1996 Formula Nippon Championship

The 1996 Formula Nippon Championship was the twenty-fourth season of premier Japanese single-seater racing, the first season under the management of the newly created Japan Race Promotion (JRP), and the first under the name Formula Nippon, after changing its name from the All-Japan Formula 3000 Championship.

The season was contested over 10 rounds across five venues. Fifteen different teams, 28 different drivers, three different chassis and three different engines competed. Team LeMans driver Ralf Schumacher became the first and only driver to win the Japanese Top Formula championship in his rookie season.

This was the final season for six-time Top Formula Champion Kazuyoshi Hoshino, who announced his retirement from the series prior to the start of the 1997 season. This was also the last year of open tyre competition between Bridgestone and Yokohama Rubber, as Bridgestone would be the series' sole supplier beginning in 1997.

Teams and drivers Team # Driver Chassis Engine Tyre RoundsKamome Service Racing Team with ImpulCalsonic Racing Team with Impul1 Toshio SuzukiLola T96/94Lola T96/52Mugen MF308 All19 Kazuyoshi HoshinoLola T96/95Lola T96/52AllTeam Anabuki Dome with MugenTeam avex Dome with Mugen2 Katsumi YamamotoDome F104iMugen MF308 All8 Shinji NakanoAllTeam 5ZIGEN5 Marco ApicellaReynard 95DReynard 96DJudd KV2 All6 Hidetoshi MitsusadaLola T95/50Reynard 96DAllAdvan Pal Checkers7 Masami KageyamaLola T95/50Judd KV2 All17 Taichiro OonishiLola T94/50Mugen MF308AllShionogi Team Nova9 Pedro de la RosaLola T96/51Mugen MF308 All10 Norberto FontanaAllSlim Beauty House Cerumo12 Yukihiro HaneLola T94/50Mugen MF308 AllNihon Lead Yamada15 Masao YamadaLola T94/50Mugen MF308 1–5, 7–8, 10 Tetsuya Tanaka6, 9Kanagawa Clinic Stellar20 Andrew Gilbert-ScottReynard 96DMugen MF308 All21 Michael KrummReynard 96DAllX Japan Racing Team LeMans24 Naoki HattoriReynard 96DMugen MF308 All25 Ralf SchumacherAllNavi Connection Racing Team27 Masahiko KageyamaReynard 96DMugen MF308 All28 Masahiko KondoReynard 94DReynard 95D1–7, 9–10 Tom Kristensen8Art Brilliant Gullwing30 Eiichi TajimaLola T94/50Mugen MF308 All31 Hideki OkadaLola T95/50AllFunai Super Aguri55 Katsutomo KaneishiReynard 95DMugen MF308 All56 Satoshi MotoyamaAllPIAA Nakajima Racing64 Toranosuke TakagiReynard 96DMugen MF308 All65 Takuya KurosawaAllAsahi Kiko Sports72 Atsushi KawamotoLola T93Cosworth DFV All73 Tetsuji TamanakaAll

Race calendar and results All races were held in Japan. RaceTrackDatePole positionFastest Race LapWinning driverWinning team1Suzuka Circuit28 April Toranosuke Takagi Michael Krumm Kazuyoshi HoshinoCalsonic Racing Team with Impul2Mine Circuit12 May Michael Krumm Norberto Fontana Ralf SchumacherX Japan Racing Team LeMans3Fuji Speedway26 May Ralf Schumacher Norberto Fontana Norberto FontanaShionogi Team Nova4Tokachi International Speedway23 June Toranosuke Takagi Michael Krumm Ralf SchumacherX Japan Racing Team LeMans5Suzuka Circuit7 July Toranosuke Takagi Shinji Nakano Toranosuke TakagiPIAA Nakajima Racing6Sportsland SUGO4 August Toranosuke Takagi Toranosuke Takagi Toranosuke TakagiPIAA Nakajima Racing7Fuji Speedway1 September Naoki Hattori Norberto Fontana Naoki HattoriX Japan Racing Team LeMans8Mine Circuit15 September Toshio Suzuki Katsutomo Kaneishi Ralf SchumacherX Japan Racing Team LeMans9Suzuka Circuit29 September Ralf Schumacher Shinji Nakano Naoki HattoriX Japan Racing Team LeMans10Fuji Speedway20 October Kazuyoshi Hoshino Shinji Nakano Katsutomo KaneishiFunai Super Aguri

Championship standings

Drivers' Championship Scoring system Position 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th Points 10 6 4 3 2 1

