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59-676: The Ginetta GT4 Supercup is a one-make racing , Sports car racing series based in the United Kingdom , using identical Ginetta G50 and G55 sports cars. The championship supported the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) until the end of the 2022 season, then became a class in the British Endurance Championship run by Britcar . The championship began as the Ginetta G50 Cup in 2008, supporting

118-664: A development class , the classic example being America's Cup 12-metre class , or to the box rule used, for example, in the TP 52 class. A further category, the formula based class setup, is sometimes confused with one design. The Mini Transat 6.50 , the Volvo Open 70 monohull, the large ORMA trimaran, and the Formula 18 racing beach catamaran are the exponents of the formula approach. Class-legal boats race each other without any handicap calculations in both setups. However, under one design

177-438: A racing class that consists of just one model or design of a sailboat . In one-design racing, the first boat to finish wins the race. This is contrasted with handicap racing, where time is added or subtracted from the finishing times based on design factors and mathematical formulas to determine the winner. In between One-design and handicap racing, a number of other approaches exist. One-design classes can be contrasted with

236-461: A general rule, the tolerances are strictest in smaller boats like dinghy classes and small keelboats. In some cases the tolerances are specified in a confidential Building Specification and often everything is designed and produced at the same factory or a very few factories. Examples are the Laser , Melges 24 , and several small keelboats designed by Nathanael Greene Herreshoff, such as the 12½ . In others

295-511: A lifting boiler plate capable of being lifted. The boat was called The Water Wag . The idea was quickly adopted by sailors in Ireland, England, India and South America. The Water Wag Club still thrives in Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin. The Solent One Design Class was one of the earliest one-design classes formed after discussions took place in 1893 and subsequent years. It quickly became popular, and

354-587: A new Formula Two series from 1988 . However, all entrants ran Formula 3000 cars in 1987 . So, the 1987 Formula Two Championship was cancelled due to no entry of any cars for that format. Switching to the open Formula 3000 standard in 1987, the All-Japan Formula 3000 Championship officially started in 1988. During the late 1980s, a number of factors contributed to a surge in popularity for Japanese Top Formula racing. Honda -powered Formula One teams began winning multiple championships. The Japanese Grand Prix

413-637: A new generation of Japanese talents, led by 1988 champion Aguri Suzuki , and 1991 champion Ukyo Katayama - who would each go on to enjoy significant tenures in Formula One. The prosperous conditions within All-Japan F3000 also attracted many promising young drivers outside of Japan to compete in the series. Among those drivers included future Formula One Grand Prix winners Jean Alesi , Johnny Herbert , Eddie Irvine , and Heinz-Harald Frentzen . The most notable of these young drivers from outside Japan, however,

472-401: A platform to prove their ability in an attempt to move to Formula One or elsewhere. The bulk of the grid consists of Japanese drivers, most of whom have the goal of forging successful long-term careers in the series. Foreign drivers have always been regular participants in the series, and there have been several drivers to come from a Japanese Top Formula drive to a prominent Formula One role;

531-495: A race. The Dallara SF23 , a slightly modified version of the SF19, was unveiled on December 13, 2022, and has been used since the 2023 season. It has upgraded aerodynamics to improve overtaking and wheel-to-wheel racing. Source: Source: Dallara SF23 Specifications (2023–present) In terms of drivers, Super Formula is a high-level series where the field is composed mainly of professional factory drivers who are paid to race. It

590-545: A stepping stone into Formula One including the aforementioned de la Rosa, Ralf Schumacher , Shinji Nakano , Toranosuke Takagi , and Ralph Firman . But by the late 2000s, Formula Nippon's status as a pathway into Formula One had diminished, and the series was greatly effected by the Lehman Shock (the term used in Japan to describe the 2007-08 global financial crisis ) - going from 20 cars in 2008 to 13 in 2009 . On 5 August 2012,

