PETRONAS TEAM TOM'S
Formula Nippon Championship
Season 2009
The highest level of single-seater formula racing in Japan has to be the Formula Nippon Championship. Enjoying a fairly long and illustrious history, the series began in 1973 as the Japanese Formula 2000 series through the Formula Two and Formula 3000 championships.
Though mirroring its European equivalents by way of the technical regulations, there are also important exceptions.
Although the European Formula 2 ceased in 1984, the Japanese version chose to continue using the Formula 2 regulations for another three seasons. The series finally switched to the open Formula 3000 standard in 1987, with the Japanese and European series matching one another until 1996. When the International Formula 3000 opted for the one-make format, the Japanese series parted ways officially changing its name to the Formula Nippon.
For some time the Formula Nippon remained an open competition to a variety of chassis-makers like Lola, Reynard and G-Force as well as engine manufacturers. G-Force’s withdrawal in 2001 and the bankruptcy of Reynard the following year once again brought Formula Nippon in line with F3000 as it became a one-make series with Lola providing the chassis and Mugen-Honda supplying the engines. The only point of difference was that the Formula Nippon engines being open-tuned by private companies.
Dramatic regulation revisions in 2006 led to the replacement of the old B03/50 chassis to the Lola FN06. Though open-tuning still permitted, the engine formula was revised with Toyota and Honda providing blocks using the same specification as the 2005 Indy Racing League (IRL).
Though the technicality of the regulations is quite demanding, the Formula Nippon championship remains a national series comparable to the pan-European GP2 Series and its predecessor Formula 3000. The series attracts the participation of foreign drivers, some of whom have gone on to illustrious careers in Formula One, notably Ralf Schumacher (1996 champion), Pedro de la Rosa (1997 champion).
2009 has once again brought about another change with the Lola FN06 chassis replaced by the FN09 chassis now supplied by American Swift Engineering.
2009 Formula Nippon Championship Calendar*
Team: PETRONAS TEAM TOM’S
Drivers: Andre Lotterer (#36) / Kazuya Oshima (#37)
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Round
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Date
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Venue
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1
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3rd – 5th April
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Fuji Speedway
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2
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15th – 17th May
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Suzuka International Circuit
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3
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29th – 31st May
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Twin Ring Motegi
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4
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26th – 28th June
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Fuji Speedway
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5
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10th – 12th July
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Suzuka International Circuit
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6
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7th – 9th August
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Twin Ring Motegi
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7
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28th – 30th August
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Autopolis
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8
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25th – 27th September
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Sportsland Sugo
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* Subject to change. All races take place in Japan, unless otherwise stated
Related:
PETRONAS TEAM TOM'S
Related:
- 2009 Formula Nippon Championship Driver Profile: Andre Lotterer
- 2009 Formula Nippon Championship Driver Profile: Kazuya Oshima
- 2009 Formula Nippon Championship - Part 1: Change is in the air - engine and chassis
- 2009 Formula Nippon Championship - Part 2: Change is in the air - overtaking system, tyres
For more information on the Formula Nippon Championship, visit the official website at www.f-nippon.co.jp