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.[1]

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 Rounds
Kamome Service Racing Team with Impul
Calsonic Racing Team with Impul 		1 Toshio Suzuki Lola T96/94
Lola T96/52 		Mugen MF308 B All
19 Kazuyoshi Hoshino Lola T96/95
Lola T96/52 		All
Team Anabuki Dome with Mugen
Team avex Dome with Mugen 		2 Katsumi Yamamoto Dome F104i Mugen MF308 B All
8 Shinji Nakano All
Team 5ZIGEN 5 Marco Apicella Reynard 95D
Reynard 96D 		Judd KV2 Y All
6 Hidetoshi Mitsusada Lola T95/50
Reynard 96D 		All
Advan Pal Checkers 7 Masami Kageyama Lola T95/50 Judd KV2 Y All
17 Taichiro Oonishi Lola T94/50 Mugen MF308 All
Shionogi Team Nova 9 Pedro de la Rosa Lola T96/51 Mugen MF308 B All
10 Norberto Fontana All
Slim Beauty House Cerumo 12 Yukihiro Hane Lola T94/50 Mugen MF308 B All
Nihon Lead Yamada 15 Masao Yamada Lola T94/50 Mugen MF308 Y 1–5, 7–8, 10
Tetsuya Tanaka 6, 9
Kanagawa Clinic Stellar 20 Andrew Gilbert-Scott Reynard 96D Mugen MF308 B All
21 Michael Krumm Reynard 96D All
X Japan Racing Team LeMans 24 Naoki Hattori Reynard 96D Mugen MF308 B All
25 Ralf Schumacher All
Navi Connection Racing Team 27 Masahiko Kageyama Reynard 96D Mugen MF308 B All
28 Masahiko Kondo Reynard 94D
Reynard 95D 		1–7, 9–10
Tom Kristensen 8
Art Brilliant Gullwing 30 Eiichi Tajima Lola T94/50 Mugen MF308 B All
31 Hideki Okada Lola T95/50 All
Funai Super Aguri 55 Katsutomo Kaneishi Reynard 95D Mugen MF308 B All
56 Satoshi Motoyama All
PIAA Nakajima Racing 64 Toranosuke Takagi Reynard 96D Mugen MF308 B All
65 Takuya Kurosawa All
Asahi Kiko Sports 72 Atsushi Kawamoto Lola T93 Cosworth DFV B All
73 Tetsuji Tamanaka All

Race calendar and results

All races were held in Japan.

Race Track Date Pole position Fastest Race Lap Winning driver Winning team
1 Suzuka Circuit 28 April Toranosuke Takagi Michael Krumm Kazuyoshi Hoshino Calsonic Racing Team with Impul
2 Mine Circuit 12 May Michael Krumm Norberto Fontana Ralf Schumacher X Japan Racing Team LeMans
3 Fuji Speedway 26 May Ralf Schumacher Norberto Fontana Norberto Fontana Shionogi Team Nova
4 Tokachi International Speedway 23 June Toranosuke Takagi Michael Krumm Ralf Schumacher X Japan Racing Team LeMans
5 Suzuka Circuit 7 July Toranosuke Takagi Shinji Nakano Toranosuke Takagi PIAA Nakajima Racing
6 Sportsland SUGO 4 August Toranosuke Takagi Toranosuke Takagi Toranosuke Takagi PIAA Nakajima Racing
7 Fuji Speedway 1 September Naoki Hattori Norberto Fontana Naoki Hattori X Japan Racing Team LeMans
8 Mine Circuit 15 September Toshio Suzuki Katsutomo Kaneishi Ralf Schumacher X Japan Racing Team LeMans
9 Suzuka Circuit 29 September Ralf Schumacher Shinji Nakano Naoki Hattori X Japan Racing Team LeMans
10 Fuji Speedway 20 October Kazuyoshi Hoshino Shinji Nakano Katsutomo Kaneishi Funai 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 Ret 40
2 Naoki Hattori 8 Ret 2 3 3 8 1 3 1 Ret 38
3 Kazuyoshi Hoshino 1 Ret 3 4 5 2 Ret Ret 2 Ret 31
4 Toranosuke Takagi Ret 3 Ret Ret 1 1 Ret Ret 6 Ret 25
5 Norberto Fontana 14 2 1 Ret 8 Ret 2 Ret 11 Ret 22
6 Shinji Nakano 2 13 Ret 9 6 7 3 2 9 4 20
7 Katsutomo Kaneishi 6 Ret 4 5 7 Ret 4 Ret Ret 1 19
8 Pedro de la Rosa 5 7 6 6 Ret 11 6 Ret 5 2 13
9 Takuya Kurosawa Ret 8 15 7 2 5 8 5 8 Ret 10
10 Satoshi Motoyama 7 Ret 5 17 12 3 5 6 Ret DNS 9
11 Masami Kageyama 10 5 Ret 2 17 15 9 11 Ret Ret 8
12 Toshio Suzuki 18 Ret 12 11 9 10 7 4 3 Ret 7
13 Andrew Gilbert-Scott Ret Ret 7 14 Ret 4 Ret 7 Ret 5 5
14 Masahiko Kageyama Ret Ret Ret Ret 16 12 Ret 9 7 3 4
14 Michael Krumm 4 6 11 16 11 9 Ret Ret Ret Ret 4
16 Marco Apicella 12 4 8 8 14 13 12 Ret 10 Ret 3
17 Katsumi Yamamoto 9 Ret 10 Ret Ret 6 Ret 10 Ret Ret 1
17 Masahiko Kondo Ret 9 16 13 Ret Ret 14 Ret 6 1
 – Atsushi Kawamoto Ret 11 Ret 15 19 16 13 Ret Ret 7 0
 – Tom Kristensen 8 0
 – Hidetoshi Mitsusada Ret Ret 9 Ret 10 14 10 12 Ret Ret 0
 – Hideki Okada 11 Ret 17 10 20 Ret 11 10 Ret DNS 0
 – Taichiro Ohnishi 15 10 14 Ret 15 Ret Ret Ret 14 Ret 0
 – Eiichi Tajima 13 12 13 12 18 Ret Ret Ret Ret DNS 0
 – 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 0
Colour Result
Gold Winner
Silver Second place
Bronze Third place
Green Points classification
Blue Non-points classification
Non-classified finish (NC)
Purple Retired, not classified (Ret)
Red Did not qualify (DNQ)
Did not pre-qualify (DNPQ)
Black Disqualified (DSQ)
White Did not start (DNS)
Withdrew (WD)
Race cancelled (C)
Blank Did not practice (DNP)
Did not arrive (DNA)
Excluded (EX)