Rank Driver SUZ MIN FUJ TOK SUZ SUG FUJ MIN SUZ FUJ Points 1 Ralf Schumacher 3 1 19 1 4 Ret Ret 1 4 Ret40 2 Naoki Hattori 8 Ret 2 3 3 8 1 3 1 Ret38 3 Kazuyoshi Hoshino 1 Ret 3 4 5 2 Ret Ret 2 Ret31 4 Toranosuke Takagi Ret 3 Ret Ret 1 1 Ret Ret 6 Ret25 5 Norberto Fontana 14 2 1 Ret 8 Ret 2 Ret 11 Ret22 6 Shinji Nakano 2 13 Ret 9 6 7 3 2 9 420 7 Katsutomo Kaneishi 6 Ret 4 5 7 Ret 4 Ret Ret 119 8 Pedro de la Rosa 5 7 6 6 Ret 11 6 Ret 5 213 9 Takuya Kurosawa Ret 8 15 7 2 5 8 5 8 Ret10 10 Satoshi Motoyama 7 Ret 5 17 12 3 5 6 RetDNS9 11 Masami Kageyama 10 5 Ret 2 17 15 9 11 Ret Ret8 12 Toshio Suzuki 18 Ret 12 11 9 10 7 4 3 Ret7 13 Andrew Gilbert-Scott Ret Ret 7 14 Ret 4 Ret 7 Ret 55 14 Masahiko Kageyama Ret Ret Ret Ret 16 12 Ret 9 7 34 14 Michael Krumm 4 6 11 16 11 9 Ret Ret Ret Ret4 16 Marco Apicella 12 4 8 8 14 13 12 Ret 10 Ret3 17 Katsumi Yamamoto 9 Ret 10 Ret Ret 6 Ret 10 Ret Ret117 Masahiko Kondo Ret 9 16 13 Ret Ret 14 Ret 61 – Atsushi Kawamoto Ret 11 Ret 15 19 16 13 Ret Ret 70 – Tom Kristensen 80 – Hidetoshi Mitsusada Ret Ret 9 Ret 10 14 10 12 Ret Ret 0 – Hideki Okada 11 Ret 17 10 20 Ret 11 10 RetDNS0 – Taichiro Ohnishi 15 10 14 Ret 15 Ret Ret Ret 14 Ret0 – Eiichi Tajima 13 12 13 12 18 Ret Ret Ret RetDNS0 – Yukihiro Hane 16 Ret Ret Ret 13 Ret 16 13 12 Ret 0 – Tetsuya Tanaka Ret 13 0 – Tetsuji Tamanaka 17 Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret 15 Ret NC 0 – Masao Yamada DNQ DNQ 18 DNQ DNQ 15 DNQ Ret 0Bold – Pole Italics – Fastest Lap

Team's championship

Rank Team Car SUZ MIN FUJ TOK SUZ SUG FUJ MIN SUZ FUJ Points 1 X-Japan Le Mans24 8 Ret 2 3 3 8 1 3 1 Ret7825 3 1 19 1 4 Ret Ret 1 4 Ret 2 Team Impul1 18 Ret 12 11 9 10 7 4 3 Ret3819 1 Ret 3 4 5 2 Ret Ret 2 Ret 3 PIAA Nakajima64 Ret 3 Ret Ret 1 1 Ret Ret 6 Ret3565 Ret 8 15 7 2 5 8 5 8 Ret 4 Shionogi Nova9 5 7 6 6 Ret 11 6 Ret 5 23510 14 2 1 Ret 8 Ret 2 Ret 11 Ret 5 Funai Super Aguri55 6 Ret 4 5 7 Ret 4 Ret Ret 13556 7 Ret 5 17 12 3 5 6 Ret DNS 6 Mugen Dome2 9 Ret 10 Ret Ret 6 Ret 10 Ret Ret218 2 13 Ret 9 6 7 3 2 9 4 7 Kanagawa Clinic Stellar20 Ret Ret 7 14 Ret 4 Ret 7 Ret 5921 4 6 11 16 11 9 Ret Ret Ret Ret 8 Pal Checkers7 10 5 Ret 2 17 15 9 11 Ret Ret817 15 10 14 Ret 15 Ret Ret Ret 14 Ret 9 Navi Connection27 Ret Ret Ret Ret 16 12 Ret 9 7 3528 Ret 9 16 13 Ret Ret 14 8 Ret 6 10 5Zigen5 12 4 8 8 14 13 12 Ret 10 Ret36 Ret Ret 9 Ret 10 14 10 12 Ret Ret – Asahi Kiko Sports72 Ret 11 Ret 15 19 16 13 Ret Ret 7073 17 Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret 15 Ret NC – Art Brilliant Gullwing30 13 12 13 12 18 Ret Ret Ret Ret DNS031 11 Ret 17 10 20 Ret 11 10 Ret DNS – Slim Beauty House Cerumo 12 16 Ret Ret Ret 13 Ret 16 13 12 Ret 0 – Nihon Lead Yamada 15 DNQ DNQ 18 DNQ DNQ Ret 15 DNQ 13 Ret 0Bold – Pole Italics – Fastest Lap

Complete Overview first column of every race 10 = grid position second column of every race 10 = race result

