Super Formula
Tomoki Nojiri secured the drivers’ championship title with a round to spare, the first driver to achieve the feat since Loic Duval in 2009. The Japanese driver won three races in 2021, and picked up points in a further three races. Fifth place in the penultimate race was enough for him to claim the title behind the wheel of his Mugen-powered Dallara.
The Super Formula racecar is a Dallara SF19, powered by a 2.0-litre, turbocharged, inline four cylinder with direct fuel injection, supplied by either Toyota or Honda. Turbos are provided by Garrett, while power limitation comes from a fuel restrictor.
The six-speed gearbox is from Ricardo, brakes are by Brembo and KYB provides the cars’ electric power steering system. Yokohama has been tyre supplier for the series since 2016 through its ADVAN brand.
Mid-season, the series launched a new initiative, Super Formula 50, which will look to build a sustainable motorsport industry from 2022. The new Super Formula series will, it says, be a ‘mobility and entertainment testing ground’ and will run test cars equipped with technology that is still undergoing development, using the series as a testing ground for its support.
Honda and Toyota will test new powertrains, chassis, tyres, materials and fuel solutions in a bid to become more carbon neutral. The series has so far targeted e-fuel, biofuel and a bio-composite chassis derived from plants and other natural minerals, all of which will be seen on track from the 2022 season onwards.
‘As further technical developments are made for other items, and tests are conducted, we will look to be able to include them in the next generation of formula cars,’ says the series’ press release.