| Formula Nippon | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Category | single seaters |
| Country or region |  Japan |
| Inaugural season | 1973 |
| Drivers | 22[1] |
| Teams | 10[1] |
| Constructors | Lola |
| Engine suppliers | Toyota Honda |
| Last Drivers' champion | Tsugio Matsuda |
| Last Teams' champion | Team Impul |
| Official website | Formula Nippon Official Website |
Formula Nippon is a type of formula racing and the top level of single-seater racing in Japan. Open-wheel car (Often single-seater car, in UK English describes cars with the wheels outside the car's main body and in most cases one seat For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Japan topics. Lola Racing Cars (also Lola Cars International) is a Racing car Engineering company founded in 1961 by Eric Broadley and based in Huntingdon (pronounced) is a Multinational corporation headquartered in Japan, and is currently the world's largest Automaker. () is a Multinational corporation, engine Manufacturer and engineering corporation headquartered in Japan. Formula racing is a term that refers to various forms of open wheeled single seater motorsport. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Japan topics.
Formula Nippon has a fairly long history, evolving from the Japanese Formula 2000 series begun in 1973 by way of the Japanese Formula 2 and Japanese Formula 3000 championships. Formula Two, abbreviated to F2, was a type of Formula racing. Year 1973 ( MCMLXXIII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display full calendar of the 1973 Gregorian calendar. Formula Two, abbreviated to F2, was a type of Formula racing. 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.
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. () is a Multinational corporation, engine Manufacturer and engineering corporation headquartered in Japan. 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). Lola Racing Cars (also Lola Cars International) is a Racing car Engineering company founded in 1961 by Eric Broadley and based in Huntingdon Reynard Motorsport was at one time the world's largest racing car manufacturer G-Force Sports Cars was founded by Rob Grave in 1990 and is based in Kardinya, Western Australia Mugen_Decaljpg|Mugen Power|thumb|right]] Mugen Motorsports ( M-TEC Co Cosworth is an Automotive engineering company founded in London in 1958 specialising in engines for automobile racing (motorsport 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. Bankruptcy is a legally declared inability or impairment of ability of an individual or organization to pay their Creditors Creditors may file a bankruptcy petition against Formula Nippon cars are 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. (pronounced) is a Multinational corporation headquartered in Japan, and is currently the world's largest Automaker. The Indy Racing League, better known as IRL, is the sanctioning body of a predominantly American based Open-wheel racing series.
The 2006 season got off to one of the strangest starts in motorsport history. The opener at Fuji was cancelled after two safety car laps. Fuji Speedway is a race track standing in the foothills of Mount Fuji, in Oyama, Suntō District, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan Benoît Tréluyer was given the win, and half points were 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. For the article about the Asian version of the GP2 series see GP2 Asia Series. While foreign drivers have always been regular participants in Formula Nippon, these are very often second string drivers who had difficulty in finding a top-level Formula 3000 drive. Nevertheless, 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 Ralf Schumacher, the 1996 Formula Nippon champion, and Pedro de la Rosa, the 1997 Formula Nippon champion. Ralf Schumacher (born June 30, 1975 in Hürth-Hermülheim near Cologne is a German racing driver and the younger brother of seven-time Pedro Martínez de la Rosa (born February 24 1971 in Barcelona, Spain) is a Spanish Formula One driver currently
The 2008 Formula Nippon season is currently underway, still using the same Lola chassis and Toyota and Mugen Honda engines. Calendar All races held in. Championship standings Points are awarded to the drivers as follows Lola Racing Cars (also Lola Cars International) is a Racing car Engineering company founded in 1961 by Eric Broadley and based in Huntingdon (pronounced) is a Multinational corporation headquartered in Japan, and is currently the world's largest Automaker. Mugen_Decaljpg|Mugen Power|thumb|right]] Mugen Motorsports ( M-TEC Co Tsugio Matsuda had a clear lead in the driver's championship after the opening two races.
