MEDIA INFORMATION
September 19, 2017
Japan Race Promotion Inc.

Round 6 : September 23 (Saturday) – September 24 (Sunday)

2017 Japanese SUPER FORMULA Championship : Sportsland SUGO
Japan Race Promotion Inc. (President: Akira Kurashita, Head office: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan) today announced details of Round 6 of
the 2017 Japanese SUPER FORMULA Championship Series, scheduled to take place on September 23-24 at the Sportsland SUGO
International Racing Course (length = 3.704 km) in Miyagi Prefecture, Japan.
Round 6 will feature an official qualifying session based on a knock-out format, followed by a championship race run over 68 laps
(251.88 km) of the circuit.
Sportsland SUGO, the venue for Round 6, is a relatively short circuit with a large variation in gradient of about 70m and a succession of
medium-to-high speed corners, making it a challenging course that gives drivers little time to think. This layout leads to regular incidents,earning SUGO respect from drivers and the wider racing community.
With only two rounds to go, Hiroaki Ishiura (P.MU/CERUMO・INGING) remains top of the driver standings, but rookie Pierre Gasly(TEAM MUGEN) has moved up to second after two straight wins at Motegi and Autopolis. Felix Rosenqvist (SUNOCO TEAM LEMANS)
is steadily improving and now sits on third after three consecutive podium finishes. Andre Lotterer (VANTELIN TEAM TOM’S), who has
secured points in every race except for Round 5, is fourth, rounding out a tight battle for the championship between experienced drivers
and rookies at the top of the standings.
To retain any chance of winning the championship in the final round, all the top drivers will need to secure points in Round 6. SportslandSUGO is again set to host a very competitive race this year.

No. 15 Pierre Gasly (TEAM MUGEN) is second in the driver standings
after two straight wins in his first SUPER FORMULA season

■ OFFICIAL QUALIFYING KNOCK-OUT FORMAT

Q1 (20 minutes): Top 14 cars progress to Q2, grid positions 15-19 fixedQ2 (7 minutes): Top 8 cars progress to Q3, grid positions 9-14 fixedQ3 (7 minutes): Grid positions 1-8 fixed● 10 minute intervals between each qualifying.
● As the name suggests, drivers are knocked out if they do not post good enough times during the first two qualifying rounds.

■ CHAMPIONSHIP RACE

68 laps (1 lap: 3.704 km x 68 = 251.88 km)■ Sportsland SUGO International Racing Course
Sportsland SUGO, the venue for Round 6, has a large variation in gradient of about 70m and a number of medium-to-high speed corners.
After exiting the technical section in the first half of the circuit, drivers climb to the course’s apex near Hi-Point Corner, then drop sharply into theBack Stretch. From the Last Corner to the Home Stretch, the circuit gradient rises 10%. The relatively short layout means Sportsland SUGO isa challenging course that gives drivers little time to think.

2017 JAPANESE SUPER FORMULA Championship Round 6 : ENTRY LIST (Chassis: SF14, Tires: Yokohama)
NO.

DRIVERDATE OF BIRTH
PLACE OF BIRTH

1Yuji Kunimoto

12 September 1990
Japan

2Hiroaki Ishiura

23 April 1981
Japan

3

Nick Cassidy

19 August 1994
New Zealand

4Kenta Yamashita

3 August 1995
Japan

7

Felix Rosenqvist

7 November 1991
Sweden30 April 1987

8Kazuya Oshima

10Koudai Tsukakoshi

20 November 1986
Japan

15Pierre Gasly

7 February 1996
France16Naoki Yamamoto

11 July 1988
Japan

18

Kamui Kobayashi

13 September 1986
Japan

19Yuhi Sekiguchi

29 December 1987
Japan

Jann Mardenborough9 September 1991
United Kingdom

36

Andre Lotterer

19 November 1981
Germany

37

Kazuki Nakajima

11 January 1985
Japan

40

Tomoki Nojiri

15 September 1989
Japan

41

Takuya Izawa

1 June 1984
Japan

50

Takashi Kogure

1 August 1980
Japan

64

Daisuke Nakajima

29 January 1989
Japan

Narain Karthikeyan

MANAGERENGINE

P.MU / CERUMO・INGING

Yuji Tachikawa

TOYOTA
RI4A

KONDO RACING

Masahiko Kondo

TOYOTA
RI4A

SUNOCO TEAM LEMANS

Tatsuya Kataoka

TOYOTARI4A

REAL RACING

Katsutomo Kaneishi

HONDA
HR-417E

TEAM MUGEN

Nagataka Tezuka

HONDA
HR-417E

KCMG

Ryuji DoiTOYOTA
RI4A

ITOCHU ENEX TEAM IMPUL

Kazuyoshi Hoshino

TOYOTA
RI4A

VANTELIN TEAM TOM’S

Nobuhide Tachi

TOYOTA
RI4A

DOCOMO TEAMDANDELION RACING

Kiyoshi Muraoka

HONDA
HR-417E

B-MAX RACING TEAM

Ryuji Kumita

HONDA
HR-417E

TCS NAKAJIMA RACING

Satoru Nakajima

HONDA
HR-417E

Japan

2065

ENTRANT

14 January 1977
India

2017 STANDINGSDRIVERS Standings
Pos.

No.