Bold – 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 Mans 24 8 Ret 2 3 3 8 1 3 1 Ret 78
25 3 1 19 1 4 Ret Ret 1 4 Ret
2 Team Impul 1 18 Ret 12 11 9 10 7 4 3 Ret 38
19 1 Ret 3 4 5 2 Ret Ret 2 Ret
3 PIAA Nakajima 64 Ret 3 Ret Ret 1 1 Ret Ret 6 Ret 35
65 Ret 8 15 7 2 5 8 5 8 Ret
4 Shionogi Nova 9 5 7 6 6 Ret 11 6 Ret 5 2 35
10 14 2 1 Ret 8 Ret 2 Ret 11 Ret
5 Funai Super Aguri 55 6 Ret 4 5 7 Ret 4 Ret Ret 1 35
56 7 Ret 5 17 12 3 5 6 Ret DNS
6 Mugen Dome 2 9 Ret 10 Ret Ret 6 Ret 10 Ret Ret 21
8 2 13 Ret 9 6 7 3 2 9 4
7 Kanagawa Clinic Stellar 20 Ret Ret 7 14 Ret 4 Ret 7 Ret 5 9
21 4 6 11 16 11 9 Ret Ret Ret Ret
8 Pal Checkers 7 10 5 Ret 2 17 15 9 11 Ret Ret 8
17 15 10 14 Ret 15 Ret Ret Ret 14 Ret
9 Navi Connection 27 Ret Ret Ret Ret 16 12 Ret 9 7 3 5
28 Ret 9 16 13 Ret Ret 14 8 Ret 6
10 5Zigen 5 12 4 8 8 14 13 12 Ret 10 Ret 3
6 Ret Ret 9 Ret 10 14 10 12 Ret Ret
 – Asahi Kiko Sports 72 Ret 11 Ret 15 19 16 13 Ret Ret 7 0
73 17 Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret 15 Ret NC
 – Art Brilliant Gullwing 30 13 12 13 12 18 Ret Ret Ret Ret DNS 0
31 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 0
Colour Result
Gold Winner
Silver Second place
Bronze Third place
Green Points classification
Blue Non-points classification
Non-classified finish (NC)
Purple Retired, not classified (Ret)
Red Did not qualify (DNQ)
Did not pre-qualify (DNPQ)
Black Disqualified (DSQ)
White Did not start (DNS)
Withdrew (WD)
Race cancelled (C)
Blank Did not practice (DNP)
Did not arrive (DNA)
Excluded (EX)

Bold – 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  Germany 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  Japan 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  Japan 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  Japan 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  Argentina 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  Japan 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  Japan 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  Spain 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  Japan 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  Japan 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  Japan 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  Japan 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  United Kingdom 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  Germany 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  Japan 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  Italy 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  Japan 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  Japan 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  Japan 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  Denmark Navi Connection Racing Reynard Mugen Honda - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 10 8 - - - -
- Hidetoshi Mitsusada  Japan 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  Japan 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  Japan 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  Japan 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  Japan 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  Japan Nihon Lead Yamada Lola Mugen Honda - - - - - - - - - - 23 R - - - - 22 13 - -
- Tetsuji Tamanaka  Japan 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  Japan Nihon Lead Yamada Lola Mugen Honda 26 NQ 26 NQ 26 18 26 NQ 26 NQ - - 26 15 26 NQ - - 26 R

References

  1. ^ "Ralf Schumacher: Coming Out of Michael's Shadow". atlasf1.autosport.com. Retrieved 2026-02-03.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.