2008 Formula Challenge Japan

The 2008 Formula Challenge Japan was a multi-event motor racing championship for open-wheel formula racing cars, and the third season of the Formula Challenge Japan racing series, a young driver development series jointly supported by Honda, Toyota, and Nissan. The championship featured a mix of manufacturer-affiliated drivers and independent entries, and commenced on 5 April and ended on 21 September. All but one of the race weekends were run in support of the Formula Nippon Championship.

Toyota junior driver Yūji Kunimoto, whose brother Keisuke had won the previous year's title, dominated the championship in his second year of competition. Kunimoto took eight wins and seven pole positions from the season's sixteen races, and finished all but one race on the podium to secure a 101-point lead over his nearest rival, Nissan junior and former Formula BMW UK driver Kimiya Satō. Nissan stablemate Katsumasa Chiyo won thrice to finish third in the standings, while Takamitsu Matsui and Tsubasa Mekaru took the remaining race victories.

Teams and drivers

Team	No.	Driver	Rounds
Team No. Driver Rounds XGamut Mitsuba-ya FCJ 1 Japan Hikaru Abe All C-SPAN San-M FCJ 2 Japan Kazuumi Kobayashi All Rêve RT FCJ 3 Japan Kazuki Kawamura All SRS-F Scholarship SRS-F SANAI FCJ 4 Japan Takashi Kobayashi All 6 Japan Shigetomo Shimono All 15 Japan Kazuki Miura[ja] All 26 Japan Kazuma Kokubu All FTRS TDP Scholarship Sugamata Sekkotsuin FTRS Café Julia FTRS Team Samurai FTRS FTRS Team NATS[ja] Citykart FTRS 5 Japan Naoya Gamou All 8 Japan Yūji Kunimoto All 9 Japan Tsubasa Mekaru All 13 Japan Toshihiro Hinata All 17 Japan Tohjirō Azuma All 20 Japan Takamitsu Matsui All 21 Japan Makoto Kanai All 22 Japan Yūichi Nakayama All 23 Japan Kōta Matsui All Iwasaki Industry 7 Japan Yūki Iwasaki All NDDP NDDP MyBrans 10 Japan Kimiya Satō All 12 Japan Daiki Sasaki All 18 Japan Katsumasa Chiyo All 19 Japan Masayuki Yamashita All DL Team Naoki 11 Japan Mika Kagoshima[ja] All Broval.jp NAC 14 Japan Kenji Hosokawa All A-Project FCJ 16 Japan Kōta Lee All H.I.S. Travel FCJ 24 Ukraine Igor Sushko All Winds Nikoya FCJ 25 Japan Kōtarō Hatano All Source
XGamut Mitsuba-ya FCJ	1	Japan Hikaru Abe	All
C-SPAN San-M FCJ	2	Japan Kazuumi Kobayashi	All
Rêve RT FCJ	3	Japan Kazuki Kawamura	All
SRS-F Scholarship SRS-F SANAI FCJ	4	Japan Takashi Kobayashi	All
6	Japan Shigetomo Shimono	All
15	Japan Kazuki Miura[ja]	All
26	Japan Kazuma Kokubu	All
FTRS TDP Scholarship Sugamata Sekkotsuin FTRS Café Julia FTRS Team Samurai FTRS FTRS Team NATS[ja] Citykart FTRS	5	Japan Naoya Gamou	All
8	Japan Yūji Kunimoto	All
9	Japan Tsubasa Mekaru	All
13	Japan Toshihiro Hinata	All
17	Japan Tohjirō Azuma	All
20	Japan Takamitsu Matsui	All
21	Japan Makoto Kanai	All
22	Japan Yūichi Nakayama	All
23	Japan Kōta Matsui	All
Iwasaki Industry	7	Japan Yūki Iwasaki	All
NDDP NDDP MyBrans	10	Japan Kimiya Satō	All
12	Japan Daiki Sasaki	All
18	Japan Katsumasa Chiyo	All
19	Japan Masayuki Yamashita	All
DL Team Naoki	11	Japan Mika Kagoshima[ja]	All
Broval.jp NAC	14	Japan Kenji Hosokawa	All
A-Project FCJ	16	Japan Kōta Lee	All
H.I.S. Travel FCJ	24	Ukraine Igor Sushko	All
Winds Nikoya FCJ	25	Japan Kōtarō Hatano	All
Source

Race calendar and results

All races were held in Japan. All rounds, with the exception of rounds 7–8, were run in support of Formula Nippon.

