The 2018 Japanese Super Formula Championship was the forty-sixth season of premier Japanese open-wheel motor racing, and the sixth under the moniker of Super Formula. The season began on 22 April and is scheduled to end on 28 October at the same place after seven rounds.[1]
2018 was the final season that the Dallara SF14 chassis package—which débuted in the 2014 Super Formula Championship—was used in competition; as a brand new chassis package will be introduced for the 2019 season but the engine configuration will remain the same.
Teams and drivers
editEvery Honda-powered car used a Honda HR-414E engine and every Toyota-powered car used a Toyota RI4A engine.
| Team | Engine | No. | Driver | Rounds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 JMS P.mu/cerumo・INGING[2]
|
Toyota | 1 | Hiroaki Ishiura[2]
|
All |
| 2 | Yuji Kunimoto[2]
|
All | ||
| Kondo Racing[2]
|
Toyota | 3 |  Nick Cassidy[2]
|
All |
| 4 | Kenta Yamashita[2]
|
All | ||
| Docomo Team Dandelion Racing[3]
|
Honda | 5 | Tomoki Nojiri[3]
|
All |
| 6 | Nobuharu Matsushita[3]
|
All | ||
| UOMO Sunoco Team LeMans[2]
|
Toyota | 7 |  Pietro Fittipaldi[4]
|
1 |
 Tom Dillmann[5]
|
2–7 | |||
| 8 | Kazuya Oshima[2]
|
All | ||
| Team Mugen[3]
|
Honda | 15 | Nirei Fukuzumi[3]
|
1, 5–7 |
| Sena Sakaguchi[6]
|
2 | |||
 Dan Ticktum[7]
|
3–4 | |||
| 16 | Naoki Yamamoto[3]
|
All | ||
| REAL Racing
|
Honda | 17 | Koudai Tsukakoshi[3]
|
All |
 carrozzeria Team KCMG[2]
|
Toyota | 18 | Kamui Kobayashi[2]
|
1–4, 6–7 |
| Yuichi Nakayama[8]
|
5 | |||
| Itochu Enex Team Impul[2]
|
Toyota | 19 | Yuhi Sekiguchi[2]
|
All |
| 20 | Ryo Hirakawa[2]
|
All | ||
| Vantelin Team Tom's[2]
|
Toyota | 36 | Kazuki Nakajima[2]
|
1–4, 6–7 |
| João Paulo de Oliveira[8]
|
5 | |||
| 37 | James Rossiter[2]
|
All | ||
| B-MAX Racing Team[3]
|
Honda | 50 | Katsumasa Chiyo[9]
|
All |
| TCS Nakajima Racing[3]
|
Honda | 64 |  Narain Karthikeyan[3]
|
All |
| 65 | Takuya Izawa[3]
|
All |
Driver changes
edit- Nissan Super GT driver Katsumasa Chiyo replaced Takashi Kogure in the B-MAX Racing Team.[9]
- 2017 World Series Formula V8 3.5 champion Pietro Fittipaldi replaced Felix Rosenqvist in the Team LeMans.[4] Tom Dillmann is scheduled to substitute Fittipaldi at the Autopolis and Sugo rounds, who will be busy due to his 2018 IndyCar Series commitments. After Fittipaldi was injured at the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps, Dillman replaced Fittipaldi for more rounds.[5]
- Pierre Gasly left the series to compete in Formula One with Scuderia Toro Rosso.[10] His place at Team Mugen was taken by Nirei Fukuzumi, who finished third in the 2017 GP3 Series.[3] Fukuzumi will also compete in the FIA Formula 2 Championship, and is set to prioritise F2 rounds over Super Formula where any dates clash.[11]
- André Lotterer left the TOM'S team and the championship after fifteen consecutive seasons since 2003.[12] His seat was taken by James Rossiter, formerly of Kondo Racing who returns after a season out.[2]
- Nobuharu Matsushita returned to Japan after two seasons in the GP2 Series and one season in the FIA Formula 2 Championship, joining Docomo Team Dandelion Racing.[3] He takes the seat of Takuya Izawa, who moved to Nakajima Racing.