649-555: A successful GT4 car. Meetings are usually made up of three 20-minute races. The grid for the first race is determined by a 20-minute qualifying session. The results of the first race forms the grid for the second race. The grid for the third race is decided by reversing between 4 and 6 of the top 10 finishers from the second race. The current racing circuits are: One-make racing One-make racing series (also known as spec racing series) are racing series in which all competitors race with identical or very similar vehicles from

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708-502: A “true” spec series. The same applies to the Super Formula series. All teams compete in nearly identical Dallara SF23 models, but use engines supplied from Honda and Toyota , preventing it from being a true spec series. There are two primary methods of competition in sailboat racing : One-design and handicap racing (e.g. Portsmouth Yardstick , Performance Handicap Racing Fleet and Leading Yard Stick ). One design refers to

767-658: Is the second fastest racing series in the world, after Formula One . The first Japanese Top Formula championship was held in 1973 as the All-Japan Formula 2000 Championship . In 1978, the series transformed into the All-Japan Formula Two Championship , and again in 1987, into the All-Japan Formula 3000 Championship . For the most part, these Japanese racing series closely followed their European counterparts in terms of technical regulations. The JRP

826-515: Is unanimously regarded as the highest level of formula racing in Japan and Asia, and although opinions on its exact global position vary, it is generally considered to be a higher level series than Formula 2 , but slightly below IndyCar and to a larger extent Formula One . Super Formula is a top-level national series and not a feeder or junior category, as there is no series directly above it and many professional drivers compete in it until they retire. Some drivers, mostly foreign, have used it as

885-556: Is usually shown by his final standing in a contest. What could be more indicative of this when pilots are flying identical sailplanes with identical performance. One-design competition is the sure test of soaring skill." Other one-design gliders have included those made in Russia by Aviastroitel , in Poland by Warsztaty Szybowcowe Orlik , and Germany, where for example the DFS Olympia Meise

944-890: The British Formula Three Championship and British GT Championship . In 2009 it moved to support the BTCC. In 2011, with the introduction of the Ginetta G55 , the championship became the Ginetta GT Supercup , running a multi class format for the two different cars. For the 2014 season , the championship was rebranded as the Ginetta GT4 Supercup , with both the G50 and G55 cars running in a single, performance balanced class. The regulations include sealed engines, gearboxes and differentials. This prevents expensive development of

1003-635: The Formula One World Championship . During the transition from Formula 2000 to Formula 2, a number of foreign drivers from the European F2 circuit began competing in and winning races in the Japanese series. 1981 European F2 champion Geoff Lees became the series' first non-Japanese champion when he won the All-Japan F2 title in 1983. The Suzuka Formula Two Championship (established in 1977 as

1062-545: The 1970s with the introduction of laminate construction using fibre-reinforced plastic (FRP) and mold building technology. This process allowed the mass production of identical hulls of virtually any size at a lower price. The one-design design idea was created by Thomas Middleton of the Shankill Corinthian Club located 10 miles (16 km) south of Dublin, Ireland in 1887. He proposed a class of double ended open dinghies of simple clincher construction in pine with

1121-513: The 20+ approved builders on four continents being of identical speed, for example at the 2017 World Championship. In medium- to large-sized boat classes, One design would refer to conformance to a standard specification , with the possibility of alterations being allowed as long as they remained within certain tolerances. Examples of this are the Dragon , J/24 , Etchells , H-boat and the Farr 40 . After

1180-917: The FN09 chassis that was introduced in 2009, and used until 2013. Also, in 2009, a new 3.4 litre V8 engine formula was introduced, a common engine that would be used in Formula Nippon and the GT500 class of Super GT, as well as a "push-to-pass" overtake system that is still used today. The Dallara SF14 was used between the 2014 to 2018 season, and featured at least 30% components manufactured in Japan. Changed regulations both in Super Formula and Formula 1 resulted in closest gap ever between lap times: in 2014 season in Round 1 at Suzuka Circuit in Q2 André Lotterer did 1:36.996 which

