After the sunsets of Silverstone, the Crown Racing Series heads to Fuji Speedway in Japan for round two of the 2025-26 season. With Mount Fuji in the backdrop, Fuji is one of the most picturesque circuits on the planet and one beloved by fans.
Opened in 1965, the 2.835 circuit is packed with history, having hosted the Japanese Grand Prix four times, including the first in 1976, where James Hunt became world champion for the first time.
But the drivers won't have time to take in the view, with Fuji featuring slow and fast corners as well as a 1.475km front straight, making it a prime overtaking opportunity.
With the field separated by less than a second in qualifying, the second round of the series will be intensely fought, where one mistake will be the difference between winning and losing. But what storylines should fans look out for as the CRS goes into battle in Fuji?
Witvoet seeks a double
Silverstone saw Witvoet throw down a marker to his rivals as the Dutchman converted his strong pre-season form into a relatively straightforward victory in the opener.
After taking pole, Witvoet took full advantage of the cars squabbling for position to build up a sizable lead before the first pitstop window. Once the stops were completed, the Dutchman was briefly locked in an intra-Benelux battle with David Bozga before retaking the lead, which he didn't relinquish.
While the Ferraris should be strong at Fuji, the Japanese circuit will also suit the Ford Mustangs, not least because of their strong top speed through the high-speed corners and straights. However, if Silverstone is anything to go by, the Mustangs will have to be on top form to try and prevent Witvoet from cruising to another victory.
Bozga and Pedersen look to spoil the party
But Fuji won't be a one-horse race, with Bozga expected at the sharp end after his strong showing in Silverstone, where he made the alternate strategy pay off to take second on the road. However, a post-race time penalty relegated Bozga to third in the final classification, with the expected beneficiary from Belgium’s penalty, Denmark’s Nicolai Pedersen, who finished third on the road, received a penalty of his own.
The big gainer from Pederson dropping to fourth was Balázs Erdélyi, who moved up to second from fourth in the final classification, as well as taking three points for fastest lap. The three bonus points allowed Erdélyi to close the gap between himself and Witvoet down to a solitary point, meaning the Hungarian could leave Fuji as the championship leader, provided he has another strong weekend.
Youp de Vos and Kadin Richardson were the big movers at Silverstone, with the Dutchman completing the top six after starting 10th while Richardson capitalised on the Turn 1 chaos to finish eighth from 13th. If the pair manage to get higher up the grid in Japan, they too should be in the hunt for at least a podium place.
Will lap 1 be clean?
With the long run into Turn 1 at Fuji followed by a tight braking zone, the start of the race will be a key concern for drivers as they head into raceday. Adding to the nerves is the prospect of rain during qualifying and the race, which will test the drivers' reflexes and reaction times as they navigate the conditions.
Qualifying, in particular, is set to be held in wet conditions, testing the drivers' abilities as they go against the clock and the weather to try and get a clean lap in before the weather worsens. Race day will also be a tricky balancing act, with the start likely to take place on a wet track, leaving the drivers with a difficult choice about which tyres to start on.
"Last time at Silverstone, a spin for Ryan Woodrow triggered a domino effect forcing several drivers to take the cross-country route through Turn 1, fortunately without hitting the barriers."
With CRS imposing a tough penalty system for breaches of driving etiquette, drivers will have to tread a fine line between risk and reward as they jockey for position.
Strategy Corner - Rain gives drivers a dilemma
With rain on the horizon, tyre choice will be a major factor in how the weekend unfolds. While qualifying is set to be wet throughout, the drivers must time their laps perfectly to avoid being caught out by the worsening conditions.
That should mean a fast and furious start to qualifying as the drivers steam out of the pits to try to get a clear track in front of them. But even that won’t be enough, as a second too late or a mistake on the first run means they will likely hit traffic, leaving them at risk of falling down the grid.
Race day brings its own headaches, as the drivers will have to decide which components to go for, given the expected damp start. Those who start on slicks will be slow at the beginning, costing them several positions and putting them at risk of aquaplaning. However, if the slicks are still in good condition when the track dries, they could regain the lost time by not having to stop for fresh rubber.
That should make the Wets the logical option for the race, as they should allow the drivers to push for the opening stint. But when the track dries, the Wets will rapidly degrade and become unusable, forcing them to pit and costing them vital time.
However, more rain is forecast in the last quarter of the race, and with slower conditions likely to cause drivers to burn more fuel, the final 15 minutes are unlikely to be serene.
As for setups, Fuji is likely to favour those who opt for a low-drag configuration, but this in itself must be balanced against the high-downforce sections of the course, including a twisty sector 3.
- Slicks: Slow at the beginning, risk of aquaplaning, but potential to regain time without a pitstop if track dries.
- Wets: Logical option for opening stint, but will degrade rapidly on a drying track, forcing a pitstop.
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