          
 

DriverPts.

      

30.5

50.5

5105512

Hiroaki Ishiura

215

Pierre Gasly

250014101037

Felix Rosenqvist

24.5

00

2.5

868436

Andre Lotterer

20

453

620537

Kazuki Nakajima

161100203619

Yuhi Sekiguchi

1505

5

500

718

Kamui Kobayashi

14.5

0

2.5

208281

Yuji Kunimoto

11600104916

Naoki Yamamoto

10.5

820.5

000103Nick Cassidy

7030040114

Kenta Yamashita

6.501

1.5040128

Kazuya Oshima

60000061341

Takuya Izawa

4100300

1420

Jann Mardenborough

3.50

1.5010115

10

Koudai Tsukakoshi

33000001664

Daisuke Nakajima

22000001740

Tomoki Nojiri

200001150

Takashi Kogure

000000065

Narain Karthikeyan

0000000     

* Winners are in Bold italics / Polesitters are in Bold.

TEAMS StandingsPos.

           No. TeamPts.

      

11|239.5

110.541059215|16 TEAM MUGEN

35.5821.5

41010336|37 VANTELIN TEAM TOM’S35145382347|830.5

002.58614519|20 ITOCHU ENEX TEAM IMPUL

17.505.55601P.MU/CERUMO·INGING

SUNOCO TEAM LEMANS

6KCMG

14.502.5208273|4KONDO RACING

12.5041.5070840|41 DOCOMO TEAM DANDELION RACING510031033000002200000000000091010REAL RACING64|65 TCS NAKAJIMA RACING50

B-MAX RACING TEAM     

* Winners are in Bold italics* Team points: Team Points are the total number of points won by the driver or drivers attached to that team (entrant). Should a team (entrant) enter more than two cars at any race
event, only the best two results shall be taken into account. Pole position points shall not be included in Team Points.

ROUND 6 at Sportsland SUGO
■ Official name :2017 Japanese SUPER FORMULA Championship Series Round 6 : Sportsland SUGO

■ Dates :2017 September 23 (Saturday) : QUALIFYING
2017 September 24 (Sunday) : RACE

■ Location :Sportsland SUGO International Racing Course, Miyagi Prefecture (Circuit length: 3.704 km)■ Hosted by :SUGO Co., Ltd.
SUGO SPORTS CLUB (SSC)■ Official recognition by :Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA)Japan Automobile Federation (JAF)■ Authorized by :Japan Race Promotion Inc. (JRP)■ Sponsored by :Miyagi Prefecture Tourism Federation
Murata Town
KAHOKU SHIMPO PUBLISHING CO.
Natori City

■ Held jointly with :2017 Japanese Formula 3 Championship Round 19 & 20
2017 JAF SUGO Super FJ CHAMPIONSHIP Round 32017 N-ONE OWNER'S CUP Round 13

TV Coverage & Race Footage Delivery[ TV Broadcasts ]● BS Fuji :Live Race Broadcast “2017 SUPER FORMULA Round 6 Sportsland SUGO”
This program will be broadcast “live” and hosted by Super Formula’s official commentator Pierre Kitagawa, with additionalcommentary by Super Formula ambassador Satoshi Motoyama. Tsugio Matsuda, a highly respected technical commentator,and Miki Higashi, will give reports from the pit as well as after-race interviews. as well as after-race interviews.

Trackside:

Pierre Kitagawa

Commentary:

Satoshi Motoyama

Pit reporters:

Tsugio Matsuda and Miki Higashi

Broadcast time:

September 24 (Sun) at 14:00 -15:55＊For more info on the program, visit the BS Fuji website < http://www.bsfuji.tv/superfomuralive/pub/index.html >● BS Fuji :“Super Formula Go On!”
This talk-show program hosted by Super Formula drivers Kamui Kobayashi and Daisuke Nakajima will showcase the appealof Super Formula by introducing key people from the sport today. High-profile guests from within and outside the industry will
be featured each program. Pierre Kitagawa will assist the hosts, and Hina Higuchi, a member of top-idol girl band Nogizaka 46,
will narrate the show. In the race digest segment, Tsugio Matsuda, the pit reporter in the “live” broadcast will deliver in-depth
commentary, complemented by reports from the race track by Miki Higashi.