1239-777: The JRP announced that the series would change its name from Formula Nippon to Super Formula in 2013, stating a "desire to establish the series on an equal footing with the FIA Formula One World Championship and the IZOD IndyCar Series as the undisputed, standard-bearer top formula racing in Asia." The series experienced renewed international interest when 2015 GP2 Series champion, Stoffel Vandoorne , entered full-time in 2016 with Docomo Team Dandelion Racing. Vandoorne would finish his season with two race victories before making

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1298-511: The Japanese single-seater pyramid. Honda Performance Development (now Honda Racing Corporation US) offered a US$ 600,000 annual scholarship to the winner of the Formula Regional Americas Championship towards a Honda-powered seat in Super Formula beginning in 2021. 2022 series champion Raoul Hyman was the only driver to accept the scholarship before it was discontinued. Super Formula races are traditionally held at

1357-736: The National Register of Historic Vessels of the United Kingdom. She is kept in Lymington where she is still racing and winning on the Solent. Conversely the Howth 17 , designed just four years later by Sir Walter H. Boyd of Howth , Co. Dublin is still actively raced and is the oldest one-design racing keelboat still sailing as designed. While fifteen of the current fleet were built from 1898 to 1914, new boats can still be added, most recently in 2017. As

1416-533: The Suzuka Formula 2000 Championship) was held concurrently at all events staged at Suzuka Circuit , to compete against the Fuji Grand Champion Series . During its existence from 1977 to 1986, it was considered to be of equal prestige to the All-Japan Formula 2 Championship. When European Formula Two ended in 1984 , its Japanese counterpart did not follow suit immediately. The JAF considered starting

1475-621: The advantages of one-design to the sport of competitive glider racing . The most successful of these has been the Schweizer 1–26 class with 700 aircraft completed and flown between 1954 and 1981. Schweizer Aircraft principal Paul A Schweizer was a proponent of the One-design concept. He intended the company's 1–26 to be the aircraft to establish a one-design class in the United States. He wrote: "The true measure of pilot ability and experience

1534-424: The best-known of these include Michael Schumacher , Eddie Irvine , Ralf Schumacher , Pedro de la Rosa , Stoffel Vandoorne , Pierre Gasly , and Liam Lawson . Conversely, several foreign drivers have built long careers in Japan; examples of such drivers include André Lotterer , Benoît Tréluyer , Loïc Duval , and João Paulo de Oliveira . Most drivers in the series are contracted to either Honda or Toyota –

1593-483: The boats are virtually identical except in details. At the same time, the formula setup allows the boats to differ much more in design while keeping a few important specifications the same. As a result, the identifier "One design" has been used more and more exclusively to denote a class that races only identical boats. Having a rigid one-design specification keeps design experimentation to a minimum and reduces cost of ownership . The popularity of one-design increased in

1652-563: The calendar every year since. Sportsland Sugo has been on the calendar every year since its current configuration was opened in 1987. Miné Circuit (formerly Nishinihon Circuit), was a regular fixture of the calendar until it closed for spectator events after the 2005 season. Autopolis , in Kyushu , and Okayama International Circuit , in the Chūgoku region , have since replaced Miné as the westernmost venues that Super Formula visits, though as of 2021

1711-518: The cars and ensures that all of the cars are identical, helping to provide close racing. The Ginetta G55 Cup was introduced in 2011, the Ginetta G55 offered a 3.7 litre V6 engine and 380 BHP. Trained engineer Tomlinson himself penned the base specification for the Ginetta G50 which was produced to celebrate 50 years of Ginetta production. Home to a 3.5 litre V6 engine and 300 BHP, it has since become

1770-440: The engines along with Cosworth and Judd . Bridgestone , Yokohama , and Dunlop supplied teams with tyres. However, the series began adopting more spec components. Bridgestone became the series' sole tyre supplier beginning in 1997, and in 1998, Mugen-Honda became the sole engine supplier (though open tuning was still allowed). Chassis remained an open formula until 2003, after Reynard declared bankruptcy and G-Force withdrew from

