1996 Formula Nippon season

1996 Formula Nippon season
Previous:	1995	Next:	1997

The 1996 Formula Nippon season was the first season under the name Formula Nippon, before 1996, the category was named Japanese Formula 3000. This season was contested over 10 rounds. 15 different teams, 28 different drivers, 3 different chassis and 3 different engines competed. Ralf Schumacher won the category winning three races.

Teams and drivers

Ralf Schumacher drivers' champion

Team	No.	Driver	Chassis	Engine	Rounds
Team Impul	1	Kazuyoshi Hoshino	Lola	Mugen Honda	All
	19	Toshio Suzuki			All
Dome Mugen	2	Katsumi Yamamoto	Dome	Mugen Honda	All
	8	Shinji Nakano			All
Team 5Zigen	5	Marco Apicella	Reynard	Judd	All
	6	Hidetoshi Mitsusada	Lola	Judd	1–5
			Reynard		6–10
Pal Checkers	7	Masami Kageyama	Lola	Mugen Honda	All
	17	Taichiro Ohnishi			All
Shionogi Nova	9	Pedro de la Rosa	Lola	Mugen Honda	All
	10	Norberto Fontana			All

Race calendar and results

Race No	Track	Country	Date	Laps	Distance	Time	Speed	Winner	Pole Position	Fastest Race Lap
1	Suzuka	Japan	April 28, 1996	34	5.864=199.376 km	1'01:47.773	193.581 km/h	Kazuyoshi Hoshino	Toranosuke Takagi	Michael Krumm
2	Mine	Japan	May 12, 1996	62	3.239=200.818 km	1'22:15.253	146.486 km/h	Ralf Schumacher	Michael Krumm	Norberto Fontana
3	Fuji	Japan	May 26, 1996	45	4.470=201.15 km	1'03:40.066	189.562 km/h	Norberto Fontana	Ralf Schumacher	Norberto Fontana
4	Tokachi	Japan	June 23, 1996	38	5.100=193.8 km	1'09:32.702	167.201 km/h	Ralf Schumacher	Toranosuke Takagi	Michael Krumm
5	Suzuka	Japan	July 7, 1996	35	5.864=205.241 km	1'03:28.642	193.998 km/h	Toranosuke Takagi	Toranosuke Takagi	Shinji Nakano
6	Sugo	Japan	August 4, 1996	54	3.704=200.016 km	1'05:18.450	183.761 km/h	Toranosuke Takagi	Toranosuke Takagi	Toranosuke Takagi
7	Fuji	Japan	September 1, 1996	45	4.470=201.15 km	0'59:22.324	203.277 km/h	Naoki Hattori	Naoki Hattori	Norberto Fontana
8	Mine	Japan	September 15, 1996	62	3.239=200.818 km	1'19:35.895	151.374 km/h	Ralf Schumacher	Toshio Suzuki	Katsutomo Kaneishi
9	Suzuka	Japan	September 29, 1996	35	5.864=205.241 km	1'02:50.115	195.980 km/h	Naoki Hattori	Ralf Schumacher	Shinji Nakano
10	Fuji	Japan	October 20, 1996	45	4.470=201.15 km	1'13:56.568	163.221 km/h	Katsutomo Kaneishi	Kazuyoshi Hoshino	Shinji Nakano

Standings

For every race points were awarded: 10 points to the winner, 6 for runner up, 4 for third place, 3 for fourth place, 2 for fifth place and 1 for sixth place. No additional points were awarded. No driver had a point deduction.

Place	Name	Country	Team	Chassis	Engine											Total Points
1	Ralf Schumacher	Germany	Team LeMans	Reynard	Mugen Honda	4	10	–	10	3	–	–	10	3	–	40
2	Naoki Hattori	Japan	Team LeMans	Reynard	Mugen Honda	–	–	6	4	4	–	10	4	10	–	38
3	Kazuyoshi Hoshino	Japan	Team Impul	Lola	Mugen Honda	10	–	4	3	2	6	–	–	6	–	31
4	Toranosuke Takagi	Japan	Nakajima Racing	Reynard	Mugen Honda	–	4	–	–	10	10	–	–	1	–	25
5	Norberto Fontana	Argentina	Team Nova	Lola	Mugen Honda	–	6	10	–	–	–	6	–	–	–	22
6	Shinji Nakano	Japan	Dome Mugen	Dome	Mugen	6	–	–	–	1	–	4	6	–	3	20
7	Katsutomo Kaneishi	Japan	Super Aguri	Reynard	Mugen Honda	1	–	3	2	–	–	3	–	–	10	19
8	Pedro de la Rosa	Spain	Team Nova	Lola	Mugen Honda	2	–	1	1	–	–	1	–	2	6	13
9	Takuya Kurosawa	Japan	Nakajima Racing	Reynard	Mugen Honda	–	–	–	–	6	2	–	2	–	–	10
10	Satoshi Motoyama	Japan	Super Aguri	Reynard	Mugen Honda	–	–	2	–	–	4	2	1	–	–	9
11	Masami Kageyama	Japan	Advan Sport Pal	Lola	Mugen Honda	–	2	–	6	–	–	–	–	–	–	8
12	Toshio Suzuki	Japan	Team Impul	Lola	Mugen Honda	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	3	4	–	7
13	Andrew Gilbert Scott	United Kingdom	Stellar International	Reynard	Mugen Honda	–	–	–	–	–	3	–	–	–	2	5
14	Michael Krumm	Germany	Stellar International	Reynard	Mugen Honda	3	1	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	4
	Masahiko Kageyama	Japan	Navi Connection Racing	Reynard	Mugen Honda	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	4	4
16	Marco Apicella	Italy	Team 5Zigen	Reynard	Judd	–	3	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	3
17	Katsumi Yamamoto	Japan	Dome Mugen	Dome	Mugen	–	–	–	–	–	1	–	–	–	–	1
	Masahiko Kondo	Japan	Navi Connection Racing	Reynard	Mugen Honda	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	1	1

Driver's championship

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 3 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

Scoring system Position 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th Points 10 6 4 3 2 1 Colour Result Gold Winner Silver 2nd place Bronze 3rd place Green Finished, in points Blue Finished, no points Not classified (NC) Purple Did not finish (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 participate 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

Scoring system Position 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th Points 10 6 4 3 2 1 Colour Result Gold Winner Silver 2nd place Bronze 3rd place Green Finished, in points Blue Finished, no points Not classified (NC) Purple Did not finish (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 participate 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	Karsumi 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

External links

• 1996 Japanese Championship Formula Nippon