Broadcast time:

Show # 6

Show # 7

September 17 (Sun)25:00 -25:55

September 23 (Sat)

23:00 -23:55 (Re-broadcast)

October 7 (Sat)

23:00 -23:55

October 15 (Sun)25:00 -25:55 (Re-broadcast)＊For more info on the show, visit the BS Fuji website < http://www.bsfuji.tv/superfomura/pub/index.html >● J SPORTS :Live broadcasts of all rounds (both qualifying and races). Re-broadcasts and digest programs will be aired.
Round 6 Sportsland SUGO
Broadcast time:

Qualifying

September 23 (Sat)

13:00 -15:00[ Live coverage on J SPORTS 3 ]Race

September 24 (Sun)13:40 -16:30[ Live coverage on J SPORTS 3 ]＊For more info on the programs, visit J SPORTS website < http://www.jsports.co.jp/motor/super_formula/ >[ Online Video Distribution ]● GYAO ! :All SUPER FORMULA championship races will be available to view for free on-demand 15 days after the race.
*Distribution times may change. < http://gyao.yahoo.co.jp/sports/ >● motorsport.tv :All Super Fomula races will be streamed “live” via motorsport.tv outside of Japan.
See< motorsport.tv >for more details.

● YouTube :A digest featuring the qualifying sessions and championship races will be uploaded the evening of the races.
*Distribution times may change. For more information, visit the Japanese SUPER FORMULA Championship official website on
the evening after qualifying and the race: http://www.superformula.net/superformulavideo-YouTube : < https://www.youtube.com/user/superformulavideo >[ Internet / Social Media ]SUPER FORMULA Official website : < http://superformula.net/apf/ap/nlist_h.dll/?lang=en >SUPER FORMULA Official Facebook : < https://www.facebook.com/superformula.official >SUPER FORMULA Official twitter: < https://twitter.com/SUPER_FORMULA >Visit the SUPER FORMULA official website <http://www.superformula.net/> for updates.

Ticket Information & Enquiries■ Advance purchase・Admission ticket (valid for both days)：¥ 5,200 (Single)

Group ticket
・Admission ticket (valid for both days)◉ 2 persons : ¥ 9,400 (¥4,700 per person)◉ 3 persons : ¥14,100 (¥4,700 per person)◉ 4 persons : ¥18,800 (¥4,700 per person)

・Paddock pass ＋ Pit-walk(valid for both days)■ At the door：¥23,200 (Adult)：¥10,300 (Junior high school students and younger)

・Parking ticket：Passenger car ¥ 3,500

・Admission ticket：¥ 3,100 (sat)(valid for both days)：¥ 6,200 (sun)・Paddock pass ＋ Pit-walk：¥ 4,500 (sat)：¥ 6,500 (sun)・Pit-walk pass：¥ 2,500 (sat)：¥ 2,500 (sun)・Parking ticket (one day)：Passenger car ¥ 1,000 / Motorcycles ¥ 500*Junior high school students and younger are eligible for free entry with their guardian; students in high school and college areeligible for discounted tickets with their student ID cards
Ticket details: Please visit the Sportsland SUGO official website for more details.
< https://www.sportsland-sugo.co.jp/watch/20170924_sf/502 >FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT US AT :Japan Race Promotion Inc.

Heiando Building, 2-3-25

E-mail : media@superformula.net

Kudan-minami,Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo

E-mail : media@jrp-inc.net

102-0074, JAPANTe l : +81 (0)3 3237 0131
Fax : +81 (0)3 3237 0135

GET TO KNOW THE BASICS■ WHAT IS SUPER FORMULA?
Japanese SUPER FORMULA Championship is the top category of formula racing in Japan featuring purpose-built racing cars with a single-seat,
open cockpit and open wheels. Organized by Japan Race Promotion, Inc. and fully sanctioned by the Japan Automobile Federation (JAF), SUPERFORMULA traces back its origins to the Japanese Championship Formula NIPPON first launched in 1996. 2013 saw the re-launch of the series
under the new name of SUPER FORMULA.
■ ABOUT THE CHAMPIONSHIPThe 2017 Japanese SUPER FORMULA Championship Series is the only internationally accredited driver championship in Asia, run over seven*1rounds and six circuits across Japan. A total of 11 teams (entrants) and 19 drivers (cars) from Japan and overseas are competing to win this year’sseries.
*1
13 drivers from Japan and six from six other countries: New Zealand, Sweden, France, UK, Germany, and India

2017 CHAMPIOSHIP RACE CALENDARDATESCIRCUITQUALIFYING FORMATRACE FORMAT

Knockout

200km

Timed/Knockout

2-RacesRound 1

April 22 – 23

Suzuka Circuit

Round 2

May 27 – 28

OKAYAMA International Circuit

Round 3

July 8 – 9Fuji Speedway

Knockout

250km

Round 4

August 19 – 20

Twin Ring Motegi

Knockout

250km

Round 5September 9 – 10

AUTOPOLIS International Racing Course

Knockout

250km

Round 6

September 23– 24

Sportsland SUGO

Knockout

250km

Round 7*

October 21 – 22

Suzuka Circuit

Knockout

2-Races*“The 16th JAF GRAND PRIX SUZUKA”