List of champions
| Year | Champion |
|---|---|
| 1973 | Motoharu Kurosawa |
| 1974 | Noritake Takahara |
| 1975 | Kazuyoshi Hoshino |
| 1976 | Noritake Takahara |
| 1977 | Kazuyoshi Hoshino |
| Year | Champion |
|---|---|
| 1978 | Kazuyoshi Hoshino |
| 1979 | Keiiji Matsumoto |
| 1980 | Masahiro Hasemi |
| 1981 | Satoru Nakajima |
| 1982 | Satoru Nakajima |
| 1983 |  Geoff Lees |
| 1984 | Satoru Nakajima |
| 1985 | Satoru Nakajima |
| 1986 | Satoru Nakajima |
| Year | Champion | Runner-up | Third |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 |  Ralf Schumacher |
Naoki Hattori |
Kazuyoshi Hoshino |
| 1997 |  Pedro de la Rosa |
Takuya Kurosawa |
 Norberto Fontana |
| 1998 | Satoshi Motoyama |
Masami Kageyama |
Juichi Wakisaka |
| 1999 |  Tom Coronel |
Satoshi Motoyama |
Hidetoshi Mitsusada |
| 2000 | Toranosuke Takagi |
Michael Krumm |
Satoshi Motoyama |
| 2001 | Satoshi Motoyama |
Naoki Hattori |
Yuji Tachikawa |
| 2002 |  Ralph Firman |
Satoshi Motoyama |
Juichi Wakisaka |
| 2003 | Satoshi Motoyama |
 Benoît Tréluyer |
Juichi Wakisaka |
| 2004 | Richard Lyons |
André Lotterer |
Yuji Ide |
| 2005 | Satoshi Motoyama |
Yuji Ide |
Richard Lyons |
| 2006 | Benoît Tréluyer |
Tsugio Matsuda |
André Lotterer |
| 2007 | Tsugio Matsuda |
Benoît Tréluyer |
Takashi Kogure |
Footnotes
- ^ a b 2007 Entry List Speedsportmag. (nicknamed) is a retired professional Japanese racing Driver who was a factory driver for Nissan. Noritake Takahara (高原 敬武 born June 6, 1951 in Tokyo) is a former Racing driver from Japan. Complete Formula One results ( key) Noritake Takahara (高原 敬武 born June 6, 1951 in Tokyo) is a former Racing driver from Japan. Complete Formula One results ( key) Complete Formula One results ( key) is a former racing driver and team owner from Japan. He started in motorcross when he was 15 Satoru Nakajima (Japanese name 中嶋 悟; born February 23, 1953) is a former Racing driver from Japan. Satoru Nakajima (Japanese name 中嶋 悟; born February 23, 1953) is a former Racing driver from Japan. Geoffrey Lees (born May 1, 1951 near Kingsbury, Warwickshire) is a former Racing driver from England. Satoru Nakajima (Japanese name 中嶋 悟; born February 23, 1953) is a former Racing driver from Japan. Satoru Nakajima (Japanese name 中嶋 悟; born February 23, 1953) is a former Racing driver from Japan. Final point standings Driver For every race points were awarded 20 points to the winner 15 for runner up 12 for third place 10 for fourth place 8 for fifth place Satoru Nakajima (Japanese name 中嶋 悟; born February 23, 1953) is a former Racing driver from Japan. Calendar Final point standings Driver For every race points were awarded 20 points to the winner 15 for runner up 12 for third place 10 Complete Formula One results ( key) is a former Racing driver from Japan. He participated in 88 Formula One Grands Prix and his most notable achievement in racing was 3rd place at the 1990 Japanese Geoffrey Lees (born May 1, 1951 near Kingsbury, Warwickshire) is a former Racing driver from England. Calendar Final point standings Driver For every race points were awarded 9 points to the winner 6 for runner up 4 for third place 3 for is a former Racing driver from Japan. He participated in 88 Formula One Grands Prix and his most notable achievement in racing was 3rd place at the 1990 Japanese Complete Formula One results ( key) Biography Pirro started his racing career in karts at the age of 11 Calendar Final point standings Driver For every race points were awarded 9 points to the winner 6 for runner up 4 for third place 3 for was a Japanese racing car driver Ogawa won the 1989 All Japan Formula 3000 Championship and finished 2nd in the same championship the following year Ross Cheever (born April 12, 1964 in Rome, Italy) is an American race car driver and is the younger brother of former Formula Complete Formula One results ( key) Calendar Final point standings Driver For every race