1829-443: The formula '). Some spec parts are mandated, such as tyres and sensors. NASCAR is much in the same boat, with three distinct bodies (Chevrolet, Ford and Toyota) and four distinct engines ( Hendrick , ECR , Roush Yates , TRD ) available in competition. Additionally, while IndyCar cars are all virtually identical Dallara DW12 models, the two distinct engine designs available from Chevrolet and Honda prevent IndyCar from being

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1888-403: The hull length overall (LOA) exceeds 27 feet (8.2 m), people generally refer to the boat as an offshore one-design boat or yacht. In other classes, the one-design class may have organized around an existing fleet of similar boats that traditionally existed together often for commercial purposes such as sailing canoes, dhows , and skipjacks , or boats that developed a common hull form over

1947-517: The keel. Cutter rig with 6 ft bowsprit. Designed by H. W. White, ten were built in 1895/6 by Messrs. White Brothers of Itchen Ferry, Southampton and another twelve were built in the following year. The class enjoyed ten years of keen racing but the Metre Rule, which was introduced in 1907 effectively killed the class. The only boat still afloat is Rosenn, formally Eilun, sail number 6. Now, fully restored, she has been identified as meriting inclusion in

2006-418: The race winner in standard events. The points system reverted back to a top-eight format from 2009–2019, though some rounds would have special points payouts. Until 2002, Formula Nippon was an open formula category, where a variety of chassis builders, engine manufacturers, and tyre manufacturers could compete. Chassis were supplied by Lola , Reynard , and G-Force . Mugen-Honda supplied the vast majority of

2065-482: The reasoning behind the name "Formula 2000" had disappeared, which led to the series being renamed the All-Japan Formula Two Championship from 1978. These early years of formula racing in Japan were led by drivers such as Kunimitsu Takahashi , Kazuyoshi Hoshino , Masahiro Hasemi , Keiji Matsumoto , and Satoru Nakajima , who would go on to become the first Japanese driver to compete full-time in

2124-463: The same manufacturer and suppliers. Typically, this means the same type of chassis, powertrain , tyres, brakes, and fuel are used by all drivers. The idea behind one-make car racing is that success will be based more on driver skill and car setup , instead of engineering skill and budget. One-make series are popular at an amateur level as they are affordable, due to the use of a common engine and chassis. Examples of one-make racing series from around

2183-590: The series no longer races at Okayama. Tokachi International Speedway in Hokkaido briefly hosted the series from 1995 to 1996. Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia hosted the first and only championship round outside of Japan when it was part of the 2004 calendar. The series planned to race at Inje Speedium in South Korea during the 2013 season and again in 2025, but both events were cancelled. * The ( ) indicates

2242-526: The series' two engine manufacturers since 2006 – for whom they also typically compete in the Super GT sports car series, Japan's other top motorsport category. The primary feeder series for Super Formula is Super Formula Lights , which was known as the Japanese Formula 3 Championship prior to 2020. The Formula Regional Japanese Championship and F4 Japanese Championship sit below Super Formula Lights in

2301-421: The series. The Lola B03/51 became the series' spec chassis thereafter. In 2006, Formula Nippon underwent a drastic revision of its technical regulations. The new Lola FN06 chassis was introduced, while new three-litre V8 engines by Toyota and Honda were introduced, based on the same engine blocks that the manufacturers used in the 2005 IndyCar Series . American racecar manufacturer Swift Engineering produced

2360-562: The six major national racing circuits in Japan. Suzuka Circuit , the traditional home of the Formula One Japanese Grand Prix , has staged more rounds than any other venue and has been on the calendar every year since the formation of the series in 1973. Suzuka typically hosts two rounds per season: The Suzuka 2&4 Race, a joint event staged with the All-Japan Road Race Championship , is typically held in

