2026 | FRJC | Round 2 | Suzuka | Ponos Racing strikes back as Miura keeps points lead

Ponos Racing’s Kento Omiya and Ryota Horachi shared the victories as the 2026 Formula Regional Japanese Championship (FRJC) returned to Suzuka Circuit for Round 2.

The second event of the season delivered a major shift in momentum. Omiya dominated qualifying and converted pole into his maiden Formula Regional Japan victory in Race 4, before Horachi recovered from a difficult opening race to win Race 5. Their results meant TOM’S TGR-DC left a round winless for the first time since it entered the championship with predecessor team TGR-DC Racing School at the end of 2024.

Nevertheless, Yuzuki Miura retained the Drivers’ Championship lead, gained after his strong opening weekend. The TOM’S TGR-DC driver added second and third across the two races to move to 101 points, while Horachi closed to within 11 points after five races.

2026 FRJC Round 2: Suzuka: Free Practice: TOM’S sets early pace before Omiya moves forward

Friday’s running began with Miura setting the pace in the first dedicated practice session. The championship leader posted a 1:56.112, edging Horachi by just 0.024 seconds. Masana Muto completed a TOM’S-heavy top three, while Omiya placed fourth for Ponos Racing.

However, the order changed in the second session. Muto moved to the top with a 1:55.822, just 0.014 seconds clear of Miura. Omiya improved to third, while Shunji Okumoto and Lin Chenghua completed the top five. Horachi, meanwhile, only completed four laps and ended sixth.

Those sessions hinted at another close fight between the Ponos Racing and TOM’S TGR-DC entries. However, Omiya then raised the level when qualifying began.

2026 FRJC Round 2: Suzuka: Qualifying: Omiya claims double pole in tricky conditions

Omiya controlled both qualifying sessions to secure pole position for Race 4 and Race 5. His first pole came in difficult conditions after light rain hit Suzuka shortly before the opening session.

The 15-minute Q1 session began under a wet track declaration. Masayuki Ueda chose rain tyres, while the rest of the field headed out on slicks. However, Yuki went off at Reverse Bank on his in-lap, bringing out an early red flag and reducing the available track time.

When the session resumed, drivers had limited time to prepare their tyres before a final push lap. Omiya made the most of the opportunity and set a 2:00.409 to take Race 4 pole. Miura qualified second, 0.729 seconds behind, while Horachi took third.

Omiya then repeated the feat in Q2. Although the session also carried a wet track declaration, all cars used slick tyres. As the surface improved, Omiya continued to lower his benchmark and eventually secured pole with a 1:56.225. Horachi moved up to second, 0.137 seconds adrift, while Miura completed the top three.

In the Masters’ class, Akita topped both qualifying sessions. He placed ninth overall in Q1 and then climbed to sixth overall in Q2, underlining his strong pace against the full field.

FRJC Round 2 Qualifying results

Qualifying 1 results

1. #54 Kento Omiya – 2:00.409
2. #37 Yuzuki Miura – +0.729
3. #45 Ryota Horachi – +0.808
4. #48 Lin Chenghua – +2.084
5. #10 Shunji Okumoto – +2.470
6. #38 Masana Muto – +3.309
7. #86 Rio Shimono – +3.390
8. #88 Li Xuanyu – +3.466
9. #44 Akita – +5.859
10. #13 Yutaka Toriba – +7.195
11. #40 Shoichiro Akamatsu – +11.708
12. #46 Hideaki Irie – +13.544
13. #11 Masayuki Ueda – +18.219
14. #36 Paul Wong – +29.897
15. #60 Seimei – +33.232
16. #23 Yugo – +38.623
17. #18 Yuki – No time