- Ryo Hirakawa returned to Super Formula for the first time since 2015 with Team Impul, replacing Jann Mardenborough.[2]
Race calendar and results
editDue to scheduling restrictions imposed by the concurrent Japan WTCR round, the final round of the calendar at Suzuka Circuit will now feature a single race instead of the originally planned double-header.[13]
| Round | Circuit | Date | Pole Position | Fastest Lap | Winning Driver | Winning Team | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suzuka Circuit | 22 April | Naoki Yamamoto
|
James Rossiter
|
Naoki Yamamoto
|
Team Mugen | |
| 2 | Autopolis | 13 May | Ryo Hirakawa
|
Race cancelled due to weather conditions[14] | |||
| 3 | Sportsland SUGO | 27 May | Tomoki Nojiri
|
Yuhi Sekiguchi
|
Naoki Yamamoto
|
Team Mugen | |
| 4 | Fuji Speedway | 8 July | Nick Cassidy
|
Nick Cassidy
|
Nick Cassidy
|
Kondo Racing | |
| 5 | Twin Ring Motegi | 19 August | Hiroaki Ishiura
|
Nirei Fukuzumi
|
Hiroaki Ishiura
|
JMS P.mu/Cerumo・INGING | |
| 6 | Okayama International Circuit | 9 September | Yuhi Sekiguchi
|
Kamui Kobayashi
|
Yuhi Sekiguchi
|
Itochu Enex Team Impul | |
| 7 | Suzuka Circuit | 27 October | Naoki Yamamoto
|
Yuhi Sekiguchi
|
Naoki Yamamoto
|
Team Mugen | |
Championship standings
editDrivers' Championship
edit- Scoring system
| Position | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | Pole |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rounds 1-6 | 10 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Round 7[N 1] | 13 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
- Driver standings
| Pos | Driver | SUZ | AUT | SUG | FUJ | MOT | OKA[N 2] | SUZ | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Naoki Yamamoto
|
1 | C | 1 | 8 | 7 | 10 | 1 | 38 |
| 2 | Nick Cassidy
|
7 | C | 2 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 37 |
| 3 | Hiroaki Ishiura
|
4 | C | 11 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 11 | 25 |
| 4 | Yuhi Sekiguchi
|
2 | C | 13 | 6 | 16 | 1 | 8 | 18 |
| 5 | Ryo Hirakawa
|
Ret | C | 9 | 4 | 2 | 3 | Ret | 17 |
| 6 | Kazuki Nakajima
|
8 | C | 3 | 5 | 17 | 5 | 15 | |
| 7 | Tomoki Nojiri
|
3 | C | 7 | 14 | 8 | 4 | 9 | 12.5 |
| 8 | Yuji Kunimoto
|
13 | C | Ret | 3 | 15 | 8 | 4 | 11.5 |
| 9 | Kenta Yamashita
|
9 | C | 8 | 18 | 6 | 6 | 3 | 11.5 |
| 10 | Kamui Kobayashi
|
10 | C | 6 | 12 | 2 | 13 | 7 | |
| 11 | Nobuharu Matsushita
|
12 | C | 10 | 9 | 4 | 9 | 7 | 7 |
| 12 | Kazuya Oshima
|
15 | C | 15 | 7 | 5 | 16 | 14 | 6 |
| 13 | Koudai Tsukakoshi
|
6 | C | 12 | 13 | 10 | 12 | 6 | 6 |
| 14 | Tom Dillmann
|
C | 4 | 10 | 12 | Ret | 15 | 5 | |
| 15 | Narain Karthikeyan
|
17 | C | 5 | 16 | 11 | 13 | 17 | 4 |
| 16 | Takuya Izawa
|
5 | C | 14 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 16 | 4 |
| 17 | James Rossiter
|
11 | C | Ret | 19 | 9 | 11 | Ret | 0 |
| 18 | Katsumasa Chiyo
|
14 | C | Ret | 17 | 19 | 15 | 10 | 0 |
| 19 | Dan Ticktum
|
Ret | 11 | 0 | |||||
| 20 | Nirei Fukuzumi
|
Ret | 17 | 18 | 12 | 0 | |||
| 21 | Yuichi Nakayama
|
13 | 0 | ||||||
| 22 | Pietro Fittipaldi
|
16 | 0 | ||||||
| 23 | João Paulo de Oliveira
|
18 | 0 | ||||||
| — | Sena Sakaguchi
|
C | — | ||||||
| Pos | Driver | SUZ | AUT | SUG | FUJ | MOT | OKA | SUZ | Points |
Teams' Championship
edit| Pos | Team | No. | SUZ | AUT | SUG | FUJ | MOT | OKA[N 2] | SUZ | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kondo Racing | 3 | 7 | C | 2 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 47.5 |
| 4 | 9 | C | 8 | 18 | 6 | 6 | 3 | |||
| 2 | Team Mugen | 15 | Ret | C | Ret | 11 | 17 | 18 | 12 | 36 |
| 16 | 1 | C | 1 | 8 | 7 | 10 | 1 | |||
