Super Formula - Sugo

The Super Formula Championship visits Sportsland Sugo for Round 8 of the 2026 season. This race takes place at Japan's largest motorsport venue, located in Murata, Shibata District, Miyagi Prefecture. Sportsland Sugo hosts a single-race event that covers a distance of 185 kilometers.

Circuit Information

Sportsland Sugo opened in May 1975 and has grown into a premier racing facility. The circuit holds FIA Grade 2 certification and spans 2.1 million square meters. The track measures 3.704 kilometers (2.302 miles) and features 11 to 13 turns, depending on configuration.

The layout combines fast sweeping corners with hairpin bends and significant elevation changes. Drivers face demanding technical sections that test precision and skill. The circuit sits among lush greenery and rolling hills, creating a scenic backdrop for racing. A pit lane exit modification directs cars onto the track at the Third Corner rather than the Second Corner.

Ayumu Iwasa holds the fastest lap record at Sugo in a Super Formula car, setting a time of 01:05.517 in a Honda HR-417E.

Super Formula at Sugo

The Sugo round represents one of the key races on the Super Formula calendar. The championship awards points for both qualifying and race results. Pole position earns three points, second place earns two points, and third place earns one point. Race winners receive 20 points, with decreasing totals down to one point for tenth place.

Super Formula cars rank as the second-fastest racing series globally, behind only Formula 1. The series emphasizes driver skill through standardized equipment regulations. Close competition defines every race weekend at Sugo.

Teams and Drivers

The 2026 Super Formula season features 22 to 24 drivers competing across multiple teams. Team Mugen fields Ayumu Iwasa and Tomoki Nojiri, both former series champions. Realize Kondo Racing runs Luke Browning and Ukyo Sasahara.

Docomo Team Dandelion Racing enters Kakunoshin Ohta and Tadasuke Makino. KDDI TGMGP TGR-DC competes with Kamui Kobayashi and Rikuto Kobayashi. KCMG fields Kenta Yamashita and Seita Nonaka.

Additional entries include Team Goh with Charlie Wurz, Hazama Ando Triple Tree Racing with Juju Noda, and Delightworks Racing with Nobuharu Matsushita. Buzz MK Racing runs Roman Staněk, while ThreeBond Racing enters Syun Koide. NTT Docomo Business Rookie fields Nirei Fukuzumi.

Wecars Impul with SDG competes with Zak O'Sullivan. Vantelin Team TOM'S runs Sho Tsuboi and Sacha Fenestraz. Sanki Vertex Partners Cerumo・Inging enters Sena Sakaguchi and Toshiki Oyu. Ponos Nakajima Racing fields Ren Sato and Igor Omura Fraga. SanEiGen with B-Max runs Yuto Nomura and Reno Sato.

Technical Specifications

Chassis and Engines

All teams use identical Dallara SF23 chassis. This car incorporates carbon-neutral materials, including hemp in the cowl material, to reduce CO2 emissions during manufacturing. The standardized chassis creates level competition across the field.

Power comes from 2.0-liter turbocharged inline 4-cylinder engines that produce over 550 horsepower. Honda supplies the HR-417E engine, while Toyota provides the TRD-01F unit. Teams typically use up to two engine units per year.

Tires and Components

Yokohama serves as the exclusive tire supplier for Super Formula. The company provides carbon-neutral tires made with 33 percent sustainable materials. Teams receive six sets of dry tires (three new, three carryover) and six new sets of wet tires for each race.

A shared damper system became standard across all cars, further equalizing performance. The series employs a push-to-pass system that helps drivers execute overtaking maneuvers.

Series History

Super Formula traces its origins to 1973 as the All-Japan Formula 2000 Championship. The series evolved through several iterations, becoming the All-Japan Formula Two Championship from 1978 to 1986, then the All-Japan Formula 3000 Championship from 1987 to 1995.

The championship operated as Formula Nippon starting in 1996. The series adopted the "Super Formula" name in 2013, with the official title becoming "Japanese Super Formula Championship" in 2016.

Sportsland Sugo has hosted races since the Japanese F3000 era began in 1987. The circuit remains a consistent presence on the Super Formula calendar.

What Makes This Race Special

Super Formula serves as a proving ground for drivers aspiring to reach Formula 1. The series attracts both Japanese talent and international racers. The standardized chassis and tire regulations place primary emphasis on driver ability and team strategy.

The Sugo circuit presents unique challenges with its elevation changes and varied corner types. High-downforce, high-speed cars tackle this demanding layout. Racing at Sugo requires precision through technical sections and commitment through fast sweeping corners.

The venue also hosts Super GT and other major Japanese racing series, making it a central hub for motorsport in Japan. The natural setting provides an attractive environment for competition.

This race promises competitive action as drivers battle on one of Japan's most challenging circuits. The combination of closely matched cars and a demanding track creates opportunities for close racing throughout the field.