2010 Formula Nippon season
Encyclopedia
The 2010 Formula Nippon season was the 24th season of the premier Japanese open-wheel motor racing series. The series for Formula Nippon
racing cars was contested over eight races at seven rounds, beginning on April 18 at Suzuka
and ending at the same venue on November 7. A non-championship meeting at Fuji Speedway
completed the season's racing a week later.
Having missed the 2009 season
to focus on his Super GT
commitments, João Paulo de Oliveira
returned to the series and claimed his first championship title since winning the 2005 All-Japan Formula Three Championship
. Team Impul's de Oliveira had held the championship lead by a point over TOM'S
driver André Lotterer
before the final double-header round at Suzuka, but de Oliveira's victory – his second victory after a win at Twin Ring Motegi
– and fourth against Lotterer's second and a third, de Oliveira won the championship by 4.5 points. As well as his win at Autopolis
, Lotterer won both non-championship races at Fuji.
Third place was disputed by reigning champion Loïc Duval
, who had moved from Nakajima Racing
to Docomo Team Dandelion Racing over the off-season, and his former Nakajima team-mate Takashi Kogure
, which was resolved in favour of Duval by 1.5 points; both drivers' championship chances had been stunted by no points at Autopolis, as Duval failed to start and Kogure retired from the race. Duval did tie with de Oliveira for most victories during the season with two – Motegi and Suzuka – while Kogure won the season-opening race at Suzuka. De Oliveira's team-mate Kohei Hirate
finished the season fifth with a victory at Fuji, ahead of the season's other race-winner Kazuya Oshima
of the TOM's team.
* Drivers who participated in the non-championship round at Fuji Speedway.
† Round with two races and points scoring system for each race.
‡ Non-championship round, with no points awarded.
Formula Nippon
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...
racing cars was contested over eight races at seven rounds, beginning on April 18 at Suzuka
Suzuka Circuit
, Suzuka Circuit for short, is a motorsport race track located in Ino, Suzuka City, Mie Prefecture, Japan and operated by Mobilityland Corporation, the subsidiary of Honda Motor Co., Ltd..-Introduction:...
and ending at the same venue on November 7. A non-championship meeting at Fuji Speedway
Fuji Speedway
is a race track standing in the foothills of Mount Fuji, in Oyama, Suntō District, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. It was built in the early 1960s and hosted the first Formula One race in Japan in 1976. In the 1980s, Fuji Speedway was used for the FIA World Sportscar Championship and national racing...
completed the season's racing a week later.
Having missed the 2009 season
2009 Formula Nippon season
The 2009 Formula Nippon season was the 23rd season of the premier Japanese open-wheel motor racing series. The series for Formula Nippon racing cars was contested over eight rounds...
to focus on his Super GT
Super GT
The Super GT series, formerly known as the All-Japan Grand Touring Car Championship or JGTC , is a grand touring car race series promoted by the GT-Association...
commitments, João Paulo de Oliveira
João Paulo de Oliveira
João Paulo Lima de Oliveira is a Brazilian racing driver.-Racing career:After he competed kart racing for only one year in 1997, he moved to Formula Ford and Formula Chevrolet Brazilian national championships in 1998....
returned to the series and claimed his first championship title since winning the 2005 All-Japan Formula Three Championship
All-Japan Formula Three Championship
, also known as Japanese Formula Three, is a national motor racing championship that takes place in Japan. It is a junior-level feeder formula that uses small single seater Formula Three chassis....
. Team Impul's de Oliveira had held the championship lead by a point over TOM'S
TOM'S
is a factory supported racing team and tuner of Toyota and Lexus vehicles. The name stands for Tachi Oiwa Motor Sport. Their head office is located in Tokyo, Japan. They are currently heavily involved with Super GT racing and Formula 3 racing...
driver André Lotterer
André Lotterer
André Lotterer is a German auto racing driver.- Racing career :Lotterer succeeded in both German and British Formula 3 championships en route to being named Jaguar Racing's Formula One test driver in 2002...
before the final double-header round at Suzuka, but de Oliveira's victory – his second victory after a win at Twin Ring Motegi
Twin Ring Motegi
is an automobile racing track located at Motegi, Japan. Its name comes from the facility having two race tracks: a oval and a road course. It was built in 1997 by Honda, as part of Honda's effort to bring the IndyCar Series to Japan, helping to increase their knowledge of American open-wheel...
