2023 Super Formula Championship

The 2023 Japanese Super Formula Championship is the fifty-first season of premier Japanese open-wheel motor racing,[1] and the eleventh under the moniker of Super Formula. It started in April 2023 and is due to be contested over seven race meetings.[2] Tomoki Nojiri entered the season as the two-time and defending series champion.

Teams and drivers

All teams use identical Dallara-built SF23 chassis. 2023 is the first season for this new chassis. The SF23 is constructed from Bcomp bio-composite material aimed at reducing carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 75 percent, and features updated aerodynamic features aimed at reducing turbulent air and promoting more wheel-to-wheel racing.[3] Series tyre supplier Yokohama Rubber debuted a new "carbon neutral racing tyre" made from 33 percent recycled and renewable raw materials.

Entrant Engine No. Driver name Rounds
Japan Team Mugen[4] Honda HR-417E 1 Japan Tomoki Nojiri[4] 1–3, 5–7
Japan Hiroki Otsu[5] 4
15 New Zealand Liam Lawson[4] 1–7
Japan Docomo Team Dandelion Racing[4] 5 Japan Tadasuke Makino[4] 1–7
6 Japan Kakunoshin Ohta[4] 1–7
Japan ThreeBond Racing[4][6] 12 Japan Nirei Fukuzumi[4] 1–7
Japan B-Max Racing[4] 50 Japan Nobuharu Matsushita[4] 1–7
51 United Kingdom Raoul Hyman[4][lower-alpha 1] 1–7
Japan TGM Grand Prix[7] 53 Japan Toshiki Oyu[8] 1–5, 7
Japan Hiroki Otsu[9] 6
Japan Riki Okusa[10] TBA
55 Turkey Cem Bölükbaşı[8] 1–7
Japan TCS Nakajima Racing[4] 64 Japan Naoki Yamamoto[4] 1–7
Japan Hiroki Otsu[11] TBA
65 Japan Ren Sato[4] 1–7
Japan Kondō Racing[12] Toyota TRD-01F 3 Japan Kenta Yamashita[12] 1–7
4 Japan Kazuto Kotaka[12] 1–7
Hong Kong Kids com Team KCMG[12] 7 Japan Kamui Kobayashi[12] 1–7
18 Japan Yuji Kunimoto[12] 1–7
Japan docomo business ROOKIE[12] 14 Japan Kazuya Oshima[12] 1–7
Japan Itochu Enex Team Impul[12] 19 Japan Yuhi Sekiguchi[12] 1–7
20 Japan Ryō Hirakawa[12] 1–7
Japan Vantelin Team TOM’S[12] 36 France Giuliano Alesi[13] 1–5
Japan Ukyo Sasahara[14] 6–7
37 Japan Ritomo Miyata[12] 1–7
Japan P.mu/Cerumo・INGING [12] 38 Japan Sho Tsuboi[12] 1–7
39 Japan Sena Sakaguchi[12] 1–7

Team changes
  • Red Bull left Team Goh and moved its sponsorship efforts to Lawson's Team Mugen entry. The loss of this sponsorship left Team Goh in doubts whether they would be able to continue their participation in the championship for 2023.[15] Servus Japan, the organization behind the team, later announced that the team would relaunch as TGM Grand Prix and confirmed that they would run two cars in 2023.[7]
  • After two seasons running one car, B-Max Racing expanded to two cars for this season.[4]
  • ThreeBond, who have been main sponsors for the Drago Corse team, have acquired the team's entry and rebranded as ThreeBond Racing.[6]

Driver changes

Mid-season
  • Tomoki Nojiri was absent from the fourth round at Autopolis after being diagnosed with a pneumothorax. He was replaced by Hiroki Otsu, who came 9th in the standings with Team Dandelion in 2022.[5] Nojiri returned to competition from round five onwards.
  • After disappointing results in his second full-time season, Team TOM'S decided to replace Giuliano Alesi after round 5. His seat was filled by Ukyo Sasahara, who came sixth in 2022 driving for Team Mugen.[14]
  • Toshiki Oyu suffered from a broken collarbone during training ahead of round 6. Hiroki Otsu once again stepped in as a replacement driver.[9]
  • After suffering a heavy crash in the Super GT race at Sportsland SUGO, Naoki Yamamoto was diagnosed with a damaged vertebrae and spinal cord. He will miss the Suzuka double-header during his recovery. Hiroki Otsu will once again step in as the replacement driver.[11]
  • Ahead of the final Suzuka weekend, TGM Grand Prix announced that Toshiki Oyu would not be competing in the double-header, with Riki Okusa as the replacement driver making his Super Formula debut.[19][10]

Race calendar

The provisional calendar was announced on 8 August 2022.[20] After three weekends were made to double-header events in 2022, the season opener and finale were both announced to have two races again.[21]

