Robert Streit found himself in an awkward position when the championship contender qualified fourth on Sunday in almost dry conditions after changeable weather behind TOM’S trio dominating top three for the grid, with the other leading figure Kazuya Oshima as a pole-winner, and Jarvis and Ishiura second and third quickest. The front row starters both made good getaway as the final round started at 0:23 pm on Saturday, while with no RPM information available at hand due to a monitor failure in the pit the INGING racer got an unusually tardy start allowing fifth qualifier Yuhi Sekiguchi to move past him.

　The NOW MOTORSPORT’s Sekiguchi also passed Ishiura by turn two to move into third. Battling for forth place, Streit on the outside line went into turn three side by side with Ishiura, but the Brazilian went off to the gravel after a contact between his rear left tyre and Ishiura’s front right tyre, dropping to the tail of the field. This contact was definitely the moment when he saw his title hope crumble to nothing. “It was very disappointing but that’s the way race goes. I figured out all was over with me at that moment, but once I returned to the track I kept pushing on till the end,” said Strait, who ended up regaining lost ground to finish fifth.

　Despite the accident of his rival Oshima proceeded to pull away at the front with solid lead, continuing to break his own fastest laps. The TOM’S driver never eased up on the accelerator even after the runner-up Jarvis was forced to retire on lap eight due to an electrical system failure, claiming a lights-to-flag victory. “With an advantage of starting from pole with Streit forth on the grid I didn’t have to feel pressure, as I knew I could take the title as long as I ensure I wouldn’t be passed by him. I could hardly see ahead on the final lap with my eyes full of tears, though,” recalled Oshima. He is the first Japanese champion since Takashi Kogure in 2002.

　Another focus was on Sekiguchi, who had an exciting battle with Ishiura once Jarvis gave up the second spot to him. The NOW MOTORSPORT man held on to the spot to score first podium finish of his career, with Ishiura, Yasuda, Streit and Takuya Izawa completing the top six for the final round of 2007 All Japan Formula 3 Championship.

● Round19/20「Motegi」Result