2419-578: The specification is published but the boats may only be produced by licensed manufacturers with usually only one builder in any country or region. Examples are the Olympic Finn and 470 but in both these classes a single manufacturer has succeeded in building faster boats than all other manufacturers. However, in the Optimist dinghy, one of the world's largest classes, a tighter specification introduced in 1995 /with ongoing scrutiny has resulted in boats from

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2478-666: The sport of formula car racing in the country. The series was based on the European Formula Two Championship . But unlike European F2, which only allowed the use of racing engines based on mass production models, the JAF approved the use of purpose-built racing engines from manufacturers such as Mitsubishi Motors . In 1976, the FIA modified the Formula Two regulations to allow the use of purpose-built racing engines. With this change,

2537-633: The spring. The JAF Suzuka Grand Prix , Japan's oldest national formula racing event, is typically held at the end of the season in the autumn. Fuji Speedway did not host any racing in 2004 while the circuit underwent a wholesale renovation, but otherwise, it has been part of the calendar in almost every Super Formula season including the very first season of the All-Japan F2000 Championship in 2002. Mobility Resort Motegi (known as Twin Ring Motegi until 2022) opened in 1997 and has been part of

2596-535: The step up to F1 with McLaren in 2017 . A year later, 2016 GP2 Series champion Pierre Gasly entered the series, bringing Red Bull sponsorship with him to Team Mugen. Gasly finished 2017 as the Rookie of the Year, with two wins, and finished runner-up in the standings by half a point. Felix Rosenqvist , Álex Palou , and Patricio O'Ward later became IndyCar Series race winners after racing in Super Formula. Palou, who

2655-461: The top drivers in Formula Nippon continued to race in sports cars and touring cars as their predecessors had done in years past. Pedro de la Rosa became the first "double champion" of Japan in 1997 when he won both the Formula Nippon and All-Japan GT Championship GT500 titles in the same calendar year. Satoshi Motoyama and Richard Lyons would later accomplish the same feat in 2003 and 2004, respectively. Drivers continued to use Formula Nippon as

2714-679: The world included the Dodge Viper Challenge , Ferrari Challenge , Porsche Carrera Cup and Supercup , Radical European Masters , Mini Challenge and Commodore Cup . There are also various formula categories that use one-make racing, such as Formula 2 (which since 2011 exclusively uses a car design by Dallara ), Formula Renault , Formula Mazda , Formula Car Challenge , and the W Series . The Formula One race series are not one-design nor one-make racing series as they allow participation by different manufacturers, each designing their own chassis and powertrain (within limits set by '

2773-667: The years (such as A-Scows ). In contrast to 'one-design', other sailboats race under a variety of handicapping rules and formulas developed to allow different type boats to compete against one another. Formula rules include the Square Metre Rule , the Ton class , the Universal Rule , and the Metre Rule . Handicap rules include Portsmouth Yardstick , PHRF , IOR , IMS , IRC , Americap and LYS . There have been several attempts to bring

2832-465: Was 4.49 seconds slower than Nico Rosberg 's pole time of 1:32.506 for the 2014 Japanese Grand Prix and was not only inside 107% rule but could potentially placed him 21st in F1 grid in front of two cars of Kamui Kobayashi (1:37.015) and Max Chilton (1:37.481). In 2016, Yokohama Rubber replaced Bridgestone as the series' sole tyre supplier. The Dallara SF19 , which was used from the 2019 to 2022 season,

2891-563: Was Japan's first major single-seater race. And in 1971, the Japanese Grand Prix was reformatted into an event centered around formula car racing. Neither event managed to be as popular with spectators as the Japanese Grand Prix was during its time as a sports car race. In 1973, the Japan Automobile Federation established the All-Japan Formula 2000 Championship as the first top-level formula racing series in Japan, to promote

