Vidales, Fraga concentrating on Tremendous Method drives for 2024

Vidales and Fraga, who each raced for B-Max within the secondary class this 12 months, are recognized to be concentrating on a restricted variety of seats in Tremendous Method open to drivers not affiliated with both Honda or Toyota.

Spanish driver Vidales made the transfer to Japan this season from FIA F3, however suffered a disappointing season that culminated in from withdrawing from all three races in final weekend’s Motegi finale amid issues concerning the behaviour of his automotive.

“It was the one alternative after Thursday and Friday observe,” Vidales informed Motorsport.com. “We already had some issues all 12 months, however particularly final time at Okayama, and we hoped this weekend we might clear up these after reviewing the automotive on the manufacturing facility. 

“However once we went on observe, the issues had been nonetheless there, and there have been another issues that made the automotive really feel unsafe to drive. It didn’t make sense to enter qualifying and threat a crash.”

Vidales concluded the season ninth within the standings with a single podium end at Okayama.

“By way of outcomes, this 12 months has been very far-off from what I used to be anticipating,” he mirrored. “Now we have been far-off, not even near having the ability to battle for one thing. 

“I used to be one of many quickest in pre-season testing, however after that issues began to worsen, and I used to be generally not even inside a second of the highest guys. You may really feel for those who did a very good lap or not, so there should be one thing incorrect when you’re one second off.”

Vidales has dominated out staying in Lights, and is understood to have held discussions with a number of Tremendous Method groups a few step as much as the primary class for 2024.

The 21-year-old, who’s managed by the identical Monaco Enhance Administration secure that beforehand oversaw Alex Palou’s profession, is now ready to listen to if he’ll have the ability to take part within the post-season check at Suzuka on December 6-8.

“It’s my aim to be there within the rookie check, and hopefully I can get an opportunity that not less than permits me to indicate my potential and qualities, and race there subsequent 12 months,” he mentioned. 

“Doing one other 12 months in Tremendous Method Lights isn’t going to occur, that’s for certain. My precedence is Tremendous Method, in any other case we’ll have to search out one thing else.”

Vidales’ team-mate Fraga loved a extra constructive conclusion to the season at Motegi as he scored two podiums to cement fourth place within the standings, making him second-best of the rookie contingent behind Honda junior Shun Koide.

Gran Turismo Esports star Fraga scored his first win again within the second spherical of the season at Sugo, however mentioned it took him till the penultimate spherical at Okayama to search out robust kind.

“After we entered this season, we struggled loads to search out the fitting stability with the automotive,” the Japan-born Brazilian informed Motorsport.com. 

“We had many weekends early within the season the place we practised within the moist and certified within the dry, so I might begin nicely, however I used to be all the time defending from somebody, by no means attacking. In the course of the season, we had higher climate and we fell behind loads. 

“On the finish of the season we lastly discovered a path and bought again up to the mark as much as extra, because the observe of Okayama, the place we had a day additional and we had good climate. We discovered a very good answer and the efficiency has been a lot greater since then.”

On his 2024 plans, he added: “Hopefully we’re capable of be a part of the [Super Formula] check in December. Nonetheless we don’t know, however the aim is to step up. Then in SUPER GT, almost certainly I’ll keep in the identical workforce [Arnage Racing].”

Fraga beforehand examined for Crew Impul in final 12 months’s post-season Tremendous Method check, nevertheless it’s understood that his solely possibilities in 2024 are with Honda-powered groups.

Further reporting by Kunihiko Akai