Round	Circuit	Date	Pole position	Fastest lap	Winning driver
1	Fuji Speedway, Oyama	5 April	Japan Takamitsu Matsui	Japan Yūji Kunimoto	Japan Takamitsu Matsui
2	6 April	Japan Yūji Kunimoto	Japan Takamitsu Matsui	Japan Yūji Kunimoto
3	Suzuka Circuit, Suzuka	10 May	Japan Takamitsu Matsui	Japan Kenji Hosokawa	Japan Katsumasa Chiyo
4	11 May	Japan Katsumasa Chiyo	Japan Katsumasa Chiyo	Japan Katsumasa Chiyo
5	Twin Ring Motegi, Motegi	24 May	Japan Takamitsu Matsui	Japan Yūji Kunimoto	Japan Yūji Kunimoto
6	25 May	Japan Yūji Kunimoto	Japan Takamitsu Matsui	Japan Katsumasa Chiyo
7	Fuji Speedway, Oyama	28 June	Japan Yūji Kunimoto	Japan Yūji Kunimoto	Japan Yūji Kunimoto
8	29 June	Japan Yūji Kunimoto	Japan Takamitsu Matsui	Japan Takamitsu Matsui
9	Suzuka Circuit, Suzuka	12 July	Japan Yūji Kunimoto	Japan Kimiya Satō	Japan Yūji Kunimoto
10	13 July	Japan Naoya Gamou	Japan Kimiya Satō	Japan Kimiya Satō
11	Twin Ring Motegi, Motegi	9 August	Japan Tsubasa Mekaru	Japan Takashi Kobayashi	Japan Tsubasa Mekaru
12	10 August	Japan Kimiya Satō	Japan Takashi Kobayashi	Japan Takamitsu Matsui
13	Fuji Speedway, Oyama	30 August	Japan Masayuki Yamashita	Japan Kimiya Satō	Japan Yūji Kunimoto
14	31 August	Japan Makoto Kanai	Japan Yūji Kunimoto	Japan Yūji Kunimoto
15	Sportsland SUGO, Murata	20 September	Japan Yūji Kunimoto	Japan Yūji Kunimoto	Japan Yūji Kunimoto
16	21 September	Japan Yūji Kunimoto	Japan Takamitsu Matsui	Japan Yūji Kunimoto

Championship standings

Drivers' Championship

Points were awarded to the top ten classified finishers, with one point awarded for pole position and fastest lap respectively.

1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	PP	FL
20	15	12	10	8	6	4	3	2	1	1	1