Round Circuit Location Date Support bill Map
1 Fuji Speedway Oyama, Shizuoka 8 April Ferrari Challenge Japan
Honda N-One Owner's Cup
2 9 April
3 Suzuka International Racing Course Suzuka, Mie 23 April All-Japan Road Racing Championship JSB1000
4 Autopolis Hita, Oita 21 May Super Formula Lights
5 Sportsland SUGO Shibata, Miyagi 18 June Super Formula Lights
6 Fuji Speedway Oyama, Shizuoka 16 July Lamborghini Super Trofeo Asia
7 Mobility Resort Motegi Motegi, Tochigi 20 August TCR Japan Touring Car Series
8 Suzuka International Racing Course Suzuka, Mie 28 October Honda N-One Owner's Cup
Toyota 86 Racing Series
9 29 October

Race results
Round Circuit Pole position Fastest lap Winning driver Winning team
1 Fuji Speedway Japan Tomoki Nojiri New Zealand Liam Lawson New Zealand Liam Lawson Team Mugen
2 Japan Tomoki Nojiri Japan Toshiki Oyu Japan Tomoki Nojiri Team Mugen
3 Suzuka International Racing Course Japan Toshiki Oyu Japan Ritomo Miyata Japan Ritomo Miyata Vantelin Team TOM'S
4 Autopolis Japan Sho Tsuboi Japan Sho Tsuboi New Zealand Liam Lawson Team Mugen
5 Sportsland SUGO Japan Toshiki Oyu New Zealand Liam Lawson Japan Ritomo Miyata Vantelin Team TOM'S
6 Fuji Speedway Japan Tadasuke Makino Japan Ryō Hirakawa New Zealand Liam Lawson Team Mugen
7 Mobility Resort Motegi Japan Tomoki Nojiri Japan Ryo Hirakawa Japan Tomoki Nojiri Team Mugen
8 Suzuka International Racing Course
9

Championship standings
Race points
Position  1st   2nd   3rd   4th   5th   6th   7th   8th   9th   10th 
Points 20 15 11 8 6 5 4 3 2 1
Qualifying points
Position  1st   2nd   3rd 
Points 3 2 1

Drivers' championship
Pos Driver FUJ1 SUZ1 AUT SUG FUJ2 MOT SUZ2 Points
1 Japan Ritomo Miyata 52 42 1 2 12 3 4 94
2 New Zealand Liam Lawson 13 5 4 12 5 12 133 86
3 Japan Tomoki Nojiri 21 11 Ret3 23 8 11 84
4 Japan Ryō Hirakawa 3 21† 3 5 11 4 2 51
5 Japan Sho Tsuboi Ret 2 22 31 7 11 Ret 50
6 Japan Tadasuke Makino 14 8 15 6 3 21 Ret 37
7 Japan Kenta Yamashita Ret 3 5 4 8 17 9 30
8 Japan Toshiki Oyu 7 203 Ret1 Ret Ret1 3 22
9 Japan Ren Sato 6 9 DNS 7 12 5 16 17
10 Japan Kamui Kobayashi Ret 6 14 11 6 9 7 16
11 Japan Sena Sakaguchi 17 10 6 Ret3 10 10 5 15
12 Japan Naoki Yamamoto 4 15 11 9 13 7 Ret 14
13 Japan Kazuya Oshima 9 11 13 12 4 12 8 13
14 Japan Kazuto Kotaka 10 14 7 19 14 14 6 10
15 Japan Kakunoshin Ohta 15 19 17 16 15 63 Ret2 8
16 Japan Nirei Fukuzumi Ret 7 10 8 16 16 14 8
17 Turkey Cem Bölükbaşı 8 17 9 15 17 18 11 5
18 Japan Yuji Kunimoto 12 16 16 10 9 15 10 4
19 France Giuliano Alesi Ret Ret 8 13 Ret 3
20 Japan Yuhi Sekiguchi 11 13 19 18 Ret 20 Ret 0
21 Japan Nobuharu Matsushita 13 12 12 Ret Ret 13 Ret 0
22 Japan Ukyo Sasahara 19 12 0
23 Japan Hiroki Otsu 14 21† 0
24 United Kingdom Raoul Hyman 16 18 18 17 18 Ret 15 0
Japan Riki Okusa
Pos Driver FUJ1 SUZ1 AUT SUG FUJ2 MOT SUZ2 Points
Key
Colour Result
GoldWinner
SilverSecond place
BronzeThird place
GreenOther points position
Blue Other classified position
Not classified, finished (NC)
PurpleNot classified, retired (Ret)
Red Did not qualify (DNQ)
Did not pre-qualify (DNPQ)
BlackDisqualified (DSQ)
White Did not start (DNS)
Race cancelled (C)
Blank Did not practice (DNP)
Excluded (EX)
Did not arrive (DNA)
Withdrawn (WD)
Did not enter (cell empty)
Text formatting Meaning
Bold Pole position
Italics Fastest lap