2017 CHAMPIONSHIP POINT SCORING SYSTEM
Winner

2nd3rd4th

5th

6th7th8th9th & beyond

PP1 race round10865432

10

1

2 races round Race 15 (+3)

43

2.5

2

1.5

10.5

0

1

2 races round Race 25 (+3)

43

2.5

2

1.5

1

0.5

0

1

POSITION

Notes:1) For 2-race formats, half the number of points shall be awarded in each of the two races except for pole position which brings one point for each race.
2) In Round 7 (Final Round) in Suzuka Circuit, the winner(s) in race 1 and race 2 shall be awarded an additional 3 points per race. Should the same driver take pole position and win in
both race 1 and race 2, he would earn a maximum of 18 points for the Round.
3) In the event of any ties for position, the driver or team with superior race results—based on descending order from number of wins to number of second places and so forth—will gain
precedence.
Rookie of the Year:
Should there be three or more rookie drivers participating for the first time in the SUPER FORMULA series, the rookie driver with the highest number of points at the end of the season
shall be named Rookie of the Year.
Team Points:a) Team Points are calculated by adding the points earned by the driver or drivers belonging to the team.
b) Should a team enter more than two cars at any race event, only the best two results shall be taken into account.
c) Pole position points shall not be included in the Team Points.

■ CHAMPIONSHIP AWARDSThe Drivers’ Championship title is awarded to the driver who scores the most points over the course of the season. The Champion is awarded
the Series Driver’s Champion Cup and prize money by Japan Race Promotion, Inc. In addition, the Champion receives the Confederation’s Cupoffered by the Parliamentary Association for Motorsport Promotion of the Liberal Democratic Party of Japan, as well as the Commissioner’s Cup fromthe Japan Tourism Agency. For the Team Champion, the Minister’s Cup will be awarded by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, plus prize
money from Japan Race Promotion, Inc.

■ RACE CAR● Chassis

Since 2014, SUPER FORMULA race cars have used the SF14 chassis, which is made by Italian company Dallara and is based on the “quick andlight” design concept. The adoption of the SF14 chassis has led to a dramatic improvement in the quality of races, leading to greater interest inSUPER FORMULA overseas.
● Engines*2

Honda and Toyota, two of Japan’s leading automakers, have developed engines for SUPER FORMULA based on the NRE engine concept , whichis part of each automaker’s efforts to develop next-generation engines. SUPER FORMULA cars are currently powered by the HONDA HR-417E or
the TOYOTA R14A.
All engines are fitted with fuel flow restrictors. By setting fuel flow limits, the key to winning races is how efficiently fuel can be converted into power.
Competitive development between automakers has resulted in a highly efficient engine with higher brake specific fuel consumption (BSFC) and net
thermal efficiency better than hybrid vehicles currently on the market, helping to advance the development of next-generation engines.
*2NRE engine specifications
Honda, Toyota and Nissan together agreed on a number of criteria for race engines that incorporate environmental technology while also preserving theexcitement of motor sport.
Cylinder configuration : Inline-fourDisplacement: 2,000cc + turbo

Fuel intake system: Direct injection

Fuel flow limits: 95kg/h for Suzuka and Fuji Speedway circuits, 90kg/h for other circuits● Overtaking System

SUPER FORMULA introduced an overtaking system (OTS) in 2009 as part of initiatives to make races more exciting. SUPER FORMULA was thefirst competition in the world to adopt this system. The OTS encourages drivers to make more overtaking maneuvers, one of the most exciting parts*3of motorsport. The SF14 OTS system uses the fuel flow restrictor fitted to engines to temporarily increase fuel flow to the engine, boosting power .
Drivers use a button on the steering wheel to activate the system for 20 seconds up to five times during a race or five times total for 2-race formats.
The Overtaking Lamps (OTL) on the roll hoop indicate when the system is in use, allowing spectators to see when drivers have activated their OTS.
The racing driver with the most Championship points has the distinction of an OTL with red lamps, called "leader’s red” whereas the other cars’ OTL
lamps are white.
*3

Overtaking system specifications
Mechanism : Activating the overtaking system boosts fuel flow by 10kg/hImpact: Activating the overtaking system increases engine output by around 60PS, or 10%

Rules: Drivers are allowed to use the system up to five times per race for 20 seconds each time.

● Tires

Yokohama Rubber became the sole tire supplier from the 2016 season. Yokohama Rubber’s ADVAN racing tires perform well against SUPERFORMULA’s rigorous criteria for grip, durability and safety, adding to the excitement of race events.