| 3 | P.mu/Cerumo・INGING | 1 | 4 | C | 11 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 11 | 35.5 |
| 2 | 13 | C | Ret | 3 | 15 | 8 | 4 | |||
| 4 | Itochu Enex Team Impul | 19 | 2 | C | 13 | 6 | 16 | 1 | 8 | 33 |
| 20 | Ret | C | 9 | 4 | 2 | 3 | Ret | |||
| 5 | Docomo Team Dandelion Racing | 5 | 3 | C | 7 | 14 | 8 | 4 | 9 | 18.5 |
| 6 | 12 | C | 10 | 9 | 4 | 9 | 7 | |||
| 6 | Vantelin Team Tom's | 36 | 8 | C | 3 | 5 | 18 | 17 | 5 | 15 |
| 37 | 11 | C | Ret | 19 | 9 | 11 | Ret | |||
| 7 | UOMO Sunoco Team LeMans | 7 | 16 | C | 4 | 10 | 12 | Ret | 15 | 11 |
| 8 | 15 | C | 15 | 7 | 5 | 16 | 14 | |||
| 8 | TCS Nakajima Racing | 64 | 17 | C | 5 | 16 | 11 | 13 | 17 | 8 |
| 65 | 5 | C | 14 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 16 | |||
| 9 | carrozzeria Team KCMG | 18 | 10 | C | 6 | 12 | 13 | 2 | 13 | 7 |
| 10 | REAL Racing | 17 | 6 | C | 12 | 13 | 10 | 12 | 6 | 6 |
| 11 | B-MAX Racing Team | 50 | 14 | C | Ret | 17 | 19 | 15 | 10 | 0 |
| Pos | Team | No. | SUZ | AUT | SUG | FUJ | MOT | OKA | SUZ | Points |
Notes
editReferences
edit- ^ "2018 Calendar". superformula.net. Japan Race Promotion Inc. Retrieved 20 January 2018.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r "Toyota GAZOO Racing Outlines 2018 Motorsports Activities". Toyota Motor Corporation. 8 February 2018. Retrieved 9 February 2018.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Honda 2018 Motorsports Program Overview". world.honda.com. Honda Motor Co., Ltd. 12 January 2017. Retrieved 20 January 2017.
- ^ a b Khorounzhiy, Valentin (27 March 2018). "Fittipaldi lands 2018 Super Formula drive". motorsport.com. Motorsport Network. Retrieved 28 March 2018.
- ^ a b "Dillmann to make Super Formula debut with Team LeMans". motorsport.com. Motorsport Network. 10 April 2018. Archived from the original on 15 June 2018. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
- ^ "トム・ディルマンと阪口晴南が、スーパーフォーミュラに代役参戦決定". motorsport.com (in Japanese). Motorsport Network. Archived from the original on 16 June 2018. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
- ^ Wood, Elliot (1 May 2018). "Red Bull junior Dan Ticktum to contest two Super Formula rounds". formulascout.com. Formula Scout. Retrieved 1 May 2018.
- ^ a b "Round 5 Entry List". superformula.net. Japan Race Promotion, Inc. n.d. Retrieved 17 August 2018.
- ^ a b Hirano, Ryuji (13 March 2018). "スーパーフォーミュラ：B-MAX Racing Teamのドライバーは千代勝正に決定！". as-web.jp (in Japanese). AUTOSPORTweb. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
- ^ Freeman, Glenn (16 November 2017). "Toro Rosso keeps Pierre Gasly, Brendon Hartley for 2018 F1 season". Autosport. Motorsport Network. Archived from the original on 17 November 2017.
- ^ Thukral, Rachit (19 January 2018). "Fuzkuzumi set to prioritise F2 over Super Formula". Motorsport.com.
- ^ Watkins, Gary (20 January 2018). "Lotterer leaves Super Formula after 15 seasons". Motorsport.com. Motorsport Network. Retrieved 20 January 2018.
- ^ Thukral, Rachit (18 August 2018). "Super Formula finale reduced to a single race". motorsport.com. Motorsport Network. Retrieved 18 August 2018.
- ^ Thukral, Rachit (13 May 2018). "Weather forces Autopolis Super Formula race cancellation". motorsport.com. Motorsport Network. Archived from the original on 2 July 2018. Retrieved 13 May 2018.
- ^ Klein, Jamie (26 October 2018). "Super Formula's five-way fight set to reach climax". motorsport.com. Motorsport Network.
- ^ Thukral, Rachit. "Okayama Super Formula: Sekiguchi wins wet thriller". motorsport.com. Motorsport Network. Retrieved 9 September 2018.
External links
edit- Japanese Championship Super Formula official website (in English)