JUJU NODA Navigates Chaotic Super Formula Opener for 16th at Suzuka

March 13, 2025

GRRL! SUMMARY:

JUJU NODA kept her nose clean in a mayhem-filled Super Formula opener at Suzuka, finishing 16th in race one after switching to Triple Tree Racing for 2025. While three safety car periods decimated the field around her, she capitalized on others’ misfortune and even gained a position post-race when penalties were handed out – exactly the kind of smart racecraft we want to see from series newcomers.
The weekend showed both promise and growing pains for NODA’s partnership with her new team. Saturday’s qualifying put her 18th on the grid after initially running near the top during tire warm-up, and she demonstrated race pace that kept her competitive with Super Formula veterans despite the chaos around her.
Sunday’s race was tougher medicine – starting 21st and finishing there after setup experiments and a pit strategy that didn’t pay off. But here’s what matters: NODA is treating this as the learning experience it should be, banking valuable data with Triple Tree Racing as they head to Motegi in April. Sometimes the foundation-building seasons are the ones that matter most.