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April 11, 2025
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The iconic figure-eight sweep of Suzuka delivered a Superlights thriller in Round 3, as Spain's Jose Soriano took his second consecutive win for Netrex GP with a composed and clinical drive.
It was another statement of intent from both driver and team, with Netrex leaving Japan on top of both the drivers' and constructors' standings.
Qualifying was a showcase of millisecond margins, with Rouven Meschede clinching pole for Optiminal Esports in the final seconds with a 1:28.631. Just 0.074s back, Harry Smith lined up second in the sister Netrex car, while Soriano settled for third - just a tenth away from pole himself. Patrekur Magnusson was the surprise of the session, qualifying a superb fourth for KV86 Powerhouse after a quiet start to the season.
The race start was frantic, with Magnusson making a lightning getaway to leap into second, splitting the Netrex cars as Meschede led early. Behind, chaos unfolded as multiple incidents thinned the field, with no fewer than 12 DNFs, including the likes of Luke Mitchell, Cas Rietveld, and Philip Puschke - the latter retiring early after contact on lap one.
Up front, it was a tale of strategy and tire management. While Meschede controlled the opening laps, Soriano was biding his time in third. As Magnusson faded and fell into the clutches of the chasing pack, Soriano made his move - first dispatching his teammate Smith with calm authority, then capitalising on Meschede's tire degradation to seize the lead.
Norbert Jakab led True North's charge with a strong P3 finish, climbing five places from his grid slot. His teammate Jan Dragoun shadowed him home in fourth, giving True North a valuable double top-five. Harry Smith rounded out the top five for Netrex, unable to match his teammate's pace but maintaining consistency in a tightly packed championship battle.
Elsewhere, Jasse Lahtinen delivered an outstanding performance in his only run of the weekend, stepping in late to qualify seventh and finishing sixth for Brehm GP. Joseph Hurlock also impressed with a calm and collected drive to seventh, showing Optiminal's growing race strength.
Further down, Robin Moelling starred for Rookie Monsters, gaining seven spots to finish eighth - a welcome result for a team focused on learning and long-term growth. Mike Kwint and Federico Russo completed the top 10, the latter securing AlphaDelta's second double-points finish of the season.
The championship now sees Soriano extend his lead at the top with 66 points, 26 ahead of Puschke and a further seven over Meschede. Jakab's podium propels him to fourth overall, tied on points with Smith.
As for upgrades, some teams arrived in Japan with unchanged cars from Turkey, opting instead to focus on engine choices. Netrex, Rookie Monsters, and KV86 all opted for fresh power units, a decision that seemingly paid off as all three teams featured in the top ten. It's a subtle yet vital game of attrition and precision, with engine strategy already playing a pivotal role in this tightly contested season.
Round 4 takes us to the heat of Saudi Arabia; can Soriano do it again?
Qualifying was a showcase of millisecond margins, with Rouven Meschede clinching pole for Optiminal Esports in the final seconds with a 1:28.631. Just 0.074s back, Harry Smith lined up second in the sister Netrex car, while Soriano settled for third - just a tenth away from pole himself. Patrekur Magnusson was the surprise of the session, qualifying a superb fourth for KV86 Powerhouse after a quiet start to the season.
The race start was frantic, with Magnusson making a lightning getaway to leap into second, splitting the Netrex cars as Meschede led early. Behind, chaos unfolded as multiple incidents thinned the field, with no fewer than 12 DNFs, including the likes of Luke Mitchell, Cas Rietveld, and Philip Puschke - the latter retiring early after contact on lap one.
Up front, it was a tale of strategy and tire management. While Meschede controlled the opening laps, Soriano was biding his time in third. As Magnusson faded and fell into the clutches of the chasing pack, Soriano made his move - first dispatching his teammate Smith with calm authority, then capitalising on Meschede's tire degradation to seize the lead.
Norbert Jakab led True North's charge with a strong P3 finish, climbing five places from his grid slot. His teammate Jan Dragoun shadowed him home in fourth, giving True North a valuable double top-five. Harry Smith rounded out the top five for Netrex, unable to match his teammate's pace but maintaining consistency in a tightly packed championship battle.
Elsewhere, Jasse Lahtinen delivered an outstanding performance in his only run of the weekend, stepping in late to qualify seventh and finishing sixth for Brehm GP. Joseph Hurlock also impressed with a calm and collected drive to seventh, showing Optiminal's growing race strength.
Further down, Robin Moelling starred for Rookie Monsters, gaining seven spots to finish eighth - a welcome result for a team focused on learning and long-term growth. Mike Kwint and Federico Russo completed the top 10, the latter securing AlphaDelta's second double-points finish of the season.
The championship now sees Soriano extend his lead at the top with 66 points, 26 ahead of Puschke and a further seven over Meschede. Jakab's podium propels him to fourth overall, tied on points with Smith.
As for upgrades, some teams arrived in Japan with unchanged cars from Turkey, opting instead to focus on engine choices. Netrex, Rookie Monsters, and KV86 all opted for fresh power units, a decision that seemingly paid off as all three teams featured in the top ten. It's a subtle yet vital game of attrition and precision, with engine strategy already playing a pivotal role in this tightly contested season.
Round 4 takes us to the heat of Saudi Arabia; can Soriano do it again?
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