Beginner's Guide to Watching Motorsports STEP.1

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STEP.1 What is motorsports?

Trivia: What types (categories) of motorsports are there at the circuit?

Formula Car Racing (F1, Super Formula, etc.)
Racing with machines designed exclusively for racing, featuring exposed tires

Touring Car Racing (SUPER GT, etc.)
Racing with race-specific machines based on cars you usually see

Motorcycle Racing (MotoGP™, All Japan Road Race, etc.)
Racing with bikes that are either specially built for racing or modified from production models for racing purposes

Trivia: What is Super Formula?

The highest level and fastest car race in Japan, with speeds second only to F1, and at SUZUKA CIRCUIT, it holds the second fastest lap times following F1.
The machines used by each team, called "SF23," adopt many standardized parts and tires to prevent performance differences. Therefore, the driver's skill and the team's strategy become the key to winning. In other words, the highlights are the subtle tactics such as who can drive the best and the timing of tire changes (pit stops).

Trivia: What are the rules of Super Formula?

Official Qualifying

Qualifying is a time attack where drivers compete for the fastest lap to determine the race starting positions (starting grid).
At SUZUKA CIRCUIT, the Super Formula qualifying is divided into two stages.

■Q1 (Qualifying Stage 1)
The participating cars are divided into Group A and Group B, and each group competes for the best time. The top 6 drivers from each group (a total of 12) advance to the next stage.

■Q2 (Qualifying Stage 2)
The 12 drivers who advance from Q1 will compete in another time attack to determine the starting order for the final race. The fastest driver will earn the front-row starting position called the "pole position."
* In a single race event, the top 5 drivers from Q2 compete in Q3 (Qualifying Stage 3) to determine the top 5 qualifiers.

In other words, qualifying is a very important battle to decide "who gets to start at the very front!"

Final Race

Drivers compete to complete the set number of laps as quickly as possible. On November 21 (Sat) and 22 (Sun), two races will be held for the All-Japan Super Formula Championship Rounds 11 and 12. Saturday will feature Round 11 (31 Laps or 75 mins), and Sunday will feature Round 12 (31 Laps or 75 mins).

OTS (Overtake System)

It is like a "boost function" that temporarily increases the car's power during the race.
This enhances acceleration performance for a short time. It can be used not only to overtake but also to defend against being overtaken by cars behind, serving both offense and defense.

■Usage Tips
Each car can use it for up to 200 seconds per race. The driver can turn it on and off at any timing using a switch on the steering wheel.
However, once used, it cannot be reused for a short period (the duration varies depending on the circuit), so choosing the right moment to use it is very important.

In other words, OTS is a secret weapon for speeding up, used at the crucial moment!

Point System

In races, points are awarded according to your finishing position. By collecting many of these points, the season champion is decided.

■Key Points of the Final Race
1st place: 20 points
2nd place: 15 points
3rd place: 11 points
Points decrease as the positions go lower.
10th place: 1 point
11th place and below: No points

■Points Are Also Awarded in Qualifying!
1st place: 3 points
2nd place: 2 points
3rd place: 1 point

In other words, points are awarded not only in the final race but also in qualifying, so every run is very important. By accumulating points throughout the season, the annual champions (drivers and teams) are decided!

Click here for the SUPER FORMULA Glossary