2013 Formula Challenge Japan Explained

The 2013 Formula Challenge Japan was a multi-event motor racing championship for open-wheel formula racing cars, and the eighth and final season of the Formula Challenge Japan racing series, a young driver development series jointly supported by Honda, Toyota, and Nissan. The championship featured a mix of manufacturer-affiliated drivers and independent entries, and commenced on 30 March and ended on 10 November.[1] [2]

The championship was won by Toyota-backed rookie Kenta Yamashita after a season-long battle where the championship lead changed hands numerous times. Yamashita claimed the title after a hat-trick of wins at the final round in Fuji, more than doubling his points tally to emerge victorious in front of Honda-supported Tsubasa Takahashi and fellow Toyota junior Keishi Ishikawa. Hiroki Shinotani, who had led the championship going into the final round, slipped to fourth in the standings. The season saw five winners, with Yamashita claiming four, Takahashi winning thrice, Shinotani and Shō Tsuboi claiming two each, and Shōta Kiyohara dominating a single round.

This was the final season of Formula Challenge Japan before it was replaced by Japan Formula 4 in 2014, and by the FIA F4 Japanese Championship in 2015.

Teams and drivers

TeamDriverRounds
FTRS FCJ
Tokyo Toyopet FTRS
FTRS Scholarship FCJ
Ishiyaki Ramen Volcano FTRS FCJ
FTRS PTT
FTRS Scholarship SMR
FTRS TMC FCJ
Binchou & Dohtonbori FTRS
Autobacs FTRS FCJ
1 Kenta YamashitaAll
2 Yūki NemotoAll
3 Hiroki ShinotaniAll
6 Yuichi MikasaAll
7 Nanin Indra-Payoong1–9
9 Shinya Sean MichimiAll
11 Shō TsuboiAll
12 Takuma ImaiAll
13 Shūhei HayashiAll
15 Ren Nagabuchi8–9
HFDP Scholarship/SRS-F/Kotira R
HFDP ARTA
4 Tsubasa TakahashiAll
5 Keishi IshikawaAll
8 Shōta Kiyohara1–9
Exedy Racing Team10 Ai MiuraAll
NDDP FCJ14 Kiyoto FujinamiAll
Honda Cars Mie Team SBT16 Ryūnosuke Shibata10–12
Le Beausset Racing Academy17 Rintarō Kubo10–12
B-MAX18 Yūki Asahara10–12
Source

Race calendar and results

RoundCircuitDate
1Fuji Speedway, Oyama30 March Kiyoto Fujinami Keishi Ishikawa Shō Tsuboi
231 March Kiyoto Fujinami Shō Tsuboi Tsubasa Takahashi
3Twin Ring Motegi, Motegi11 May Nanin Indra-Payoong Kenta Yamashita Kenta Yamashita
412 May Shinya Sean Michimi Hiroki Shinotani Tsubasa Takahashi
5Fuji Speedway, Oyama22 June Kiyoto Fujinami Hiroki Shinotani Hiroki Shinotani
6 Kiyoto Fujinami Hiroki Shinotani
723 June Hiroki Shinotani Tsubasa Takahashi
8Fuji Speedway, Oyama24 August Shōta Kiyohara Shōta Kiyohara Shōta Kiyohara
925 August Shinya Sean Michimi Keishi Ishikawa Shō Tsuboi
10Suzuka Circuit, Suzuka9 November Kenta Yamashita Kenta Yamashita Kenta Yamashita
11 Kenta Yamashita Kenta Yamashita Kenta Yamashita
1210 November Tsubasa Takahashi Kenta Yamashita

Championship standings

Drivers' Championship

Points were awarded to the top six classified finishers, with one point awarded for pole position and fastest lap respectively.

DriverFUJMOTFUJFUJSUZPoints
1 Kenta Yamashita531610377211165
2 Tsubasa Takahashi1218146110922354
3 Keishi Ishikawa223852138633248
4 Hiroki Shinotani66941125364846
5 Shō Tsuboi17676753146536
6 Kiyoto Fujinami4Ret5324315†14108729
7 Shinya Sean Michimi954231311213971226
8 Shōta Kiyohara 311WDWD8881519
9 Yuichi Mikasa74Ret975441255616
10 Nanin Indra-PayoongRet82513121214710
11 Yūki Nemoto101271012111064121547
12 Shūhei Hayashi8101011DSQ96138810Ret1
- Takuma Imai111311131114Ret1111711130
- Ai Miura139Ret1291099151312110
- Ryūnosuke Shibata11990
- Ren Nagabuchi12100
- Rintarō KuboRet13100
- Yūki Asahara1414140
DriverFUJMOTFUJFUJSUZPoints
Bold – Pole
Italics – Fastest Lap

References

  1. Web site: 2013 Formula Challenge Japan - rounds . 2023-11-07 . Super Formula Formula Challenge Japan official website . ja.
  2. Web site: 2013 Formula Challenge Japan - Drivers . 2023-11-07 . Super Formula Formula Challenge Japan official website . ja.