Dandelion Racing Dominates Early 2025 Super Formula Season

Honda-powered Dandelion Racing has started the 2025 season in outstanding form, securing four consecutive victories in the opening series at Suzuka and Motegi. Tadasuke Makino and Kakunoshin Ohta each contributed two wins, showcasing the strength of the team’s drivers.

Kyoto-based Team Leads Championship Standings

The small but mighty team, based in Kyoto with just 25 permanent staff, now leads the Super Formula 2025 team standings with double the points of their closest rival, Team Mugen. Makino and Ohta also hold a commanding 20-point lead over Ayumu Iwasa, who sits in third place.

Team Aims to Prove Independents Can Compete

“We want to prove that independent teams can still do great things, like in the old days of motorsport,” said Kiyoshi Muraoka, the team owner. This drive to prove themselves is evident in their strong performances so far this season.

Isolation Fuels Team Loyalty and Success

What makes this success even more remarkable is the team’s location in Kameoka City, far from Japan’s motorsport industry hub in Gotemba. This geographical isolation has actually fostered high loyalty among the team members, contributing to their strong unity.

Rivalry Between Makino and Ohta Key to Victory

The healthy rivalry between Makino and Ohta has been a crucial factor in the team’s success. However, tensions surfaced during the second race at Suzuka when Ohta expressed frustration after being overtaken by his teammate.