– and fourth against Lotterer's second and a third, de Oliveira won the championship by 4.5 points. As well as his win at Autopolis
Autopolis
Autopolis is an international racing circuit located near Kamitsue village in Ōita Prefecture, Japan . Opened in 1990, it hosts a range of domestic and international motorsport events throughout the year. Although the track meets a high standard in terms of its facilities, it has never hosted a...
, Lotterer won both non-championship races at Fuji.
Third place was disputed by reigning champion Loïc Duval
Loïc Duval
Loïc Duval is a French race car driver.- Career :He began his career in karting and in 2002 was the French Formula Campus champion. In 2003 he was the French Formula Renault champion. In 2004 he placed eleventh with two podiums in the Formula Three Euroseries and tested for Renault F1...
, who had moved from Nakajima Racing
Nakajima Racing
Nakajima Racing is a Formula Nippon team organized and founded by Satoru Nakajima around 1989. The team has fielded four championship winners in the Formula Nippon racing series: Tom Coronel, Toranosuke Takagi, Ralph Firman and Loïc Duval...
to Docomo Team Dandelion Racing over the off-season, and his former Nakajima team-mate Takashi Kogure
Takashi Kogure
is a Japanese racing driver.- Formula Three :Kogure made his single-seater début in 2001, driving a Dallara F300 in the All-Japan Formula Three Championship for Now Motorsports. He finished in eleventh place in the championship standings. The following season, Kogure moved to Mugen*Dome Project and...
, which was resolved in favour of Duval by 1.5 points; both drivers' championship chances had been stunted by no points at Autopolis, as Duval failed to start and Kogure retired from the race. Duval did tie with de Oliveira for most victories during the season with two – Motegi and Suzuka – while Kogure won the season-opening race at Suzuka. De Oliveira's team-mate Kohei Hirate
Kohei Hirate
-Career:Hirate began karting in 1999 when he was 13. After winning the All Japan Junior Kart Championship, coming third and fifth in the All Japan Kart Championship and coming third in the FIA Oceania Championship, he moved on to Formula Toyota, where he raced for the Tom's Spirit team and came...
finished the season fifth with a victory at Fuji, ahead of the season's other race-winner Kazuya Oshima
Kazuya Oshima
is a Japanese racing driver. He has competed in such series as Formula Nippon, the Formula Three Euroseries and Super GT. He won the All-Japan Formula Three Championship in 2007.-External links:*...
of the TOM's team.
Teams and drivers
Team | # | Driver | Engine | Rounds |
---|---|---|---|---|
Docomo Team Dandelion Racing |
1 | Loïc Duval Loïc Duval Loïc Duval is a French race car driver.- Career :He began his career in karting and in 2002 was the French Formula Campus champion. In 2003 he was the French Formula Renault champion. In 2004 he placed eleventh with two podiums in the Formula Three Euroseries and tested for Renault F1... |
Honda Honda is a Japanese public multinational corporation primarily known as a manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles.Honda has been the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer since 1959, as well as the world's largest manufacturer of internal combustion engines measured by volume, producing more than... HR10E |
All * |
2 | Takuya Izawa Takuya Izawa is a Japanese racing driver. He currently drives at the Super GT GT500 series and in the Formula Nippon category.-External links:***... |
All * | ||
Kondo Racing Masahiko Kondo or Matchy is a Japanese singer, lyricist and actor represented by Johnny & Associates.Kondō is also a semi-professional racing driver and a racing team owner. He founded the racing team Kondo Racing in 2000 which competes in Formula Nippon and the Super GT.- 1980–1987: Early recording career :As a... |
3 | Tsugio Matsuda Tsugio Matsuda is a Japanese racing driver. He has won the Formula Nippon series twice, in 2007 and 2008. He has also competed in the All-Japan Formula Three Championship. Matsuda has also become a regular participant in the Super GT series.-External links:* *... |
Toyota RV8K | 4–7 * |
Team LeMans | 7 | Kei Cozzolino | Toyota RV8K | All * |
8 | Hiroaki Ishiura Hiroaki Ishiura , born April 23, 1981 in Tokyo is a Japanese racing driver. He currently drives in the Super GT series and Formula Nippon.In 2007 he won the Super GT300 championship, in the APR MR-S with Kazuya Oshima.-External links:**... |
All * | ||