points were awarded 9 points to the winner 6 for runner up 4 for third place 3 for Complete Formula One results ( key) was a Japanese racing car driver Ogawa won the 1989 All Japan Formula 3000 Championship and finished 2nd in the same championship the following year Mauro Martini (born 17 May 1964) was an Italian race car driver Calendar Final point standings Driver For every race points were awarded 9 points to the winner 6 for runner up 4 for third place 3 for Biography Katayama was born in Tokyo. He first raced in Europe in 1986 in France before returning home to win the Japanese F3000 series Ross Cheever (born April 12, 1964 in Rome, Italy) is an American race car driver and is the younger brother of former Formula Complete Formula One results ( key Calendar Final point standings Driver For every race points were awarded 9 points to the winner 6 for runner up 4 for third place 3 for Mauro Martini (born 17 May 1964) was an Italian race car driver Racing career In youth he won the All-Japan Kart Championships two times in 1975 and 1976 Ross Cheever (born April 12, 1964 in Rome, Italy) is an American race car driver and is the younger brother of former Formula Calendar Final point standings Driver For every race points were awarded 9 points to the winner 6 for runner up 4 for third place 3 for Complete Formula One results ( key) Before F1 (1983–1993 Eddie Irvine's racing career began in Formula Ford, and from 1983 through 1986 he spent the championships in middle-field places finishing on the Ross Cheever (born April 12, 1964 in Rome, Italy) is an American race car driver and is the younger brother of former Formula Calendar Final point standings Driver For every race points were awarded 9 points to the winner 6 for runner up 4 for third place 3 for Marco Apicella (born October 7, 1965 near Bologna) is an Italian racing driver Andrew Gilbert-Scott (born 11 July 1958 in Cookham Dean, England) is a former British racing driver Ross Cheever (born April 12, 1964 in Rome, Italy) is an American race car driver and is the younger brother of former Formula Calendar Final point standings Driver For every race points were awarded 9 points to the winner 6 for runner up 4 for third place 3 for Racing career In youth he won the All-Japan Kart Championships two times in 1975 and 1976 Toranosuke Takagi, known simply as Tora Takagi (高木 虎之介 born February 12, 1974 in Shizuoka, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan Tom Kristensen (born July 7 1967 in Hobro) is a Danish racing driver. Calendar Final point standings Driver For every race points were awarded 10 points to the winner 6 for runner up 4 for third place 3 for Ralf Schumacher (born June 30, 1975 in Hürth-Hermülheim near Cologne is a German racing driver and the younger brother of seven-time is a motoring journalist and Racing driver from Japan. After being Japanese Formula 3 champion in 1990 he failed to pre-qualify for two Formula One grands Complete Formula One results ( key) Calendar Final point standings Driver For every race points were awarded 10 points to the winner 6 for runner up 4 for third place 3 for Pedro Martínez de la Rosa (born February 24 1971 in Barcelona, Spain) is a Spanish Formula One driver currently is a Japanese race car driver He raced in All-Japan Formula Three from 1988 to 1989 Japanese Formula 3000 from 1990 to 1995 and the JGTC series from Norberto Edgardo Fontana (born January 20, 1975 in Arrecifes, Buenos Aires Province) is an Argentine Racing driver. Calendar Final point standings Driver For every race points were awarded 10 points to the winner 6 for runner up 4 for third place 3 for Satoshi Motoyama ( 本山哲 - Motoyama Satoshi born March 4 1971) is a Japanese car driver is a Japanese racing driver who was a 2002 & 2006 champion in Japan's Super GT series in the GT500 category Calendar Final point standings Driver For every race points were awarded 10 points to