Fuji International Race Circuit, Japan

Photo Credits: © Wataru Tamura Photography (Member JRPA*)

2025 Super Formula Lights | Japan
Fuji International Race Circuit
Round 5 | Races 13, 14, 15
September 5-7 | 2025

Fuji Highlights:
Practice 1: 10^th place (A single late 30-minute session due to monsoons)
Practice 2: 7^th Place (again a single 30-minute session).

Race 13 Qualifying Position: 8th Place
Race 13 Finish: 8^th Place

Qualifying 14 Qualifying Position: 7^th Place
Race 14 Finish: 9^th Place

Race 15 Start Position: 9^th Place (start based on finish order of Race 13)
Race 15 Finish: 6^th Place

Championship Position: 4^th Place

Practice Sessions | Spetember 5 + 6:

Practice 1: 10th place (A single late 30-minute session due to monsoons)
Practice 2: 7th Place (again a single 30-minute session).

Two limited 30 minute sessions on drying tracks limited setup efforts and ultimately made for challenging qualifying, as it did for all the drivers.

Qualifying | September 6 | Saturday

Qualifying 1 & 2: 8^th & 7^th Place

Kaylen Frederick comments on qualifying sessions 1 & 2:
“Practice to Qualifying: Our practice time was cut short due to weather, allowing only two 30-minute sessions to prepare for qualifying. The first half hour practice session our pace was quite strong, but in the second session before Qualifying we were quite far off the benchmark once again. This carried on into Qualifying, and even with a tow, we were unable to be competitive. Fuji is one of the few tracks where you can overtake if you have pace, so with a good race pace we were hoping to advance forward.”

Race 13 | September 6 | Saturday

Starting Positions: 8^th Place
Finish Positions: 8^th Place

With an excellent start, Kaylen overtook two cars and was overtaking a 3^rd car going into Turn 1 looking to overtake for 5^th.  Kaylen was ahead into Turn 1 and through the middle of the turn. On the exit, the inside car ran into Kaylen, even though he was alongside, forcing Kaylen through the gravel. Dropping back to 10^th from 5^th, Kaylen next overtook a teammate advancing to 9^th, and overtaking another car within the next half lap to 8^th. Tom’s driver Koboyashi spun ahead of Kaylen. Kaylen recovered one of the positions to take 7^th by the end of the first lap. After 2/3 of the race, the spun car caught up and passed Kaylen who was struggling with overall pace, now 8^th. After a safety car restart, and struggling with grip, Kaylen was under pressure from the car behind (teammate Urabe). Defending into the back chicane, Kaylen’s teammate attempted to overtake on the outside. While he was never alongside, going into the next part of the chicane, Urabe accelerated straight to the apex attempting to muscle through on the inside. Seeing Urabe coming in his mirrors and unable to slow, Kaylen left room but was forced onto the grass and lost two more positions. Following penalties for his teammate and the spun car, Kaylen advanced to 8^th for the race finish.

Race 14 | August 7^th | Sunday

Starting Position: 7^th Position
Finish Position: 9^th Position

With an acceptable start and ahead going into Turn 1, Kaylen was struck from behind by his teammate Urabe. Able to overtake some cars in the following laps, Kaylen lost much ground when spun off track and was unable to advance further, finishing 9th. Kaylen’s teammate again took a penalty for the incident.

Race 15 | September 7^th | Sunday

Starting Position: 8^th Position
Finish Position: 6th Position

With a good launch at the green flag, Kaylen advanced from 8^th to 5^th following overtakes on the inside. A car behind managed to cut back under him at the exit of Turn 1, dropping Kaylen to 6^th. Kaylen struggled to keep pace with the car in the front, requiring Kaylen to defend against the car behind for the entire race. Following exemplary defensive driving, Kaylen maintained the 6^th position until the race end.

Kaylen Frederick on Race 15:
(Pilot ONE Racing with B-MAX/Car No.58/B-MAX RACING TEAM)
“We had a great start and made up quite a few spots through the first couple corners. Shortly into the first lap, I realized our race pace wasn’t strong. This left me in a position where I had to defend every lap for the whole race. This worked to plan, and I was somehow able to maintain the position and come home in 6th. Even though it wasn’t a high points paying position, I was happy to be able to put up a strong enough defense to keep the position.”

Championship Round-up: 4^th Place

Kaylen Frederick on the Fuji weekend:
(Pilot ONE Racing with B-MAX/Car No.58/B-MAX RACING TEAM)
“It would be an understatement to say this weekend was quite frustrating. Once again, we struggled for overall pace in both qualifying and race runs. Add to this that we were contacted from behind and spun out in both races 13 and 14, relegating my position to the back of the field, made an already difficult weekend even harder. I am hopeful the team and engineers can resolve our pace issues for the final race weekend of the season, in December.”

Next on the Calendar:

2025 Japan Super Formula Lights F3 | Round 6 | Races 16, 17, & 18
Motegi International Race Circuit | Motegi Mobility Resort
November 29 & 30    
Circuit Length: 4.8 KM | 2.983 Miles

About B-MAX Racing
For more information about B-MAX Racing:
http://www.b-maxracing.co.jp/

About Kaylen Frederick
For more information visit:
https://KaylenFrederick.com/

About Pilot ONE Racing
Pilot ONE Racing supports and assists young race drivers in developing professional driving careers, seeking funding, and reaching the highest level of motorsports in both the USA and Europe.

For more information visit ‘Contact Info and Partnerships’ at:
https://PilotONERacing.com