Super Formula rookie is only newcomer to score points in season opener at legendary Suzuka circuit
Gloucestershire’s Zak O’Sullivan kicked off his 2025 Super Formula campaign in promising fashion after becoming the only series rookie to score points in the opening round of the season at Suzuka.
The 20-year-old, from Withington, near Cheltenham, has shifted his career focus to Japan and immediately made a good impression in a series packed with experienced professionals.
Super Formula is Japan’s highest-level motorsport championship, with car speeds between Formula 2 and Formula 1 levels, and Zak immediately made his mark.
After bedding himself in during practice in his Kondo Racing machine, Zak qualified 10th for Saturday’s opening race, five places ahead of experienced team-mate Kenta Yamashita. Despite losing ground off the start, Zak made forward progress after the pitstop phase to come
home eighth and bag three points in chilly conditions, with temperatures only reaching around four degrees. This made Zak the sole driver of the five-strong rookie contingent to score points on his debut.
Things were tougher for Sunday’s second race at the home of the Japanese Grand Prix, with Zak qualifying 13th and having to retire after a clash with Seita Nonaka in the closing stages.
Zak said: “It’s been a huge learning experience this weekend, as every aspect of racing in this series and in these cars is new to me. Suzuka is a fantastic old-school circuit which presents many challenges in normal conditions – so driving a powerful, high-downforce machine in cold conditions with no tyre warmers is something which really focuses the mind! Taking everything into consideration, I’m really pleased with a strong points finish in my first race and to finish ahead of my team-mate, who has extensive experience in this series. It was disappointing to finish with a crash on Sunday but I’m taking a lot of positives away from the weekend and can’t wait to get back on track at Motegi next month.”
The second round of the 2025 Super Formula season takes place at Motegi over the weekend of April 18-20 and the races can be watched live in the UK on Motorsport TV.
For more information on Zak, follow him on Instagram at www.instagram.com/zak.osullivan or visit www.zakosullivan.com.
(Picture credits – Takumi Yano)