HFDP Racing | 10 | Koudai Tsukakoshi Koudai Tsukakoshi is a Japanese racing driver.-Formula Three:After competing in Formula Dream in 2004, Tsukakoshi moved into the All-Japan Formula Three Championship for the 2005 campaign. Competing for M Tec, Tsukakoshi finished his first season in fourteenth position. He moved to Honda Team Mugen for the 2006... |
Honda Honda is a Japanese public multinational corporation primarily known as a manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles.Honda has been the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer since 1959, as well as the world's largest manufacturer of internal combustion engines measured by volume, producing more than... HR10E |
All * |
Motul Team | 16 | Yuji Ide Yuji Ide is a Japanese racing driver who graduated from 2005 Formula Nippon to Formula One with the Super Aguri team in 2006, but lost his FIA Super Licence during the season due to erratic driving.... |
Honda Honda is a Japanese public multinational corporation primarily known as a manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles.Honda has been the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer since 1959, as well as the world's largest manufacturer of internal combustion engines measured by volume, producing more than... HR10E |
All * |
KCMG | 18 | Katsuyuki Hiranaka Katsuyuki Hiranaka is a Japanese race car driver.-Career:Katsuyuki began karting in 1995 when he was 14, and in 2002 moved to the All-Japan Formula Three Championship, as a member of the TOM'S team. In 2002, he achieved one fastest lap and came fifth in one race. Between 2003 and 2004 Katsuyuki raced for Prema... |
Toyota RV8K | All * |
Team Impul | 19 | João Paulo de Oliveira João Paulo de Oliveira João Paulo Lima de Oliveira is a Brazilian racing driver.-Racing career:After he competed kart racing for only one year in 1997, he moved to Formula Ford and Formula Chevrolet Brazilian national championships in 1998.... |
Toyota RV8K | All * |
20 | Kohei Hirate Kohei Hirate -Career:Hirate began karting in 1999 when he was 13. After winning the All Japan Junior Kart Championship, coming third and fifth in the All Japan Kart Championship and coming third in the FIA Oceania Championship, he moved on to Formula Toyota, where he raced for the Tom's Spirit team and came... |
All * | ||
Deliziefollie/Cerumo-Inging | 29 | Takuto Iguchi Takuto Iguchi is a Japanese racing driver. He has competed in such series as Super GT and the All-Japan Formula Three Championship.-External links:* *... |
Toyota RV8K | All * |
Nakajima Racing Nakajima Racing Nakajima Racing is a Formula Nippon team organized and founded by Satoru Nakajima around 1989. The team has fielded four championship winners in the Formula Nippon racing series: Tom Coronel, Toranosuke Takagi, Ralph Firman and Loïc Duval... |
31 | Naoki Yamamoto | Honda Honda is a Japanese public multinational corporation primarily known as a manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles.Honda has been the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer since 1959, as well as the world's largest manufacturer of internal combustion engines measured by volume, producing more than... HR10E |
All * |
32 | Takashi Kogure Takashi Kogure is a Japanese racing driver.- Formula Three :Kogure made his single-seater début in 2001, driving a Dallara F300 in the All-Japan Formula Three Championship for Now Motorsports. He finished in eleventh place in the championship standings. The following season, Kogure moved to Mugen*Dome Project and... |
All * | ||
Petronas Team TOM'S TOM'S is a factory supported racing team and tuner of Toyota and Lexus vehicles. The name stands for Tachi Oiwa Motor Sport. Their head office is located in Tokyo, Japan. They are currently heavily involved with Super GT racing and Formula 3 racing... |
36 | André Lotterer André Lotterer André Lotterer is a German auto racing driver.- Racing career :Lotterer succeeded in both German and British Formula 3 championships en route to being named Jaguar Racing's Formula One test driver in 2002... |
Toyota RV8K | All * |
37 | Kazuya Oshima Kazuya Oshima is a Japanese racing driver. He has competed in such series as Formula Nippon, the Formula Three Euroseries and Super GT. He won the All-Japan Formula Three Championship in 2007.-External links:*... |
All * |
Race calendar and results
- All races were held in Japan. A non-championship round, entitled Super GT and Formula Nippon Sprint Cup 2010, was held at the conclusion of the season.