R=retired NC=not classified NS=did not start NQ=did not qualify

Place Name Country Team Chassis Engine 1 Ralf Schumacher Team LeMans Reynard Mugen Honda 10 3 8 1 1 19 4 1 8 4 8 R 8 R 3 1 1 4 9 R 2 Naoki Hattori Team LeMans Reynard Mugen Honda 9 8 10 R 2 2 5 3 2 3 16 8 1 1 7 3 2 1 3 R 3 Kazuyoshi Hoshino Team Impul Lola Mugen Honda 2 1 4 R 5 3 18 4 4 5 3 2 4 R 6 R 4 2 1 R 4 Toranosuke Takagi Nakajima Racing Reynard Mugen Honda 1 R 5 3 10 R 1 R 1 1 1 1 2 R 19 R 3 6 4 R 5 Norberto Fontana Team Nova Lola Mugen Honda 16 14 11 2 4 1 8 R 22 8 15 R 6 2 8 R 17 11 11 R 6 Shinji Nakano Dome Mugen Dome Mugen 4 2 22 13 3 R 10 9 13 6 14 7 3 3 4 2 21 9 5 4 7 Katsutomo Kaneishi Super Aguri Reynard Mugen Honda 13 6 17 R 8 4 11 5 12 7 6 R 14 4 5 R 11 R 7 1 8 Pedro de la Rosa Team Nova Lola Mugen Honda 11 5 3 7 7 6 9 6 7 R 9 11 5 6 2 R 6 5 14 2 9 Takuya Kurosawa Nakajima Racing Reynard Mugen Honda 18 R 18 8 15 15 2 7 3 2 7 5 10 8 12 5 7 8 8 R 10 Satoshi Motoyama Super Aguri Reynard Mugen Honda 15 7 9 R 14 5 19 17 10 12 4 3 7 5 9 6 12 R 2 NS 11 Masami Kageyama Advan Sport Pal Lola Mugen Honda 14 10 12 5 11 R 7 2 16 17 11 15 20 9 15 11 13 R 18 R 12 Toshio Suzuki Team Impul Lola Mugen Honda 5 18 2 R 18 12 3 11 6 9 12 10 13 7 1 4 5 3 13 R 13 Andrew Gilbert Scott Stellar International Reynard Mugen Honda 21 R 19 R 17 7 13 14 9 R 2 4 23 R 13 7 15 R 15 5 14 Michael Krumm Stellar International Reynard Mugen Honda 3 4 1 6 19 11 6 16 17 11 10 9 16 R 18 R 14 R 17 R Masahiko Kageyama Navi Connection Racing Reynard Mugen Honda 8 R 15 R 12 R 16 R 5 16 13 12 9 R 16 9 8 7 12 3 16 Marco Apicella Team 5Zigen Reynard Judd 12 12 6 4 6 8 17 8 24 14 26 13 11 12 11 R 9 10 10 R 17 Katsumi Yamamoto Dome Mugen Dome Mugen 7 9 13 R 13 10 15 R 15 R 5 6 12 R 20 14 10 R 16 R Masahiko Kondo Navi Connection Racing Reynard Mugen Honda 20 R 21 9 22 16 22 13 20 R 17 R 19 14 - - 20 R 19 6 - Atsushi Kawamoto Asahi Kiko Sports Lola Cosworth 22 R 20 11 24 R 21 15 19 19 21 16 22 13 24 R 19 R 20 7 - Tom Kristensen Navi Connection Racing Reynard Mugen Honda - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 10 8 - - - - - Hidetoshi Mitsusada Team 5Zigen Lola Judd 6 R 16 R 9 9 14 R 11 10 Team 5Zigen Reynard Judd 22 14 15 10 17 12 16 R 6 R - Hideki Okada Team Gullwing Lola Mugen Honda 17 11 7 R 16 17 12 10 14 20 18 R 18 11 21 10 24 R 21 NS - Taichiro Oonishi Advan Sport Pal Lola Mugen Honda 23 15 24 10 21 14 23 R 21 15 24 R 24 R 23 R 23 14 24 R - Eiichi Tajima Team Gullwing Lola Mugen Honda 19 13 14 12 20 13 20 12 18 18 20 R 21 R 22 R 26 R 22 NS - Yukihiro Hane Team Cerumo Lola Mugen Honda 24 16 23 R 23 R 24 R 23 13 19 R 17 16 14 13 18 12 23 R - Tetsuya Tanaka Nihon Lead Yamada Lola Mugen Honda - - - - - - - - - - 23 R - - - - 22 13 - - - Tetsuji Tamanaka Asahi Kiko Sports Lola Cosworth 25 17 25 R 25 R 25 R 25 R 25 R 25 R 25 15 25 R 25 NC - Masao Yamada Nihon Lead Yamada Lola Mugen Honda 26 NQ 26 NQ 26 18 26 NQ 26 NQ - - 26 15 26 NQ - - 26 R

References

External links 1996 Japanese Championship Formula Nippon