Car of 2012 champion Kazuki Nakajima, pictured in 2022
Kazuki Nakajima, the 2012 Formula Nippon champion.

The 2012 Formula Nippon Championship was the fortieth season of the premier Japanese open-wheel motor racing series. The series for Formula Nippon racing cars was contested over seven rounds with a non-championship final round at Fuji Speedway as part of the JAF Grand Prix. The two-time Le Mans winner André Lotterer was the defending champion.

This was also the final season run under the name Formula Nippon, the series would be renamed into Japanese Championship Super Formula, a name selected by public, in 2013.

Teams and drivers

TeamNo.DriverEngineRounds
Japan Petronas Team TOM'S1Germany André LottererToyota RV8KAll
2Japan Kazuki NakajimaToyota RV8KAll
Japan Kondō Racing3Japan Hironobu YasudaToyota RV8KAll
Japan Team LeMans7Japan Kazuya OshimaToyota RV8KAll
Japan Team Kygnus Sunoco8France Loïc DuvalToyota RV8KAll
Japan HP Real Racing10Japan Toshihiro KaneishiHonda HR12EAll
11Japan Yuhki NakayamaHonda HR12E4–5
Japan Team Mugen15Japan Takuma SatoHonda HR12E6–7
16Japan Naoki YamamotoHonda HR12EAll
Japan SGC by KCMG18Japan Ryo OrimeToyota RV8KAll
Japan Team Impul19Brazil João Paulo de OliveiraToyota RV8KAll
20Japan Tsugio MatsudaToyota RV8KAll
Japan Nakajima Racing31Japan Daisuke NakajimaHonda HR12EAll
32Japan Takashi KogureHonda HR12EAll
Japan Project μ/cerumo・INGING38Japan Kohei HirateToyota RV8KAll
39Japan Yuji KunimotoToyota RV8KAll
Japan Docomo Team Dandelion Racing40Japan Takuya IzawaHonda HR12EAll
41Japan Koudai TsukakoshiHonda HR12EAll
Japan Le Beausset Motorsports62Japan Koki SagaToyota RV8KAll

Note:All drivers (except Yuhki Nakayama) also participated the non-Championship JAF Grand Prix.

Race calendar and results

2012 Formula Nippon Championship is located in Japan
2012 venues
  • All races will be held in Japan. A non-championship round, entitled JAF Grand Prix Super GT and Formula Nippon Sprint Cup 2012, will be held at the conclusion of the season.
RoundCircuitDatePole positionFastest lapWinning driverWinning team
1Suzuka Circuit15 AprilJapan Takuya IzawaBrazil João Paulo de OliveiraJapan Kazuki NakajimaPetronas Team TOM'S
2Twin Ring Motegi13 MayGermany André LottererBrazil João Paulo de OliveiraGermany André LottererPetronas Team TOM'S
3Autopolis27 MayJapan Koudai TsukakoshiJapan Hironobu YasudaJapan Koudai TsukakoshiDocomo Team Dandelion Racing
4Fuji Speedway15 JulyJapan Kazuki NakajimaBrazil João Paulo de OliveiraGermany André LottererPetronas Team TOM'S
5Twin Ring Motegi5 AugustBrazil João Paulo de OliveiraJapan Hironobu YasudaBrazil João Paulo de OliveiraTeam Impul
6Sportsland SUGO23 SeptemberJapan Takuya IzawaFrance Loïc DuvalJapan Takuya IzawaDocomo Team Dandelion Racing
7Suzuka Circuit4 NovemberJapan Tsugio MatsudaJapan Takuya IzawaJapan Takuya IzawaDocomo Team Dandelion Racing
Brazil João Paulo de OliveiraJapan Kohei HirateJapan Kazuki NakajimaPetronas Team TOM'S
NCFuji Speedway18 NovemberJapan Koudai TsukakoshiBrazil João Paulo de OliveiraJapan Takuya IzawaDocomo Team Dandelion Racing

