After a one-month break following the season opener, the excitement of the MAX CHAMP series returned to the Suzuka Circuit South Course for Rounds 3 & 4. The spotlight this weekend was on the “Driver Exchange Program.” The top points scorers in each category after Round 4 were to be awarded a prestigious entry into the US ROTAX FINAL, held in Indiana, USA, this July. With the season’s first major climax arriving just a month after the start, the paddock was filled with tension and high-stakes racing.
Series leader Yoon Isaac and Tomoya Onishi led the field in Qualifying Practice (QP). However, it was Isaac’s younger brother, Yoon Daniel, who stole the show in the heats, securing pole for the Final.
In the Final, a sibling rivalry ignited as Isaac charged from 7th to chase down Daniel. Despite a fierce pursuit, Daniel maintained his pace to take the checkered flag, followed by Isaac in 2nd and Atsuya Karigome in 3rd.
Series leader Kosei Imamura faced a tough challenge as Takeru Shimbashi took P1 in QP. However, after the heats, it was Mikoto Shibazaki who secured the top spot for the Final.
The Final saw a spectacular duel between Shibazaki and Imamura. Despite Imamura’s relentless attacks at Turn 1, Shibazaki’s masterclass in defense earned him the victory. Imamura finished 2nd, with Michinaga Fujiwara in 3rd.
In a massive 49-car field, Ryusei Sawada sought to close the 1-point gap to leader Taiga Tezuka. After a penalty-plagued qualifying heat, Sawada started the Final from 7th. He sliced through the field, overtaking leader Hitoshi Sakai on Lap 11 to claim a dominant victory. Sakai finished 2nd, and Taigen Sakano took 3rd.
Qualifying saw fresh faces at the top, but Yoon Isaac fought back in the heats to secure pole. The Final was a three-way thriller between Kosuke Kano, Yoon Isaac, and Yoon Daniel. The battle culminated in a dramatic final lap where Kano made a decisive move at the last corner to take the win. Daniel finished 2nd, and Isaac 3rd. By maintaining his points lead, Yoon Isaac officially secured his ticket to the USA.
With the US ticket on the line, the pressure was on Kosei Imamura. Mikoto Shibazaki continued his dominance, winning the Final for a perfect weekend. The real drama happened behind him; Imamura, needing a strong finish, executed a “value-as-gold” overtake on the final corner of the last lap to finish 4th. This heroic move allowed Kosei Imamura to retain his points lead and claim the US entry.
Defending champion Ryusei Sawada entered Round 4 with momentum.
Starting the Final from 3rd, he quickly took the lead by Lap 5 and never looked back, securing back-to-back wins. Haruto Ueda finished 2nd, and rookie Eito Moritani 3rd. With this victory, Sawada secured his ticket to the USA for the third consecutive year, solidifying his status as the series’ flagship driver.
The first climax of the 2026 season concluded with Yoon Isaac (Mini), Kosei Imamura (Junior), and Ryusei Sawada (Senior) selected as the Japan representatives for the US ROTAX FINAL. While the US tickets have been decided, the fight for the overall series title remains wide open heading into Rounds 5 & 6.