Round | Circuit | Date | Pole Position | Fastest Lap | Winning Driver | Winning Team |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Suzuka Circuit Suzuka Circuit , Suzuka Circuit for short, is a motorsport race track located in Ino, Suzuka City, Mie Prefecture, Japan and operated by Mobilityland Corporation, the subsidiary of Honda Motor Co., Ltd..-Introduction:... |
April 18 | Takashi Kogure Takashi Kogure is a Japanese racing driver.- Formula Three :Kogure made his single-seater début in 2001, driving a Dallara F300 in the All-Japan Formula Three Championship for Now Motorsports. He finished in eleventh place in the championship standings. The following season, Kogure moved to Mugen*Dome Project and... |
Kohei Hirate Kohei Hirate -Career:Hirate began karting in 1999 when he was 13. After winning the All Japan Junior Kart Championship, coming third and fifth in the All Japan Kart Championship and coming third in the FIA Oceania Championship, he moved on to Formula Toyota, where he raced for the Tom's Spirit team and came... |
Takashi Kogure Takashi Kogure is a Japanese racing driver.- Formula Three :Kogure made his single-seater début in 2001, driving a Dallara F300 in the All-Japan Formula Three Championship for Now Motorsports. He finished in eleventh place in the championship standings. The following season, Kogure moved to Mugen*Dome Project and... |
Nakajima Racing Nakajima Racing Nakajima Racing is a Formula Nippon team organized and founded by Satoru Nakajima around 1989. The team has fielded four championship winners in the Formula Nippon racing series: Tom Coronel, Toranosuke Takagi, Ralph Firman and Loïc Duval... |
2 | Twin Ring Motegi Twin Ring Motegi is an automobile racing track located at Motegi, Japan. Its name comes from the facility having two race tracks: a oval and a road course. It was built in 1997 by Honda, as part of Honda's effort to bring the IndyCar Series to Japan, helping to increase their knowledge of American open-wheel... |
May 23 | João Paulo de Oliveira João Paulo de Oliveira João Paulo Lima de Oliveira is a Brazilian racing driver.-Racing career:After he competed kart racing for only one year in 1997, he moved to Formula Ford and Formula Chevrolet Brazilian national championships in 1998.... |
João Paulo de Oliveira João Paulo de Oliveira João Paulo Lima de Oliveira is a Brazilian racing driver.-Racing career:After he competed kart racing for only one year in 1997, he moved to Formula Ford and Formula Chevrolet Brazilian national championships in 1998.... |
João Paulo de Oliveira João Paulo de Oliveira João Paulo Lima de Oliveira is a Brazilian racing driver.-Racing career:After he competed kart racing for only one year in 1997, he moved to Formula Ford and Formula Chevrolet Brazilian national championships in 1998.... |
Team Impul |
3 | Fuji Speedway Fuji Speedway is a race track standing in the foothills of Mount Fuji, in Oyama, Suntō District, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. It was built in the early 1960s and hosted the first Formula One race in Japan in 1976. In the 1980s, Fuji Speedway was used for the FIA World Sportscar Championship and national racing... |
July 18 | Loïc Duval Loïc Duval Loïc Duval is a French race car driver.- Career :He began his career in karting and in 2002 was the French Formula Campus champion. In 2003 he was the French Formula Renault champion. In 2004 he placed eleventh with two podiums in the Formula Three Euroseries and tested for Renault F1... |
Kohei Hirate Kohei Hirate -Career:Hirate began karting in 1999 when he was 13. After winning the All Japan Junior Kart Championship, coming third and fifth in the All Japan Kart Championship and coming third in the FIA Oceania Championship, he moved on to Formula Toyota, where he raced for the Tom's Spirit team and came... |
Kohei Hirate Kohei Hirate -Career:Hirate began karting in 1999 when he was 13. After winning the All Japan Junior Kart Championship, coming third and fifth in the All Japan Kart Championship and coming third in the FIA Oceania Championship, he moved on to Formula Toyota, where he raced for the Tom's Spirit team and came... |
Team Impul |
