2026 | FRJC | Round 3 | Motegi | Omiya sweeps weekend as Horachi ties Miura for points lead

Kento Omiya swept both races as Ponos Racing controlled Round 3 of the 2026 Formula Regional Japanese Championship (FRJC) at Mobility Resort Motegi.

The weekend was disrupted before qualifying could begin. With Typhoons 7 and 8 approaching, both Saturday morning sessions were cancelled and Friday’s opening practice times were used to form the grids. Omiya inherited pole for Race 6, while TOM’S TGR-DC driver Masana Muto secured the first starting position for Race 7.

Omiya made full use of the opportunity. He disappeared into the distance during the opening race before taking the lead from Muto at the start of the second and handling two safety-car restarts to complete the double.

Behind him, Ryota Horachi scored two podiums and moved level with Yuzuki Miura at the top of the Drivers’ Championship. Omiya is now only 10 points behind the tied leaders after becoming the first driver to reach three victories in 2026.

2026 FRJC Round 3: Motegi: Free Practice: Ponos Racing tops dry and wet running

Omiya established the early benchmark during Friday morning’s opening dedicated practice session. On a dry track, despite cloudy and occasionally rainy weather, he produced a 1:58.064 to lead Horachi by 0.360 seconds.

Muto placed third, 0.504s away from the fastest time, while Rio Shimono and Miura completed the top five. Lin Chenghua followed in sixth, with Yutaka Toriba leading the Masters’ competitors in seventh overall.

Conditions were considerably wetter for the afternoon session. Horachi moved to the top with a 1:59.494 and finished 0.144s ahead of Omiya. Lin took third, followed by Miura, Shimono and Muto. At that stage, the sessions appeared to offer only an early indication of the competitive order. However, the worsening forecast soon made Friday’s opening practice significantly more important.

2026 FRJC Round 3: Motegi: Qualifying: Sessions cancelled as practice determines both grids

The championship confirmed on Friday that neither of the two qualifying sessions would take place. Severe weather was expected around Motegi due to the approaching typhoons, prompting organisers to revise the Saturday schedule.

Each driver’s quickest lap from the first dedicated practice session determined the grid for Race 6. Their second-fastest lap from the same session established the Race 7 order.

Omiya therefore started Race 6 from pole, with Horachi completing an all-Ponos front row. Muto lined up third ahead of Shimono, while championship leader Miura began the race from fifth.

For Race 7, Muto took pole position ahead of Omiya and Horachi.

2026 FRJC Round 3: Motegi: Race 6: Omiya escapes as Horachi charges back to second

Rain arrived shortly before Race 6 began, forcing the entire field onto wet-weather tyres. Omiya converted pole into the lead, but Horachi’s start from second was far less successful. He slipped behind Miura, Muto and Shimono during the opening exchanges, briefly dropping to fifth.

Horachi quickly reclaimed fourth when Shimono ran over the kerb and went deep at Turn 3. However, Omiya was already beginning to separate himself from the rest of the field.

The race leader completed lap one with a 1.773s advantage over Miura and continued to build his margin. Behind him, Horachi closed on the two TOM’S cars as Miura led Muto in the fight for second.

Horachi was within attacking range by lap seven. On the following tour, he used a switchback at Turn 1 to gain a stronger exit and pass Muto for third.

Miura initially moved clear while the two drivers fought, but Horachi erased that advantage within a lap. He attacked the championship leader at Turn 10 and remained alongside through the approach to Turn 11, where he completed the pass for second. By then, Omiya was more than 13 seconds ahead.

Muto was the next driver to challenge Miura. He moved into third at Turn 3 on lap 12, leaving his teammate exposed to pressure from Shimono. Two laps later, Shimono also passed Miura at the same corner.

Omiya remained untouched by the battles behind. The 30-minute limit was reached after 15 laps, and he crossed the line 14.590s ahead of Horachi to earn his second victory of the year.

Muto completed the podium, while Shimono secured a season-best fourth. Miura finished fifth, just ahead of Lin.

Toriba controlled the Masters’ class to end Akita’s five-race winning streak. Hideaki Irie finished second in class and Masayuki Ueda took third, while Akita placed fifth among the Masters’ runners.

Race 6 results

1. #54 Kento Omiya – 30:01.404
2. #45 Ryota Horachi – +14.590
3. #38 Masana Muto – +22.304
4. #86 Rio Shimono – +23.897
5. #37 Yuzuki Miura – +26.895
6. #48 Lin Chenghua – +27.450
7. #10 Yu Oda – +31.590
8. #88 Li Xuanyu – +46.372
9. #13 Yutaka Toriba – +50.765
10. #46 Hideaki Irie – +1:00.821
11. #11 Masayuki Ueda – +1:03.279
12. #40 Shoichiro Akamatsu – +1:18.041
13. #44 Akita – +1:27.831
14. #21 Daisuke – +1:48.511
15. #36 Paul Wong – +2:04.601
16. #18 Yuki – +2:05.457
17. #60 Seimei – +1 lap

2026 FRJC Round 3: Motegi: Race 7: Omiya takes lead at start before surviving safety-car interruptions

Muto began the second race from pole, but Omiya reacted better when the lights went out.

The Ponos driver drew alongside Muto on the run towards Turn 1 and claimed the inside line to take the lead. Horachi also passed Muto during the opening sequence, moving into second at Turn 2.

Muto attempted to respond almost immediately. He briefly edged ahead of Horachi at Turn 3, but the Ponos car emerged in front after Turn 4. A further attack at Turn 5 also failed.

While the pair disputed second, Omiya opened a two-second advantage by the end of the first lap. He continued to increase the margin and was the only leading driver regularly running in the 1:59s between laps five and seven.