Teams' championship
Pos Team No. FUJ1 SUZ1 AUT SUG FUJ2 MOT SUZ2 Points
1 Japan Team Mugen 1 2 1 Ret 14 2 8 1 153
15 1 5 4 1 5 1 13
2 Japan Vantelin Team TOM’S 36 Ret Ret 8 13 Ret 19 12 91
37 5 4 1 2 1 3 4
3 Japan P.mu/Cerumo・INGING 38 Ret 2 2 3 7 11 Ret 59
39 Ret 10 6 Ret 10 10 5
4 Japan Itochu Enex Team Impul 19 11 13 19 18 Ret 20 Ret 51
20 3 21† 3 5 11 4 2
5 Japan Kondō Racing 3 Ret 3 5 4 8 17 9 40
4 10 14 7 19 14 14 6
6 Japan Docomo Team Dandelion Racing 5 14 8 15 6 3 2 Ret 39
6 15 19 17 16 15 6 Ret
7 Japan TCS Nakajima Racing 64 4 15 11 9 13 7 Ret 31
65 6 9 DNS 7 12 5 16
8 Japan TGM Grand Prix 53 7 20 Ret Ret Ret 21† 3 20
55 8 17 9 15 17 18 11
9 Hong Kong Kids com Team KCMG 7 Ret 6 14 11 6 10 7 20
18 12 16 16 10 9 15 10
10 Japan docomo business ROOKIE 14 9 11 13 12 4 12 8 13
11 Japan ThreeBond Racing 12 Ret 7 10 8 16 16 14 8
12 Japan B-Max Racing 50 13 12 12 Ret Ret 13 Ret 0
51 16 18 18 17 18 Ret 15
Pos Team No. FUJ1 SUZ1 AUT SUG FUJ2 MOT SUZ2 Points

Notes
  1. Hyman is a South African driver competing under a British licence.

References
  1. ""SUPER FORMULA NEXT 50" Project Start Announcement Japan Race Promotion, Honda, and TOYOTA are the core members of a newly formed mobility & entertainment technical development partnership | SUPER FORMULA Official Website". superformula.net. Retrieved 2022-01-22.
  2. "2023 Race Schedule | SUPER FORMULA Official Website". superformula.net. Retrieved 2022-08-08.
  3. "SUPER FORMULA Celebrates 50 YEARS Japan's top formula introduces major sustainability and new action in 2023 the New Carbon-Neutral "SF23" the New Digital Platform "SFgo" | SUPER FORMULA Official Website". superformula.net. Retrieved 2022-12-19.
  4. "Honda 2023 Motorsports Program Overview". Honda Racing. 12 December 2022. Retrieved 12 December 2022.
  5. "Tomoki Nojiri to miss Autopolis Super Formula race". www.motorsport.com. 2023-05-19. Retrieved 2023-05-19.
  6. "ThreeBond takes over Drago Corse Super Formula entry". motorsports.com. 21 February 2023. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  7. "Reborn TGM Super Formula team announces two-car 2023 entry". motorsport.com. 30 January 2023. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
  8. "Oyu, Bolukbasi fill final spots on 2023 Super Formula grid". www.motorsport.com. Retrieved 2023-03-03.
  9. "Oyu to skip Fuji Super Formula round after breaking collarbone". www.motorsport.com. Retrieved 2023-07-14.
  10. "TGM signs rookie Okusa for Suzuka Super Formula round". www.motorsport.com. Retrieved 2023-10-25.
  11. "Yamamoto to miss remaining Super Formula, SUPER GT races after Sugo crash". motorsport.com. 26 September 2023. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
  12. "TOYOTA GAZOO Racing announced its 2023 motorsport team setups". Toyota Gazoo Racing. 25 November 2021. Retrieved 25 November 2022.
  13. "Toyota signs Sasahara, but Alesi keeps Super Formula drive". www.motorsport.com. Retrieved 2023-01-12.
  14. "Super Formula: TOM'S axes Giuliano Alesi, Sasahara returns". www.motorsport.com. 2023-06-20. Retrieved 2023-06-20.
  15. "Team Goh announces split with Red Bull Junior Team". www.motorsport.com. 31 October 2022. Retrieved 12 January 2023.
  16. "Nissan announces Nato and Fenestraz for Season 9". FIA Formula E. Archived from the original on 2022-08-23. Retrieved 2022-11-25.
  17. "Super Formula: Ukyo Sasahara handed development driver role". www.motorsport.com. Retrieved 2023-03-03.
  18. "Super Formula: Ukyo Sasahara handed development driver role". www.motorsport.com. Retrieved 2023-03-03.
  19. "Oyu withdraws from Suzuka Super Formula finale". www.motorsport.com. Retrieved 2023-10-24.
  20. "Super Formula outlines 2023 calendar". www.motorsport.com. Retrieved 2022-08-08.
  21. "2023年全日本レース選手権カレンダー". motorsports.jaf.or.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved 2022-11-30.
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