2950-436: Was established by Fuji Television , and became the new promoter and organising body of Japanese top formula racing, recognised by the JAF. As F3000 went down the path of a spec formula series abroad, the JRP opted to continue with the previous F3000 regulations which allowed for open chassis and engine competition. For 1996, the first full season under the management of JRP, the series changed its name to Formula Nippon. Many of

3009-502: Was established in 1995, and began managing the series in 1996, under its new name, the Formula Nippon Championship . This began what is commonly known as the modern era of the series, which has seen it become more independent with regard to technical regulations. The series' name was changed again in 2013, to Super Formula (officially Japanese Championship Super Formula until 2016). In Japan, touring and sports car racing

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3068-505: Was future seven-time Formula One World Champion Michael Schumacher , who made a one-off appearance at Sportsland Sugo in 1991. The eventual burst of the bubble economy led to a decline in the series' popularity during the early to mid 1990s. Japanese and European regulations paralleled one another until 1996, when the International Formula 3000 series became a one-make format to lower costs. In 1995, Japan Race Promotion (JRP)

3127-761: Was patronised by some of the most energetic and best known yacht owners in the Solent, Portsmouth and Southampton waters including Sir Philip Hunloke, the King's yachtmaster. Formed under the auspices of the Solent Sailing Club, the class was adopted by the Royal Yacht Squadron and the Island Sailing Club in 1895. The dimensions of the boats were length overall, 33 ft 3 in; Waterline length, 25 ft; Beam, 7 ft 9 in; Draft, 5 ft; Sail area, 750 sq ft.; Displacement, 5 tons with 2 tons 13 cwt. of lead in

3186-577: Was planned for the 1940 Olympic championships. Super Formula The Japanese Super Formula Championship is a formula racing series held primarily in Japan . It is considered to be the pinnacle of single-seater racing in Japan or Asia as a whole, making it one of the top motorsport series in the region. The series is sanctioned by the Japan Automobile Federation (JAF) and managed by Japan Race Promotion (JRP). As of 2024, Super Formula

3245-503: Was reintroduced to the Formula One calendar in 1987, and that same year, Satoru Nakajima began competing full-time in F1. Fans began following the series through Fuji Television 's broadcasts of Formula One, resulting in an increased interest in all forms formula racing. Combined with the asset-driven bubble economy of the 1980s, the All-Japan Formula 3000 Championship attracted several entrants and investors. Veteran drivers such as Hoshino, Hasemi, Takahashi, and Matsumoto were succeeded by

3304-533: Was the 2019 Rookie of the Year, went on to win the IndyCar Series championship in 2021 , 2023 , and 2024 . In 2020, Super Formula adopted a new top-ten scoring system similar to the one used in Super GT, awarding 20 points to the race winner. Bonus points were given to the top three qualifiers in every round; three points for pole position, two for second place, and one for third place. A top-six points system

3363-646: Was unveiled at Suzuka Circuit in October 2017. It weighed 670 kilograms (including the driver), and was powered by a two-litre single turbo-charged engines built by Honda and Toyota under the Nippon Race Engine (NRE) formula. The engines used in Super Formula have been detuned compared to their counterparts used in Super GT (GT500), but continue to allow for the use of the "push-to-pass" style Overtaking System (OTS) that allows for an additional five kilogrammes per hour (5 kg/h) of fuel burn for up to 200 seconds during

3422-409: Was used in All-Japan F3000 and Formula Nippon from 1988 to 2006, inspired by the contemporary Formula One points system . Beginning in 2007 , the series followed Formula One once again and paid out points to the top eight finishers. A bonus point was awarded to the polesitter starting in 2008 , during which the regular points system was changed again to award the top ten finishers and give 15 points to

3481-431: Was very popular throughout the 1960s. The Japanese Grand Prix was originally held as an event for touring and sports cars, and was immediately established as the largest motor racing event in the country during its original run between 1963 and 1969. On the other hand, formula car racing had a more difficult time being established in the nation's motorsport landscape. The inaugural JAF Grand Prix at Fuji Speedway in 1969

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