the winner 6 for runner up 4 for third place 3 for Biography Early years Coronel was born in Naarden. He started his racing career in 1990 racing in the Dutch Citroen AX Cup after being named Satoshi Motoyama ( 本山哲 - Motoyama Satoshi born March 4 1971) is a Japanese car driver Hidetoshi Mitsusada is a former Formula 3000 driver The Japanese driver born 29 December 1970, competed in his first F3000 race at Spa in Calendar Final point standings Driver For every race points were awarded 10 points to the winner 6 for runner up 4 for third place 3 for Toranosuke Takagi, known simply as Tora Takagi (高木 虎之介 born February 12, 1974 in Shizuoka, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan Career 1984 Karting 1988 German Formula Ford, one win 1992 German Formula Three, one win 1994 Satoshi Motoyama ( 本山哲 - Motoyama Satoshi born March 4 1971) is a Japanese car driver Calendar Final point standings Driver For every race points were awarded 10 points to the winner 6 for runner up 4 for third place 3 for Satoshi Motoyama ( 本山哲 - Motoyama Satoshi born March 4 1971) is a Japanese car driver is a motoring journalist and Racing driver from Japan. After being Japanese Formula 3 champion in 1990 he failed to pre-qualify for two Formula One grands Yuji Tachikawa (立川 祐路 Tachikawa Yūji, born July 5 1975 in Kanagawa) is a Japanese racing driver Calendar Final point standings Driver For every race points were awarded 10 points to the winner 6 for runner up 4 for third place 3 for Ralph David Firman Jr (born May 20 1975 in Norwich, Norfolk) is a Racing driver from the United Kingdom, who now Satoshi Motoyama ( 本山哲 - Motoyama Satoshi born March 4 1971) is a Japanese car driver is a Japanese racing driver who was a 2002 & 2006 champion in Japan's Super GT series in the GT500 category Calendar Final point standings Driver For every race points were awarded 10 points to the winner 6 for runner up 4 for third place 3 for Satoshi Motoyama ( 本山哲 - Motoyama Satoshi born March 4 1971) is a Japanese car driver Benoît Tréluyer (born 7 December, 1976 in Alençon, France) is a French Race car driver. is a Japanese racing driver who was a 2002 & 2006 champion in Japan's Super GT series in the GT500 category Calendar Final point standings Driver For every race points were awarded 10 points to the winner 6 for runner up 4 for third place 3 for Richard Lyons (born August 8, 1979) is a Northern Irish motor racing driver who drives in the Super GT and Formula Nippon series in André Lotterer (born 19 November 1981 in Duisburg) is a German auto racing driver (born 21 January 1975 in Saitama Saitama) is a Japanese racing driver who graduated from 2005 Formula Nippon to Formula One Calendar Final point standings Driver For every race points were awarded 10 points to the winner 6 for runner up 4 for third place 3 for Satoshi Motoyama ( 本山哲 - Motoyama Satoshi born March 4 1971) is a Japanese car driver (born 21 January 1975 in Saitama Saitama) is a Japanese racing driver who graduated from 2005 Formula Nippon to Formula One Richard Lyons (born August 8, 1979) is a Northern Irish motor racing driver who drives in the Super GT and Formula Nippon series in Final point standings Driver For every race points were awarded 10 points to the winner 6 for runner up 4 for third place 3 for fourth place 2 for fifth place Benoît Tréluyer (born 7 December, 1976 in Alençon, France) is a French Race car driver. André Lotterer (born 19 November 1981 in Duisburg) is a German auto racing driver Calendar Final point standings Driver For every race points were awarded 10 points to the winner 8 for runner up 6 for third place 5 for fourth Benoît Tréluyer (born 7 December, 1976 in Alençon, France) is a French Race car driver. com. Retrieved on August 28 2007. Events 475 - The Roman General Orestes forces western Roman Emperor Julius Nepos to flee his Capital
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