Super Formula
| File:Super Formula Series logo.gif | |
| Category | Single seaters |
|---|---|
| Country |  Japan |
| Inaugural season | 1973 |
| Drivers | 19 |
| Teams | 11 |
| Constructors | Dallara |
| Engine suppliers | Toyota, Honda |
| Tire suppliers | Bridgestone[1] |
| Drivers' champion | Hiroaki Ishiura |
| Teams' champion | Petronas Team TOM'S |
| Official website | superformula.net |
 Current season |
|
Super Formula, formerly known as Formula Nippon, is a type of formula racing and the top level of single-seater racing in Japan.
Formula Nippon evolved from the Japanese Formula 2000 series begun in 1973 by way of the Japanese Formula Two and Japanese Formula 3000 championships. For the most part, the Japanese racing series have closely followed their European counterparts in terms of technical regulations, but there have been some important exceptions.
History
When European Formula 2 ended in 1984, its Japanese counterpart did not follow suit, continuing to use Formula 2 regulations (with almost-exclusively 2.0 L Honda engines) for another three years, finally switching to the open Formula 3000 standard in 1987. Once again, Japanese and European regulations paralleled one another, until 1996, when the International Formula 3000 series became a one-make format to lower costs. The Japanese Formula broke away at this time, and made it official by changing the series name to Formula Nippon.
Until recently, Formula Nippon was an open formula, where a variety of chassis builders and engine manufacturers could compete. Chassis were supplied by Lola, Reynard, and G-Force, while Mugen-Honda supplied the vast majority of the engines (though Cosworth engines were found in the Formula 3000 era). However, with the bankruptcy of Reynard in 2002, and the withdrawal of G-Force a year earlier, Formula Nippon once again followed F3000's lead in becoming a one-make series. Formula Nippon cars were now all Lola B03/50 chassis powered by Mugen-Honda engines; however, unlike F3000, engines in Formula Nippon are open-tuned by private companies.
In 2006 Formula Nippon underwent a drastic revision of its regulations. The current Lola B03/50 chassis was replaced by a new Lola FN06 chassis, while the engine formula underwent drastic revision. Blocks were provided by Toyota and Honda, using the same block specifications as found in the 2005 Indy Racing League, with open-tuning still permitted.
The 2006 season got off to one of the strangest starts in motorsport history. Because of heavy rain, the opener at Fuji was called after two safety car laps, and Benoît Tréluyer awarded the win with half points awarded.
However, despite the more technically demanding regulations, Formula Nippon remains a national series, with second tier status compared to the pan-European GP2 Series and its predecessor Formula 3000. Foreign drivers have always been regular participants in Formula Nippon, and there have been several drivers to come from a Japanese Formula 3000 or Formula Nippon drive to a prominent Formula One role; the best-known of these are Eddie Irvine, Ralf Schumacher, the 1996 Formula Nippon champion, and Pedro de la Rosa, the 1997 Formula Nippon champion.
Nowadays, many Formula Nippon drivers double in the Japanese Super GT championship.
The base chassis for the series is the Dallara SF14, which was unveiled in Tokyo on 25 March 2013. The car weighs 650 kg and is powered by two litre turbo engines from Honda and Toyota, similar to the specification to be used in the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters and in Super GT GT500 (any DTM or Super GT500 manufacturer can participate). It also has the drag reduction system used in Formula 1. 30% of the car is manufactured in Japan.[2]
Swift Engineering in San Clemente, California produced the FN09 chassis that was used from 2009 through 2013.
Scoring System
- Points are awarded in line with the standard FIA system used from 2003 to 2009, but with a bonus point given for pole position.
| Position | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th | 7th | 8th | Pole |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Points | 10 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
Champions
References
- ↑ http://www.f-nippon.co.jp/fn/en/outline/outline04.shtml
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
