At a press conference in Tokyo on Monday, the Japan Race Promotion (JRP) presented its wide vision for the future of Super Formula. Called Super Formula NEXT 50, the governing body of Japan’s top formula series wants to introduce carbon-neutral fuel, revamp its race format as well as its digital presence and aim to become the highest tier of formula racing in Asia.
1973 saw the birth of top formula racing in Japan. Back then, it was titled a bold move, because sports and touring car races dominated the domestic motorsports scene. Even the Japanese Grand Prix was held as an event for sports and touring cars in the 1960s, until the Japanese Automobile Federation (JAF) revived the event as a race for single seater formula cars in 1971. Since its popularity wasn’t as high as in the 60s, the JAF launched the All-Japan F2000 Championship, a category modeled after the European Formula 2 series, to promote domestic formula racing. However, while F2 required an engine based on a mass produced unit, the Japanese organizers went a step further by also accepting pure race engines, hence the name F2000. 50 years later, formula racing is still going strong in the land of the rising sun, wearing the well appropriate name Super Formula. To commemorate the 50th anniversary in 2022, the JRP has launched a project called Super Formula NEXT 50 – a Japanese wordplay on „Super Formula Go“ (the number 5 is pronounced „go“ in Japanese) – for the next 50 years in cooperation with Toyota and Honda. At a press conference in Tokyo on Monday, the involved parties presented their first steps into the future.
Drivers first
Japanese top formula racing morphed from F2000 into Formula 2 in 1978 and into Formula 3000 in 1987. Succeeding the All-Japan F3000 Championship was Formula Nippon in 1996, which also marked the start of the JRP era. In 2013, the series renamed itself to Super Formula with the clear aim to spread the appeal of the series throughout Asia and to become the highest tier of formula racing next to Formula 1 and the American IndyCar Series. As one of the pinnacles of Japanese motorsport, the series saw the rise of many local talents such as Kazuyoshi Hoshino, Satoru Nakajima and Kunimitsu Takahashi, who would later enter the world’s stage in Formula 1 or sports car racing.
Since the 90s, many young talents like Michael Schumacher and his brother Ralf Schumacher (the inaugural Formula Nippon champion in 1996), Eddie Irvine, André Lotterer, Pierre Gasly, Felix Rosenqvist, Naoki Yamamoto, Tomoki Nojiri, but also accomplished veteran drivers like Kazuki Nakajima, Kamui Kobayashi and 2021 IndyCar champion Alex Palou would earn their spoils in Japan, increasing the popularity and interest of the series globally. They all gave Super Formula the reputation of being one of the most challenging series to compete in. The JRP wants to build upon this cornerstone and raise the bar higher to turn Super Formula into a series both Japanese as well as international drivers want to race in. The vision: Turning Super Formula into Asia’s top formula series. In order to achieve that, the promoters need to captivate the worldwide motorsport fans. „From 2022 on, we will make changes to how we release information and make it even more enjoyable for the fans coming to the circuits“, explained JRP director and project leader Yoshihisa Ueno.
An alternate race format starting 2022
Starting 2022, the JRP wants to adopt a double-header format for some of the championship rounds, by having one race each on both Saturday and Sunday, similar to last year’s two-race round at Suzuka. No details were given on which events will follow this format or if there will be any changes to the somewhat controversial move to shorten the races and ban refueling since the start of the 2020 season.
Carbon-neutral fuel and partnerships for a mobility and entertainment testing ground
„The cars used in motorsport have evolved with the times, with enhanced engine developments and improved tire technology contributing greatly to creating more speed, especially in the realm of formula cars. However, in recent years, the move to a decarbonized society to provide environmental change on a global scale leads to a new challenge of having to find new, innovative technical developments for both the pursuit of more speed and further enhancements to racing cars.“ Thus, Super Formula will form a partnership with Toyota, Honda and Super GT to introduce carbon-neutral fuel in the near future, since the two-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engines used in both series are near identical. While Super GT plans to run with ethanol-based carbon-neutral fuel (our article about the announcement) starting 2023, the JRP hasn’t named a timeframe yet. However, it seems reasonable to expect the change alongside the introduction of the next-generation car currently rumored for 2024.