Qualifying 2 results

1. #54 Kento Omiya – 1:56.225
2. #45 Ryota Horachi – +0.137
3. #37 Yuzuki Miura – +0.327
4. #10 Shunji Okumoto – +0.412
5. #38 Masana Muto – +0.568
6. #44 Akita – +0.685
7. #48 Lin Chenghua – +0.963
8. #86 Rio Shimono – +1.063
9. #40 Shoichiro Akamatsu – +1.932
10. #88 Li Xuanyu – +2.057
11. #46 Hideaki Irie – +3.308
12. #11 Masayuki Ueda – +4.849
13. #36 Paul Wong – +13.173
14. #60 Seimei – +13.538
15. #23 Yugo – +34.405
16. #13 Yutaka Toriba – +1:12.512
17. #18 Yuki – No time

2026 FRJC Round 2: Suzuka: Race 4: Omiya converts pole into maiden win

Omiya made the perfect start in Race 4 and held the lead into Turn 1. Miura followed in second, while Horachi suffered a poor getaway from third and dropped to 14th.

That start immediately changed the race. Omiya built a narrow but controlled advantage over Miura, while Lin Chenghua moved into third and Okumoto rose to fourth. Further back, Muto began one of the strongest recovery drives of the race.

Muto first passed Rio Shimono on the inside at Spoon on the opening lap. He then attacked Okumoto and moved into fourth with a bold move around the outside at 130R on lap six. After that, he closed on Lin and took third at the final corner complex on lap 10.

At the front, Omiya managed the gap to Miura and maintained his composure across the 13-lap race. He crossed the line 1.650 seconds clear to claim his first Formula Regional Japan victory. Muto completed the podium, while Lin took fourth.

Horachi recovered strongly after his stalled start and fought back to fifth. However, the lost ground proved costly in the championship battle.

After taking his first formula racing victory, Omiya also reflected on the significance of the result.

In the Masters’ class, Yutaka Toriba led early, but Akita passed him on lap 10 and then resisted pressure to keep his unbeaten class record intact.

Race 4 results

1. #54 Kento Omiya
2. #37 Yuzuki Miura – +1.650
3. #38 Masana Muto – +7.111
4. #48 Lin Chenghua – +9.093
5. #45 Ryota Horachi – +10.607
6. #10 Shunji Okumoto – +12.747
7. #86 Rio Shimono – +20.382
8. #44 Akita – +23.332
9. #13 Yutaka Toriba – +23.465
10. #40 Shoichiro Akamatsu – +34.669
11. #88 Li Xuanyu – +44.742
12. #11 Masayuki Ueda – +49.696
13. #46 Hideaki Irie – +1:14.865
14. #36 Paul Wong – +1:15.102
15. #18 Yuki – +1 lap
16. #60 Seimei – +1 lap
17. #23 Yugo – +1 lap

2026 FRJC Round 2: Suzuka: Race 5: Horachi rebounds after Race 4 frustration

Race 5 began with three Ponos-liveried cars at the front, as Omiya started from pole ahead of Horachi and Miura. Omiya kept the lead off the line, but Miura passed Horachi for second before the race quickly moved into neutralisation.

Rio Shimono failed to get away from the start, and Li Xuanyu hit the stalled car. The safety car came out at the end of the opening lap, with Shimono and Li both retiring from the race.

The restart changed the battle at the front. Miura attacked Omiya around the outside into Turn 1, but he ran wide and allowed Horachi back into second. Horachi then immediately pressured Omiya, attacking around the outside at Turn 1 and continuing the fight through the Esses.

Omiya resisted at first. The pair then ran side by side through the final chicane and Turn 1, but Omiya again held the lead. Behind them, Muto passed Miura around the outside at Turn 1 to take third.

Finally, Horachi completed the move on lap six by passing Omiya on the start-finish straight. Omiya’s race then unravelled. He made a mistake exiting Turn 7, allowing Muto through, before another mistake at Spoon let Miura past as well.

On the following lap, Omiya slowed with a mechanical issue and stopped at the exit of Turn 2. The safety car returned, and the race restarted at the end of lap nine. Horachi controlled the closing laps and took his second win of the season.

Muto finished second, beating Miura for the first time in 2026, while the championship leader completed the podium in third.

Akita again controlled the Masters’ class, beating Shoichiro Akamatsu and Toriba to take his fifth consecutive class win since the start of the season.

