1988 Japanese Grand Prix

The 1988 Japanese Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held at Suzuka on 23rd October 1988. It was the twelth and final race in both the 1988 Drivers' Championship and the 1988 Constructors' Championship.
== Qualifying ==
McLaren carried on their strong form late in the season by qualifying first and third, with Reyes taking pole position. Recently crowned champion Chuck Dingley crashed at the final corner on his first lap, forcing him to start from the back of the grid.
== Race Summary ==
Reyes held the lead of the race in a rolling start, closely followed by the Williams of O'Conner. Meanwhile, Takeda and Wilson battled for third. Takeda was ahead of Wilson until he locked up and went wide at the chicane on lap six. Wilson would stay ahead of the Japanese driver for only half a lap until he made mistake and had a half spin at the exit of the Degners, picking up front wing damage in the process.
O'Conner pressured Reyes but was unable to find a way past as the race entered the pitstop phase. Reyes pitted first for mediums, with O'Conner staying out for several laps to later pit for softs, echoing Chuck Dingley's strategy in the Italian Grand Prix. O'Conner exited the pits and ran for a lap until going wide at the exit of turn two and spinning off into the barriers. His retirement lifted the pressure for Reyes and he coasted to the finish.
Chuck Dingley had made his way through the field and closed in on his teammate Jack Wilson with just a few laps until the finish. He eventually caught Wilson on lap 20 and they went side-by-side through Spoon corner before continuing their battle onto the next straight. Dingley tried to outbrake Wilson into the chicane but they collided with both drivers going off. Dingley's car suffered terminal damage whilst Wilson continued and pitted to repair. The repairs dropped him into fifth and he charged in the last two laps to catch the Ligier of Skylar West. He passed West in a brave move around the outside of 130R, giving him fourth. McLaren took their first one-two finish of the season, with Minardi's Javier Navarro finishing on the podium. 
== Classification ==
== Championship Standings ==
Pos	Driver 	Points
1 	Chuck Dingley 	119
2 	Jack Wilson 	95
3 	Santiago Reyes 	74
4 	Hideki Takeda 	62
5 	Fabiano Margheriti	61
Pos	Constructor	Points
1 	Ferrari 	229
2 	McLaren 	156
3 	Williams 	65
4 	Ligier 	55
5 	Lotus 	54
== Lap Leaders ==
Santiago Reyes (Laps 1-23)
Category:Races