1996 Formula Nippon Championship

Formula Nippon Formula Nippon Championship 1996 1995 Japanese Formula 3000 Championship Related series:1996 International Formula 3000 Championship1996 British Formula Two 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.Ralf Schumacher: Coming Out of Michael's Shadow https://atlasf1.autosport.com/99/ita/wright.html 2026-02-03 atlasf1.autosport.com 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 RoundsKamome Service Racing Team with ImpulCalsonic Racing Team with Impul1JPN Toshio SuzukiLola T96/94Lola T96/52Mugen MF308 BridgestoneAll19JPN Kazuyoshi HoshinoLola T96/95Lola T96/52AllTeam Anabuki Dome with MugenTeam avex Dome with Mugen2JPN Katsumi YamamotoDome F104iMugen MF308 BridgestoneAll8JPN Shinji NakanoAllTeam 5ZIGEN5ITA Marco ApicellaReynard 95DReynard 96DJudd KV2 YokohamaAll6JPN Hidetoshi MitsusadaLola T95/50Reynard 96DAllAdvan Pal Checkers7JPN Masami KageyamaLola T95/50Judd KV2 YokohamaAll17JPN Taichiro OonishiLola T94/50Mugen MF308AllShionogi Team Nova9ESP Pedro de la RosaLola T96/51Mugen MF308 BridgestoneAll10ARG Norberto FontanaAllSlim Beauty House Cerumo12JPN Yukihiro HaneLola T94/50Mugen MF308 BridgestoneAllNihon Lead Yamada15JPN Masao YamadaLola T94/50Mugen MF308 Yokohama1–5, 7–8, 10JPN Tetsuya Tanaka6, 9Kanagawa Clinic Stellar20GBR Andrew Gilbert-ScottReynard 96DMugen MF308 BridgestoneAll21DEU Michael KrummReynard 96DAllX Japan Racing Team LeMans24JPN Naoki HattoriReynard 96DMugen MF308 BridgestoneAll25DEU Ralf SchumacherAllNavi Connection Racing Team27JPN Masahiko KageyamaReynard 96DMugen MF308 BridgestoneAll28JPN Masahiko KondoReynard 94DReynard 95D1–7, 9–10DNK Tom Kristensen8Art Brilliant Gullwing30JPN Eiichi TajimaLola T94/50Mugen MF308 BridgestoneAll31JPN Hideki OkadaLola T95/50AllFunai Super Aguri55JPN Katsutomo KaneishiReynard 95DMugen MF308 BridgestoneAll56JPN Satoshi MotoyamaAllPIAA Nakajima Racing64JPN Toranosuke TakagiReynard 96DMugen MF308 BridgestoneAll65JPN Takuya KurosawaAllAsahi Kiko Sports72JPN Atsushi KawamotoLola T93Cosworth DFV BridgestoneAll73JPN Tetsuji TamanakaAll Race calendar and results All races were held in Japan. RaceTrackDatePole positionFastest Race LapWinning driverWinning team1Suzuka Circuit28 AprilJPN Toranosuke TakagiDEU Michael KrummJPN Kazuyoshi HoshinoCalsonic Racing Team with Impul2Mine Circuit12 MayDEU Michael KrummARG Norberto FontanaDEU Ralf SchumacherX Japan Racing Team LeMans3Fuji Speedway26 MayDEU Ralf SchumacherARG Norberto FontanaARG Norberto FontanaShionogi Team Nova4Tokachi International Speedway23 JuneJPN Toranosuke TakagiDEU Michael KrummDEU Ralf SchumacherX Japan Racing Team LeMans5Suzuka Circuit7 JulyJPN Toranosuke TakagiJPN Shinji NakanoJPN Toranosuke TakagiPIAA Nakajima Racing6Sportsland SUGO4 AugustJPN Toranosuke TakagiJPN Toranosuke TakagiJPN Toranosuke TakagiPIAA Nakajima Racing7Fuji Speedway1 SeptemberJPN Naoki HattoriARG Norberto FontanaJPN Naoki HattoriX Japan Racing Team LeMans8Mine Circuit15 SeptemberJPN Toshio SuzukiJPN Katsutomo KaneishiDEU Ralf SchumacherX Japan Racing Team LeMans9Suzuka Circuit29 SeptemberDEU Ralf SchumacherJPN Shinji NakanoJPN Naoki HattoriX Japan Racing Team LeMans10Fuji Speedway20 OctoberJPN Kazuyoshi HoshinoJPN Shinji NakanoJPN Katsutomo KaneishiFunai 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 DEU Ralf Schumacher 3 1 19 1 4 Ret Ret 1 4 Ret40 2 JPN Naoki Hattori 8 Ret 2 3 3 8 1 3 1 Ret38 3 JPN