4 | Twin Ring Motegi Twin Ring Motegi is an automobile racing track located at Motegi, Japan. Its name comes from the facility having two race tracks: a oval and a road course. It was built in 1997 by Honda, as part of Honda's effort to bring the IndyCar Series to Japan, helping to increase their knowledge of American open-wheel... |
August 8 | Takashi Kogure Takashi Kogure is a Japanese racing driver.- Formula Three :Kogure made his single-seater début in 2001, driving a Dallara F300 in the All-Japan Formula Three Championship for Now Motorsports. He finished in eleventh place in the championship standings. The following season, Kogure moved to Mugen*Dome Project and... |
João Paulo de Oliveira João Paulo de Oliveira João Paulo Lima de Oliveira is a Brazilian racing driver.-Racing career:After he competed kart racing for only one year in 1997, he moved to Formula Ford and Formula Chevrolet Brazilian national championships in 1998.... |
Loïc Duval Loïc Duval Loïc Duval is a French race car driver.- Career :He began his career in karting and in 2002 was the French Formula Campus champion. In 2003 he was the French Formula Renault champion. In 2004 he placed eleventh with two podiums in the Formula Three Euroseries and tested for Renault F1... |
Dandelion Racing |
5 | Sportsland SUGO Sportsland SUGO is a motorsports facility located in the town of Murata, Shibata District, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan. It opened in 1975 and is one of the largest motorsports facilities in Japan, with a total area of 2.1 million m²... |
September 26 | Loïc Duval Loïc Duval Loïc Duval is a French race car driver.- Career :He began his career in karting and in 2002 was the French Formula Campus champion. In 2003 he was the French Formula Renault champion. In 2004 he placed eleventh with two podiums in the Formula Three Euroseries and tested for Renault F1... |
André Lotterer André Lotterer André Lotterer is a German auto racing driver.- Racing career :Lotterer succeeded in both German and British Formula 3 championships en route to being named Jaguar Racing's Formula One test driver in 2002... |
Kazuya Oshima Kazuya Oshima is a Japanese racing driver. He has competed in such series as Formula Nippon, the Formula Three Euroseries and Super GT. He won the All-Japan Formula Three Championship in 2007.-External links:*... |
Petronas Team TOM'S TOM'S is a factory supported racing team and tuner of Toyota and Lexus vehicles. The name stands for Tachi Oiwa Motor Sport. Their head office is located in Tokyo, Japan. They are currently heavily involved with Super GT racing and Formula 3 racing... |
6 | Autopolis Autopolis Autopolis is an international racing circuit located near Kamitsue village in Ōita Prefecture, Japan . Opened in 1990, it hosts a range of domestic and international motorsport events throughout the year. Although the track meets a high standard in terms of its facilities, it has never hosted a... |
October 17 | Kazuya Oshima Kazuya Oshima is a Japanese racing driver. He has competed in such series as Formula Nippon, the Formula Three Euroseries and Super GT. He won the All-Japan Formula Three Championship in 2007.-External links:*... |
Kei Cozzolino | André Lotterer André Lotterer André Lotterer is a German auto racing driver.- Racing career :Lotterer succeeded in both German and British Formula 3 championships en route to being named Jaguar Racing's Formula One test driver in 2002... |
Petronas Team TOM'S TOM'S is a factory supported racing team and tuner of Toyota and Lexus vehicles. The name stands for Tachi Oiwa Motor Sport. Their head office is located in Tokyo, Japan. They are currently heavily involved with Super GT racing and Formula 3 racing... |
7 | Suzuka Circuit Suzuka Circuit , Suzuka Circuit for short, is a motorsport race track located in Ino, Suzuka City, Mie Prefecture, Japan and operated by Mobilityland Corporation, the subsidiary of Honda Motor Co., Ltd..-Introduction:... |
November 7 | Loïc Duval Loïc Duval Loïc Duval is a French race car driver.- Career :He began his career in karting and in 2002 was the French Formula Campus champion. In 2003 he was the French Formula Renault champion. In 2004 he placed eleventh with two podiums in the Formula Three Euroseries and tested for Renault F1... |
