Super Formula - Autopolis

The Autopolis circuit hosts Round 3 of the Super Formula Championship, featuring a single race on the challenging Japanese track. This super-formula event uses a three-stage knockout qualifying format to determine the starting grid. Autopolis serves as one of the most demanding venues in the championship, combining technical corners with significant elevation changes across its 4.673-kilometer layout.

Circuit Details

Autopolis sits near Kamitsue village within Aso Kujū National Park in Oita Prefecture on Kyushu, Japan's southern island. The main course measures 4,674 meters in length and features 18 corners. The track presents a 52-meter elevation change that challenges drivers throughout each lap. The circuit holds an FIA Grade 2 license and has been owned by Kawasaki Motors since 2005.

The super-formula race at Autopolis typically runs for approximately 41 laps. Teams must manage a pit window that adjusts based on track distance. The mountainous location creates unique conditions that test both driver skill and team strategy.

Championship Participants

The Super Formula Championship fields a competitive roster of teams and drivers. All competitors use identical Dallara SF23 chassis with Yokohama tires. Teams choose between Honda and Toyota engines for power units.

Team Lineups

Team Mugen features defending champion Ayumu Iwasa alongside Tomoki Nojiri. Docomo Team Dandelion Racing fields current Drivers' Championship leader Kakunoshin Ohta and Tadasuke Makino. Realize Kondo Racing runs Luke Browning and Ukyo Sasahara.

KDDI TGMGP TGR-DC pairs Kamui Kobayashi with Rikuto Kobayashi. Team Goh, operated by TGMGP, runs Charlie Wurz. Cerumo/Inging fields Sena Sakaguchi and Toshiki Oyu, while B-Max Racing enters Yuto Nomura.

Ponos Nakajima Racing features Ren Sato and Igor Omura Fraga. ThreeBond Racing runs Syun Koide. Delightful Racing fields Nobuharu Matsushita, and Team Impul enters Zak O'Sullivan.

KCMG runs Kenta Yamashita and Seita Nonaka, who replaced Kalle Rovanperä following his withdrawal. Vantelin Team TOM'S fields Sho Tsuboi and Sacha Fenestraz. Hazama Ando Triple Tree Racing enters Juju Noda.

Technical Specifications

Super Formula ranks as the second fastest racing series globally, trailing only Formula 1. The Dallara SF23 chassis provides the foundation for all entries. Teams select either the Honda HR-417E or Toyota TRD-01F engine. Yokohama supplies tires exclusively for all competitors.

The single-header format at Autopolis places emphasis on qualifying performance. The three-stage knockout system rewards precision and consistency during the session. Teams must optimize their cars for both qualifying pace and race-distance performance.

Autopolis Racing Heritage

Autopolis first hosted a Super Formula race in 2006. The circuit previously held Japanese Formula 3000 races in 1991 and 1992. Multiple drivers have achieved victories at this venue across various categories. Andre Lotterer, Tsugio Matsuda, and Kazuki Nakajima secured multiple wins at Autopolis. Recent Super Formula winners at the circuit include Tomoki Nojiri, Nick Cassidy, and Sho Tsuboi.

Real-estate developer Tomonori Tsurumaki conceived the circuit, which opened in 1990. Financial difficulties led to several ownership changes before Kawasaki Motors acquired the facility. The track cost an estimated $500 million to construct.

Notable Characteristics

Yoshitoshi Sakurai, a former Honda F1 project leader, designed Autopolis with Formula One ambitions. The circuit sponsored the Benetton F1 team in the early 1990s. However, financial constraints and the remote mountainous location prevented Formula 1 from racing at the venue.

Tomonori Tsurumaki purchased Pablo Picasso's "Les Noces de Pierrette" for $51.3 million in 1989. He planned to display the artwork in a circuit art gallery. The track's location approximately 3,000 meters above sea level creates scenic views but presents logistical challenges. Access requires navigation of winding mountain roads.

Beyond super-formula racing, Autopolis hosts Super GT, D1 Grand Prix, MFJ Superbike, and Super Taikyu events. The diverse motorsport calendar establishes the circuit as a major Japanese racing venue.

Race Format and Strategy

The super-formula event at Autopolis demands strategic decisions from teams. The pit window timing affects race strategy significantly. Teams must balance tire management with track position. The 18 corners and elevation changes create multiple overtaking opportunities and defensive lines.

Qualifying performance holds particular importance at Autopolis. The three-stage knockout format rewards teams that can extract maximum performance across multiple sessions. Weather conditions can change rapidly in the mountainous environment, adding another variable to team planning.

This super-formula race promises close competition among experienced champions and emerging talents. The technical demands of Autopolis separate those who master the circuit's unique characteristics from those who struggle with its challenges.