From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Formula Nippon is a type of formula racing
and the top level of single-seater racing in Japan.
Formula Nippon has a fairly long history, evolving 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 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.
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. 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.
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.
The latest Formula Nippon chassis, the
Swift FN09 (also known as the Swift
017.n), introduced in the
2009 season.
Swift
Engineering in San Clemente, CA is currently producing the
chassis that will be contested for the 2009 season.
Scoring
System
- Points are awarded in line with the standard FIA system 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
See also
References
External
links
| Japanese Formula
2000 / Japanese Formula Two / Japanese Formula 3000 / Formula
Nippon |
|
| Formula 2000 |
1973 • 1974 • 1975 •
1976 • 1977
|
|
| Formula Two |
1978 • 1979 • 1980 •
1981 • 1982 • 1983 • 1984 • 1985 • 1986 |
|
| Formula 3000 |
|
|
| Formula Nippon |
|
|
Loïc Duval
Nakajima
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Geoff Lees
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