His lead reached approximately 7.4s before Yuki became stranded at Turn 9, triggering the first safety car.

The field returned to racing at the end of lap 10. Omiya protected the lead, but Horachi struggled for momentum through Turn 1 and came under immediate pressure from Muto.

Muto moved ahead at Turn 3, although Horachi remained alongside through the next section. Their fight continued until Turn 7, where Muto finally secured second.

Miura attempted to capitalise on the battle by attacking Horachi for third at Turn 9. Horachi resisted and retained the position.

The race was neutralised again soon afterwards when Toriba stopped at Turn 9. With the second safety car remaining out through laps 12 and 13, the drivers were left with a one-lap sprint to the finish.

Omiya handled the final restart cleanly and gave Muto no opportunity to challenge. He won by 0.903s, completing a perfect Motegi weekend and recording his third victory of the season.

Horachi held third ahead of Miura, who left a round without a podium for the first time in 2026. Shimono finished fifth and Yu Oda took sixth.

Akita responded to his Race 6 defeat by returning to the front of the Masters’ class. His sixth class win of the campaign came ahead of Ueda and Shoichiro Akamatsu.

Race 7 results

1. #54 Kento Omiya – 31:46.993
2. #38 Masana Muto – +0.903
3. #45 Ryota Horachi – +2.725
4. #37 Yuzuki Miura – +4.025
5. #86 Rio Shimono – +4.603
6. #10 Yu Oda – +5.235
7. #44 Akita – +7.969
8. #11 Masayuki Ueda – +9.111
9. #40 Shoichiro Akamatsu – +9.945
10. #88 Li Xuanyu – +11.488
11. #46 Hideaki Irie – +15.769
12. #36 Paul Wong – +18.071
13. #60 Seimei – +21.191
14. #21 Daisuke – +26.576
15. #13 Yutaka Toriba – +48.491

DNF: #18 Yuki – six laps completed

The 2026 FRJC picture after Round 3 at Motegi

Horachi’s second- and third-place finishes brought him level with Miura at the head of the Drivers’ Championship. Both drivers have 123 points after seven races.

They also remain inseparable through countback. Horachi and Miura have each recorded two wins, two second places, one third, one fourth and one fifth.

Omiya made the largest gain of the weekend. His 50-point haul moved him to 113, leaving him only 10 behind the tied leaders. Muto sits fourth on 103, meaning the leading four drivers are covered by 20 points.

Lin remains fifth on 51 points despite not starting Race 7. Shimono’s strongest weekend of the season moved him to sixth with 42, seven ahead of Hibiki Komatsu.

Ponos Racing also increased its advantage in the Teams’ Championship. Omiya and Horachi scored the maximum available team points in both races, lifting Ponos to 161. TOM’S TGR-DC follows on 137, while Rn-sports holds third with 69.

Akita continues to lead the Masters’ standings. Although Toriba interrupted his winning run in Race 6, Akita’s response in Race 7 increased his total to 160 points. Toriba is second on 108, with Irie third on 95.

Drivers’ Championship standings after Round 3

1. #45 Ryota Horachi – 123 points
2. #37 Yuzuki Miura – 123 points
3. #54 Kento Omiya – 113 points
4. #38 Masana Muto – 103 points
5. #48 Lin Chenghua – 51 points
6. #86 Rio Shimono – 42 points
7. #10 Hibiki Komatsu – 35 points
8. #44 Akita – 30 points
9. #10 Shunji Okumoto – 20 points
10. #88 Li Xuanyu – 17 points
11. #10 Yu Oda – 14 points
12. #13 Yutaka Toriba – 12 points
13. #40 Shoichiro Akamatsu – 11 points
14. #11 Masayuki Ueda – 9 points
15. #46 Hideaki Irie – 3 points
16. #18 Yuki – 1 point
17. #21 Daisuke – 0 points
18. #23 Yugo – 0 points
19. #36 Paul Wong – 0 points
20. #60 Seimei – 0 points

Masters’ Championship standings after Round 3

1. #44 Akita – 160 points
2. #13 Yutaka Toriba – 108 points
3. #46 Hideaki Irie – 95 points
4. #11 Masayuki Ueda – 87 points
5. #40 Shoichiro Akamatsu – 70 points
6. #18 Yuki – 52 points
7. #36 Paul Wong – 38 points
8. #23 Yugo – 30 points
9. #60 Seimei – 20 points
10. #21 Daisuke – 14 points

Teams’ Championship standings after Round 3

1. Ponos Racing – 161 points
2. TOM’S TGR-DC – 137 points
3. Rn-sports – 69 points
4. Ragno Motor Sports – 51 points
5. Dr.Dry Racing Team – 42 points
6. Abbey Racing – 30 points
7. Team LeMans – 17 points
8. AIWIN – 12 points
9. Eagle Sports – 11 points
10. Fujita Pharmacy Racing – 3 points
11. NILZZ Racing – 1 point
12. TB Hopper’s – 0 points
13. N-SPEED – 0 points
14. SKYMOTORSPORTS – 0 points
15. Tomei Sports – 0 points

Conclusion

Omiya arrived at Motegi as an outside championship threat and left as one of the central figures in the title fight. His pace was decisive in both wet races, while his control of the two Race 7 restarts showed that he could deliver even after his advantage had been removed.

Horachi’s consistency made the weekend even more valuable for Ponos Racing. His two podiums erased Miura’s championship advantage, while Muto’s pair of top-three finishes ensured that TOM’S remains firmly involved.

With Horachi and Miura tied, Omiya 10 points behind and Muto only 20 away from the lead, the championship heads to its next round with all four leading contenders still closely matched.