P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Autosport Top 50 of 2023: #47 Tomoki Nojiri
In 2023, Naoki Nojiri struggled with the new SF23 aero package in Super Formula, resulting in a decrease in his performance. He had a pre-season testing crash and faced difficulties adapting to the reduced rear downforce and oversteer. Despite these challenges, he managed to match Liam Lawson’s three wins and finished just half a point behind him in the standings. However, Nojiri missed a race due to a health scare, which affected his overall ranking. In 2024, with the departure of champion Ritomo Miyata and Lawson, Nojiri is considered the frontrunner for the championship. Despite various circumstances, Nojiri’s potential success in the 2023 season could have led to him being crowned champion if he had not missed the Autopolis race. Nonetheless, luck played a role in his victory at Suzuka, as the race ended prematurely due to a crash, allowing him to secure the win. Considering all these factors, Nojiri is in a favorable position to regain the Super Formula crown in 2024.