Loïc Duval Loïc Duval Loïc Duval is a French race car driver.- Career :He began his career in karting and in 2002 was the French Formula Campus champion. In 2003 he was the French Formula Renault champion. In 2004 he placed eleventh with two podiums in the Formula Three Euroseries and tested for Renault F1... |
Loïc Duval Loïc Duval Loïc Duval is a French race car driver.- Career :He began his career in karting and in 2002 was the French Formula Campus champion. In 2003 he was the French Formula Renault champion. In 2004 he placed eleventh with two podiums in the Formula Three Euroseries and tested for Renault F1... |
Dandelion Racing |
João Paulo de Oliveira João Paulo de Oliveira João Paulo Lima de Oliveira is a Brazilian racing driver.-Racing career:After he competed kart racing for only one year in 1997, he moved to Formula Ford and Formula Chevrolet Brazilian national championships in 1998.... |
Takashi Kogure Takashi Kogure is a Japanese racing driver.- Formula Three :Kogure made his single-seater début in 2001, driving a Dallara F300 in the All-Japan Formula Three Championship for Now Motorsports. He finished in eleventh place in the championship standings. The following season, Kogure moved to Mugen*Dome Project and... |
João Paulo de Oliveira João Paulo de Oliveira João Paulo Lima de Oliveira is a Brazilian racing driver.-Racing career:After he competed kart racing for only one year in 1997, he moved to Formula Ford and Formula Chevrolet Brazilian national championships in 1998.... |
Team Impul | |||
NC | Fuji Speedway Fuji Speedway is a race track standing in the foothills of Mount Fuji, in Oyama, Suntō District, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. It was built in the early 1960s and hosted the first Formula One race in Japan in 1976. In the 1980s, Fuji Speedway was used for the FIA World Sportscar Championship and national racing... (Fuji Sprint Cup) |
November 13 | Kei Cozzolino | André Lotterer André Lotterer André Lotterer is a German auto racing driver.- Racing career :Lotterer succeeded in both German and British Formula 3 championships en route to being named Jaguar Racing's Formula One test driver in 2002... |
André Lotterer André Lotterer André Lotterer is a German auto racing driver.- Racing career :Lotterer succeeded in both German and British Formula 3 championships en route to being named Jaguar Racing's Formula One test driver in 2002... |
Petronas Team TOM'S TOM'S is a factory supported racing team and tuner of Toyota and Lexus vehicles. The name stands for Tachi Oiwa Motor Sport. Their head office is located in Tokyo, Japan. They are currently heavily involved with Super GT racing and Formula 3 racing... |
November 14 | André Lotterer André Lotterer André Lotterer is a German auto racing driver.- Racing career :Lotterer succeeded in both German and British Formula 3 championships en route to being named Jaguar Racing's Formula One test driver in 2002... |
André Lotterer André Lotterer André Lotterer is a German auto racing driver.- Racing career :Lotterer succeeded in both German and British Formula 3 championships en route to being named Jaguar Racing's Formula One test driver in 2002... |
André Lotterer André Lotterer André Lotterer is a German auto racing driver.- Racing career :Lotterer succeeded in both German and British Formula 3 championships en route to being named Jaguar Racing's Formula One test driver in 2002... |
Petronas Team TOM'S TOM'S is a factory supported racing team and tuner of Toyota and Lexus vehicles. The name stands for Tachi Oiwa Motor Sport. Their head office is located in Tokyo, Japan. They are currently heavily involved with Super GT racing and Formula 3 racing... |
Championship standings
EWLINE
|
Bold – Pole Italics – Fastest Lap |
Round | Position | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th | 7th | 8th | Pole |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1–6 | Points | 10 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
7† | 8 | 4 | 3 | 2.5 | 2 | 1.5 | 1 | 0.5 | 1 |
† Round with two races and points scoring system for each race.
‡ Non-championship round, with no points awarded.