Japan Series to use IRL engines
01/03/06 There are signs that Formula Nippon is reviving over in Japan with rule changes aimed at giving the series the kind of relevance it had back in the 1990s. The organizers of the Formula Nippon championship say they expect a grid of 22 cars this season, after a rule change which allows rival engine manufacturers to compete using old IRL engines.
Both of Japan's biggest motor manufacturers, Toyota and Honda, will be represented in the championship which will have three new two-car teams for 2006.
With just three months before the opening race at Suzuka, each of the teams has now chosen its engine partner.
Impul, Arting, Kondo, Le Mans, Cerumo and Team Mohn will run with Toyota engines, while Dandelion, Nakajima and 5Zigen will use the Honda powerplant.
The three new teams include the return of Aguri Suzuki's ARTA squad, running Honda engines, while TOMS and Inging will both use Toyota. Testing of the new engines continues on January 15th at Fuji, when Honda and Toyota will run on the same track together for the first time.
09/08/05 This rumor is upgraded to 'fact' today. Formula Nippon will use a new bespoke Lola chassis mated to the IRL engines detuned from 650 HP to 450 HP. The new car will have more downforce to handle the extra HP and Honda and Toyota will have an outlet for their old IRL engines.
09/06/05 It should be noted that in 2005 this series only had 13 drivers and raced on just 5 circuits (Suzuka; Motegi; Sportsland Sugo; Fuji; Mine), so it appears this series is not too healthy either. Motorsports in Asia in general is not thriving primarily because the Japanese auto manufacturers are spending the most money racing in Europe and the USA. It may take the Chinese and Korean companies to step in and start pumping money into Asian motorsports before we see motorsports prosper in that region of the world.
08/31/05 Rumor has it that the Formula Nippon Series may switch to detuned leftover IRL engines from Honda and Toyota. Perhaps some interesting ramifications if true.