Race 5 results

1. #45 Ryota Horachi
2. #38 Masana Muto – +1.828
3. #37 Yuzuki Miura – +4.043
4. #10 Shunji Okumoto – +7.785
5. #44 Akita – +9.423
6. #40 Shoichiro Akamatsu – +11.023
7. #13 Yutaka Toriba – +12.328
8. #11 Masayuki Ueda – +13.700
9. #46 Hideaki Irie – +15.203
10. #18 Yuki – +23.528
11. #60 Seimei – +42.694
12. #23 Yugo – +43.546
13. #36 Paul Wong – +58.283
14. #48 Lin Chenghua – +1 lap
    DNF: #54 Kento Omiya, #86 Rio Shimono, #88 Li Xuanyu

The 2026 FRJC picture after Round 2 at Suzuka

After five races, Miura remains at the head of the Drivers’ Championship on 101 points. However, Horachi’s Race 5 victory reduced the gap to 11 points, moving him to 90. Muto also strengthened his title position with two podiums and now sits third on 70 points.

Omiya’s maiden win moved him to fourth with 63 points, although his Race 5 retirement prevented him from gaining further ground. Lin remains fifth on 43 points, ahead of Hibiki Komatsu on 35.

In the Masters’ Championship, Akita has built a commanding lead. He has won all five class races so far and now sits on a maximum 125 points. Toriba follows on 79, with Hideaki Irie third on 65.

The Teams’ Championship has also shifted. Ponos Racing leads on 111 points after its double victory at Suzuka, while TOM’S TGR-DC sits second on 104. Rn-sports holds third on 55, ahead of Ragno Motor Sports on 43.

Drivers’ Championship standings after Round 2

1. #37 Yuzuki Miura – 101 points
2. #45 Ryota Horachi – 90 points
3. #38 Masana Muto – 70 points
4. #54 Kento Omiya – 63 points
5. #48 Lin Chenghua – 43 points
6. #10 Hibiki Komatsu – 35 points
7. #44 Akita – 24 points
8. #10 Shunji Okumoto – 20 points
9. #86 Rio Shimono – 20 points
10. #88 Li Xuanyu – 12 points
11. #13 Yutaka Toriba – 10 points
12. #40 Shoichiro Akamatsu – 9 points
13. #11 Masayuki Ueda – 5 points
14. #46 Hideaki Irie – 2 points
15. #18 Yuki – 1 point
16. #23 Yugo – 0 points
17. #36 Paul Wong – 0 points
18. #60 Seimei – 0 points

Masters’ Championship standings after Round 2

1. #44 Akita – 125 points
2. #13 Yutaka Toriba – 79 points
3. #46 Hideaki Irie – 65 points
4. #11 Masayuki Ueda – 54 points
5. #18 Yuki – 48 points
6. #40 Shoichiro Akamatsu – 43 points
7. #23 Yugo – 30 points
8. #36 Paul Wong – 22 points
9. #60 Seimei – 10 points

Teams’ Championship standings after Round 2

1. Ponos Racing – 111 points
2. TOM’S TGR-DC – 104 points
3. Rn-sports – 55 points
4. Ragno Motor Sports – 43 points
5. Abbey Racing – 24 points
6. Dr.Dry Racing Team – 20 points
7. Team LeMans – 12 points
8. Aiwin – 10 points
9. Eagle Sports – 9 points
10. Fujita Pharmacy Racing – 2 points
11. NILZZ Racing – 1 point
12. N-SPEED – 0 points
13. SKYMOTORSPORTS – 0 points
14. Tomei Sports – 0 points

Conclusion

Round 2 at Suzuka reshaped the early 2026 FRJC season. Omiya delivered a statement performance with double pole and a maiden win, while Horachi bounced back from Race 4 frustration to claim his second victory of the year.

However, Miura’s consistency still keeps him in control of the Drivers’ Championship. With Horachi closing in, Muto gathering momentum and Omiya proving he can win, the title fight now looks far more open heading into the next round at Motegi.