 76 Points

3 Taksuaki Kubota (JPN), Hanashima Racing 66 Points

4 Takashi Hata (JPN), B-Max Racing with Motopark 14 Points