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

Touring Car Races (such as SUPER GT)
Racing with race-specific machines based on cars you usually see

Motorcycle races (MotoGP™, All Japan Road Race, etc.)
Races using motorcycles specially built for racing or modified race machines based on production motorcycles

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," share many common parts and tires to prevent performance differences. Therefore, the drivers' skills and team strategies are 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

The time attack to compete for the fastest lap to determine the race start position (starting grid) is called "Qualifying."
In the Super Formula held at SUZUKA CIRCUIT, 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

The competition is to see how quickly the set number of laps can be completed. Round 4 (31 Laps or 75 mins) will be held on Saturday, May 23, and Round 5 (31 Laps or 75 mins) will be held on Sunday, May 24.

OTS (Overtake System)

It is like a "boost function" that temporarily increases the power of the car during the race.
This makes the car faster for a short time, so it can be used not only for overtaking but also for preventing being overtaken, serving both offense and defense.

■Key Points for Use
Each car can use it for up to 200 seconds per race. Drivers can turn it on and off at their preferred 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 "now or never!" moments!

Points System

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

■Points for the Final Race
1st place: 20 points
2nd place: 15 points
3rd place: 11 points
Points decrease as the ranking goes 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!

SUPER FORMULA Glossary is here