Pos.	Driver	FUJ	SUZ	MOT	FUJ	SUZ	MOT	FUJ	SUG	Points
Pos. Driver FUJ SUZ MOT FUJ SUZ MOT FUJ SUG Points 1 Japan Yūji Kunimoto 2 1 3 3 1 2 1 4 1 3 3 3 1 1 1 1 272 2 Japan Kimiya Satō 4 6 4 6 6 7 2 2 2 1 14 2 3 3 6 2 171 3 Japan Katsumasa Chiyo 3 14 1 1 2 1 7 9 7 5 15 4 2 21 7 Ret 136 4 Japan Takamitsu Matsui 1 2 DNS 22 23 6 3 1 10 16 6 1 4 14 9 4 129 5 Japan Makoto Kanai 16 15 6 5 13 16 13 5 21 10 2 5 9 2 5 6 78 6 Japan Masayuki Yamashita 14 10 Ret 2 12 4 4 3 3 6 Ret 24 17 12 18 17 67 7 Japan Tsubasa Mekaru 7 5 Ret 4 4 Ret 9 Ret 12 19 1 6 16 9 DNS 15 63 8 Japan Naoya Gamou 13 12 13 7 24 Ret 6 Ret 4 2 10 10 15 22 3 3 62 9 Japan Takashi Kobayashi 5 3 Ret 16 Ret 9 26 13 11 9 7 8 8 Ret 2 21 51 10 Japan Kazuki Miura 6 19 11 Ret 25 3 23 6 5 4 22 17 Ret 24 10 8 46 11 Japan Kōta Lee 17 Ret 7 14 7 8 5 24 Ret 12 17 11 5 6 12 10 34 12 Japan Tohjirō Azuma 11 13 Ret 8 5 18 10 11 18 18 8 7 14 4 11 7 33 13 Japan Yūichi Nakayama 10 4 8 13 20 Ret 12 8 6 Ret 5 Ret 11 10 13 13 32 14 Japan Kenji Hosokawa 18 8 2 18 11 Ret 14 7 13 11 21 12 7 7 15 Ret 31 15 Japan Daiki Sasaki 9 11 Ret 12 10 DNS 15 21 15 14 Ret 18 12 5 4 5 29 16 Japan Kazuma Kokubu 23 21 5 Ret 8 Ret 8 10 16 21 4 9 13 13 14 12 27 17 Japan Yūki Iwasaki 8 9 9 11 3 12 11 14 14 13 12 14 18 11 16 16 19 18 Japan Toshihiro Hinata 12 7 Ret 9 18 5 17 16 9 Ret Ret 21 10 18 19 9 19 19 Japan Shigetomo Shimono 15 16 DNS 20 9 10 16 15 Ret 7 11 15 22 8 22 14 10 20 Japan Hikaru Abe 20 24 15 Ret 15 14 21 12 8 22 9 13 19 19 8 18 8 21 Japan Kōtarō Hatano 26 22 10 15 14 13 19 20 17 15 Ret 23 6 15 20 11 7 22 Ukraine Igor Sushko 22 18 12 10 19 15 22 19 Ret 8 13 16 24 16 17 22 4 - Japan Kazuumi Kobayashi 21 23 14 19 17 11 18 18 19 20 18 19 20 17 24 20 0 - Japan Mika Kagoshima 25 20 16 21 16 Ret 24 17 23 23 16 Ret 21 20 23 24 0 - Japan Kōta Matsui 19 17 Ret Ret 21 17 25 22 22 24 19 22 23 23 21 23 0 - Japan Kazuki Kawamura 24 25 Ret 17 22 Ret 20 23 20 17 20 20 Ret 25 Ret 19 0 Pos. Driver FUJ SUZ MOT FUJ SUZ MOT FUJ SUG Points	Key Colour Result Gold Race winner Silver 2nd place Bronze 3rd place Green Points finish Blue Non-points finish Non-classified finish (NC) Purple Did not finish (Ret) Black Disqualified (DSQ) Excluded (EX) White Did not start (DNS) Race cancelled (C) Withdrew (WD) Blank Did not participate Bold – Pole Italics – Fastest Lap
1	Japan Yūji Kunimoto	2	1	3	3	1	2	1	4	1	3	3	3	1	1	1	1	272
2	Japan Kimiya Satō	4	6	4	6	6	7	2	2	2	1	14	2	3	3	6	2	171
3	Japan Katsumasa Chiyo	3	14	1	1	2	1	7	9	7	5	15	4	2	21	7	Ret	136
4	Japan Takamitsu Matsui	1	2	DNS	22	23	6	3	1	10	16	6	1	4	14	9	4	129
5	Japan Makoto Kanai	16	15	6	5	13	16	13	5	21	10	2	5	9	2	5	6	78
6	Japan Masayuki Yamashita	14	10	Ret	2	12	4	4	3	3	6	Ret	24	17	12	18	17	67
7	Japan Tsubasa Mekaru	7	5	Ret	4	4	Ret	9	Ret	12	19	1	6	16	9	DNS	15	63
8	Japan Naoya Gamou	13	12	13	7	24	Ret	6	Ret	4	2	10	10	15	22	3	3	62
9	Japan Takashi Kobayashi	5	3	Ret	16	Ret	9	26	13	11	9	7	8	8	Ret	2	21	51
10	Japan Kazuki Miura	6	19	11	Ret	25	3	23	6	5	4	22	17	Ret	24	10	8	46
11	Japan Kōta Lee	17	Ret	7	14	7	8	5	24	Ret	12	17	11	5	6	12	10	34
12	Japan Tohjirō Azuma	11	13	Ret	8	5	18	10	11	18	18	8	7	14	4	11	7	33
13	Japan Yūichi Nakayama	10	4	8	13	20	Ret	12	8	6	Ret	5	Ret	11	10	13	13	32
14	Japan Kenji Hosokawa	18	8	2	18	11	Ret	14	7	13	11	21	12	7	7	15	Ret	31
15	Japan Daiki Sasaki	9	11	Ret	12	10	DNS	15	21	15	14	Ret	18	12	5	4	5	29
16	Japan Kazuma Kokubu	23	21	5	Ret	8	Ret	8	10	16	21	4	9	13	13	14	12	27
17	Japan Yūki Iwasaki	8	9	9	11	3	12	11	14	14	13	12	14	18	11	16	16	19
18	Japan Toshihiro Hinata	12	7	Ret	9	18	5	17	16	9	Ret	Ret	21	10	18	19	9	19
19	Japan Shigetomo Shimono	15	16	DNS	20	9	10	16	15	Ret	7	11	15	22	8	22	14	10
20	Japan Hikaru Abe	20	24	15	Ret	15	14	21	12	8	22	9	13	19	19	8	18	8
21	Japan Kōtarō Hatano	26	22	10	15	14	13	19	20	17	15	Ret	23	6	15	20	11	7
22	Ukraine Igor Sushko	22	18	12	10	19	15	22	19	Ret	8	13	16	24	16	17	22	4
-	Japan Kazuumi Kobayashi	21	23	14	19	17	11	18	18	19	20	18	19	20	17	24	20	0
-	Japan Mika Kagoshima	25	20	16	21	16	Ret	24	17	23	23	16	Ret	21	20	23	24	0
-	Japan Kōta Matsui	19	17	Ret	Ret	21	17	25	22	22	24	19	22	23	23	21	23	0
-	Japan Kazuki Kawamura	24	25	Ret	17	22	Ret	20	23	20	17	20	20	Ret	25	Ret	19	0
Pos.	Driver	FUJ	SUZ	MOT	FUJ	SUZ	MOT	FUJ	SUG	Points
Key
Colour	Result
Gold	Race winner
Silver	2nd place
Bronze	3rd place
Green	Points finish
Blue	Non-points finish
Non-classified finish (NC)
Purple	Did not finish (Ret)
Black	Disqualified (DSQ)
Excluded (EX)
White	Did not start (DNS)
Race cancelled (C)
Withdrew (WD)
Blank	Did not participate