Toyota and Honda will hold the first tests using carbon-neutral fuel in 2022. As part of the Super Formula NEXT 50 initiative, the series will be running test cars equipped with technology that is still in development and use them as a testing ground for the support and development of new technologies. Project leader Ueno explains: „Our idea is to display the process for the whole world to see as we search for solutions needed to make the motorsport of tomorrow.“ As part of Super Formula’s efforts to a carbon-neutral shift, they will also be testing new power trains as well as innovations such as a bio-composite chassis derived from plants and other natural materials. „As the tests are conducted, we will look into ways how to include those technical developments in the next generation formula cars.“ The design of said test cars was presented using the the PlayStation 4 video game Gran Turismo Sport by Polyphony Digital, which is also being used for an esports competition sponsored by the JRP and JAF.
In time for the 2022 season, the JRP plans to revamp its digital presence and change its way how they communicate with the fans: „Super Formula will use the shift to digital content as the base for how we provide entertainment to our fans. Video, music, data, telecommunications, AI, games and animation will be just a few of the technologies that we tap into to provide an all new type of motorsport entertainment experience as only Japan can deliver to the world.“ To increase the championship’s exposure, the JRP will work with more external partners such as consultancy firm Deloitte Tohmatsu Financial Advisory LLC, who were one of the main sponsors of TOM’s in Super Formula Lights this year.
Starting 2022, Super Formula will launch a digital platform designed for smartphones to deliver additional content and enhance the viewing experience. Next to a live broadcast of the races, the fans will be able to watch on-board videos of all drivers, check the telemetry data of the cars (speed, current location on the track, remaining amount of OTS etc.) as well as listen to the drivers‘ radio communications. „This will allow fans to select their favorite drivers to follow, while comparatively analyzing different cars, adding to the overall fan experience.“ Next to additional video content outside the race weekends, the app will provide the fans to interact with the drivers and teams as well as give them a place to voice their opinions. Further information about Super Formula’s innovative digital platform are set to be announced in January next year.
Through the Super Formula NEXT 50 project, the JRP hopes to contribute to the sustainability of the motorsport industry, while at the same time adding to the appeal of Super Formula for motorsport fans around the globe to experience. Satoru Nakajima, chairman of the JRP, explains that they mustn’t be concerned with what the sport has been in the past, but listen to what it could be in the future by including the progress that has been achieved in various fields. „Together with Honda, Toyota, our other partners as well as our fans, we will build a new Super Formula for the future.“ Koji Watanabe, who is the chief officer for brand communication operations at Honda, added that drivers like Pierre Gasly, Alex Palou, Kamui Kobayashi and Kazuki Nakajima all left their mark by competing in Super Formula and have gone on to race on the world stage. „I’m extremely delighted that we will be part of the Super Formula NEXT 50 project, a project that will help to produce even more drivers in Japan’s top formula category. Honda will continue to give support to racing drivers so that they may compete in top categories around the world. Additionally, we will continue to help produce top-level race engineers, mechanics and other professionals involved in motorsport.“
Like Nakajima and Watanabe, Toyota Gazoo Racing Company president Koji Sato shared his gratitude to all fans for their enormous support. „Super Formula is an extremely important series. It’s a drivers‘ race with its participants being absolute ‚motorsport athletes‘. In addition, motorsport is an extremely valuable testing ground where new technology is forged in the search for a faster car with a very limited lead time to solve problems and improve performance. We are very happy to be part of this new project with JRP. Honda and our other partners.“
When the JAF founded the All-Japan F2000 Championship in 1973, it was seen as a bold move as the domestic motorsport community was dominated by sports and touring cars at that time. Almost 50 years later, sports car and formula racing are as strong as ever, going hand in hand to try to create not just a sustainable motorsport industry, but also turn it into a culture. Super Formula’s vision certainly is bold, but the past showed that boldness is required. The ever changing environmental and social landscape requires motorsport to go with the times, not just by developing the appropriate technology, but also by how it is presented to the fans. As Satoru Nakajima said: „We need to continue to provide the allure of the sport to children long into the future.“
Exciting times are ahead for Super Formula, especially with the concept of the new digital platform, which should make the series more transparent and get it even closer to old and new fans alike. However, as three-time champion Naoki Yamamoto, who was invited to the press conference alongside Kamui Kobayashi, pointed out: Change isn’t something that happens overnight. „It’s relatively easy to set goals, but it’s very difficult to realize and implement them. I don’t know if this project will reach the level that the fans expect in the first year, but we will try our best to make it a better season by letting the fans provide us with improvements.“
Here’s to the next 50 years, Super Formula!
Copyright Photos: Japan Race Promotion