Kazuyoshi Hoshino 1 Ret 3 4 5 2 Ret Ret 2 Ret31 4 JPN Toranosuke Takagi Ret 3 Ret Ret 1 1 Ret Ret 6 Ret25 5 ARG Norberto Fontana 14 2 1 Ret 8 Ret 2 Ret 11 Ret22 6 JPN Shinji Nakano 2 13 Ret 9 6 7 3 2 9 420 7 JPN Katsutomo Kaneishi 6 Ret 4 5 7 Ret 4 Ret Ret 119 8 ESP Pedro de la Rosa 5 7 6 6 Ret 11 6 Ret 5 213 9 JPN Takuya Kurosawa Ret 8 15 7 2 5 8 5 8 Ret10 10 JPN Satoshi Motoyama 7 Ret 5 17 12 3 5 6 RetDNS9 11 JPN Masami Kageyama 10 5 Ret 2 17 15 9 11 Ret Ret8 12 JPN Toshio Suzuki 18 Ret 12 11 9 10 7 4 3 Ret7 13 GBR Andrew Gilbert-Scott Ret Ret 7 14 Ret 4 Ret 7 Ret 55 14 JPN Masahiko Kageyama Ret Ret Ret Ret 16 12 Ret 9 7 34 14 DEU Michael Krumm 4 6 11 16 11 9 Ret Ret Ret Ret4 16 ITA Marco Apicella 12 4 8 8 14 13 12 Ret 10 Ret3 17 JPN Katsumi Yamamoto 9 Ret 10 Ret Ret 6 Ret 10 Ret Ret117 JPN Masahiko Kondo Ret 9 16 13 Ret Ret 14 Ret 61 – JPN Atsushi Kawamoto Ret 11 Ret 15 19 16 13 Ret Ret 70 – DNK Tom Kristensen 80 – JPN Hidetoshi Mitsusada Ret Ret 9 Ret 10 14 10 12 Ret Ret 0 – JPN Hideki Okada 11 Ret 17 10 20 Ret 11 10 RetDNS0 – JPN Taichiro Ohnishi 15 10 14 Ret 15 Ret Ret Ret 14 Ret0 – JPN Eiichi Tajima 13 12 13 12 18 Ret Ret Ret RetDNS0 – JPN Yukihiro Hane 16 Ret Ret Ret 13 Ret 16 13 12 Ret 0 – JPN Tetsuya Tanaka Ret 13 0 – JPN Tetsuji Tamanaka 17 Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret 15 Ret NC 0 – JPN Masao Yamada DNQ DNQ 18 DNQ DNQ 15 DNQ Ret 0Bold – 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 Mans24 8 Ret 2 3 3 8 1 3 1 Ret7825 3 1 19 1 4 Ret Ret 1 4 Ret 2 Team Impul1 18 Ret 12 11 9 10 7 4 3 Ret3819 1 Ret 3 4 5 2 Ret Ret 2 Ret 3 PIAA Nakajima64 Ret 3 Ret Ret 1 1 Ret Ret 6 Ret3565 Ret 8 15 7 2 5 8 5 8 Ret 4 Shionogi Nova9 5 7 6 6 Ret 11 6 Ret 5 23510 14 2 1 Ret 8 Ret 2 Ret 11 Ret 5 Funai Super Aguri55 6 Ret 4 5 7 Ret 4 Ret Ret 13556 7 Ret 5 17 12 3 5 6 Ret DNS 6 Mugen Dome2 9 Ret 10 Ret Ret 6 Ret 10 Ret Ret218 2 13 Ret 9 6 7 3 2 9 4 7 Kanagawa Clinic Stellar20 Ret Ret 7 14 Ret 4 Ret 7 Ret 5921 4 6 11 16 11 9 Ret Ret Ret Ret 8 Pal Checkers7 10 5 Ret 2 17 15 9 11 Ret Ret817 15 10 14 Ret 15 Ret Ret Ret 14 Ret 9 Navi Connection27 Ret Ret Ret Ret 16 12 Ret 9 7 3528 Ret 9 16 13 Ret Ret 14 8 Ret 6 10 5Zigen5 12 4 8 8 14 13 12 Ret 10 Ret36 Ret Ret 9 Ret 10 14 10 12 Ret Ret – Asahi Kiko Sports72 Ret 11 Ret 15 19 16 13 Ret Ret 7073 17 Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret 15 Ret NC – Art Brilliant Gullwing30 13 12 13 12 18 Ret Ret Ret Ret DNS031 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 0Bold – 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 JPN JPN JPN JPN JPN JPN JPN JPN JPN JPN 1 Ralf Schumacher 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 Navi Connection Racing Reynard Mugen Honda - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 10 8 - - - - - Hidetoshi Mitsusada 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 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 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 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 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 Nihon Lead Yamada Lola Mugen Honda - - - - - - - - - - 23 R - - - - 22 13 - - - Tetsuji Tamanaka 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 Nihon Lead Yamada Lola Mugen Honda 26 NQ 26 NQ 26 18 26 NQ 26 NQ - - 26 15 26 NQ - - 26 R References External links 1996 Japanese Championship Formula Nippon Formula Nippon Category:Super Formula Nippon