Championship standings

Drivers' Championship

Scoring system

RoundPosition1st2nd3rd4th5th6th7th8thPole
1–6Points1086543211
78432.521.510.51
PosDriverSUZMOTAUTFUJMOTSUGSUZFUJPoints
Pos Driver SUZ MOT AUT FUJ MOT SUG SUZ FUJ Points 1 Japan Kazuki Nakajima 1 3 5 2 4 5 12 1 7 46 2 Japan Koudai Tsukakoshi 2 5 1 9 3 2 3 3 Ret 43 3 Japan Takuya Izawa 6 4 2 13 5 1 1 6 1 41.5 4 Germany André Lotterer 5 1 Ret 1 2 10 5 8 DSQ 35.5 5 Brazil João Paulo de Oliveira 3 2 Ret 6 1 6 4 Ret 2 34.5 6 France Loïc Duval 9 11 3 4 6 3 7 2 3 25 7 Japan Kazuya Oshima 4 8 6 3 Ret 4 8 7 10 21.5 8 Japan Tsugio Matsuda 8 6 4 5 7 Ret 2 Ret 5 20 9 Japan Kohei Hirate 10 NC 7 7 8 8 9 5 6 8 10 Japan Takashi Kogure 15 Ret 10 10 13 Ret 6 4 11 4 11 Japan Naoki Yamamoto 7 7 9 12 Ret 14 15 Ret 8 4 12 Japan Toshihiro Kaneishi 12 13 12 Ret 11 7 14 14 12 2 13 Japan Yuji Kunimoto 14 9 8 8 10 13 11 12 4 2 14 Japan Hironobu Yasuda 11 12 13 16 9 11 13 9 16 0 15 Japan Takuma Sato 9 17 10 13 0 16 Japan Daisuke Nakajima 16 10 11 11 12 12 10 11 9 0 17 Japan Koki Saga 13 14 Ret 14 Ret 15 16 13 14 0 18 Japan Yuhki Nakayama 15 14 0 19 Japan Ryo Orime 17 15 Ret Ret Ret Ret 18 15 15 0 Pos Driver SUZ MOT AUT FUJ MOT SUG SUZ FUJ PointsColour Result Gold Winner Silver Second place Bronze Third place Green Points classification Blue Non-points classification Non-classified finish (NC) Purple Retired, not classified (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 practice (DNP) Did not arrive (DNA) Excluded (EX) Bold – Pole Italics – Fastest Lap
1Japan Kazuki Nakajima135245121746
2Japan Koudai Tsukakoshi25193233Ret43
3Japan Takuya Izawa642135116141.5
4Germany André Lotterer51Ret121058DSQ35.5
5Brazil João Paulo de Oliveira32Ret6164Ret234.5
6France Loïc Duval911346372325
7Japan Kazuya Oshima4863Ret4871021.5
8Japan Tsugio Matsuda86457Ret2Ret520
9Japan Kohei Hirate10NC77889568
10Japan Takashi Kogure15Ret101013Ret64114
11Japan Naoki Yamamoto77912Ret1415Ret84
12Japan Toshihiro Kaneishi121312Ret1171414122
13Japan Yuji Kunimoto149881013111242
14Japan Hironobu Yasuda11121316911139160
15Japan Takuma Sato91710130
16Japan Daisuke Nakajima161011111212101190
17Japan Koki Saga1314Ret14Ret151613140
18Japan Yuhki Nakayama15140
19Japan Ryo Orime1715RetRetRetRet1815150
PosDriverSUZMOTAUTFUJMOTSUGSUZFUJPoints
ColourResult
GoldWinner
SilverSecond place
BronzeThird place
GreenPoints classification
BlueNon-points classification
Non-classified finish (NC)
PurpleRetired, not classified (Ret)
RedDid not qualify (DNQ)
Did not pre-qualify (DNPQ)
BlackDisqualified (DSQ)
WhiteDid not start (DNS)
Withdrew (WD)
Race cancelled (C)
BlankDid not practice (DNP)
Did not arrive (DNA)
Excluded (EX)

Teams' Championship

PosTeamNo.SUZMOTAUTFUJMOTSUGSUZFUJPoints
Pos Team No. SUZ MOT AUT FUJ MOT SUG SUZ FUJ Points 1 Docomo Team Dandelion Racing 40 6 4 2 13 5 1 1 6 1 78.5 41 2 5 1 9 3 2 3 3 Ret 2 Petronas Team TOM'S 1 5 1 Ret 1 2 10 5 8 DSQ 76.5 2 1 3 5 2 4 5 12 1 7 3 Team Impul 19 3 2 Ret 6 1 6 4 Ret 2 51.5 20 8 6 4 5 7 Ret 2 Ret 5 4 Team Kygnus Sunoco 8 9 11 3 4 6 3 7 2 3 25 5 Team LeMans 7 4 8 6 3 Ret 4 8 7 10 21.5 6 Project μ/cerumo・INGING 38 10 NC 7 7 8 8 9 5 6 10 39 14 9 8 8 10 13 11 12 4 7 Nakajima Racing 31 16 10 11 11 12 12 10 11 9 4 32 15 Ret 10 10 13 Ret 6 4 11 8 Mugen 15 9 17 10 13 4 16 7 7 9 12 Ret 14 15 Ret 8 9 HP Real Racing 10 12 13 12 Ret 11 7 14 14 12 2 11 15 14 10 Kondō Racing 3 11 12 13 16 9 11 13 9 16 0 11 Le Beausset Motorsports 62 13 14 Ret 14 15 16 13 14 0 12 SGC by KCMG 18 17 15 Ret Ret Ret Ret 18 15 15 0 Pos Team No. SUZ MOT AUT FUJ MOT SUG SUZ FUJ PointsColour Result Gold Winner Silver Second place Bronze Third place Green Points classification Blue Non-points classification Non-classified finish (NC) Purple Retired, not classified (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 practice (DNP) Did not arrive (DNA) Excluded (EX) Bold – Pole Italics – Fastest Lap
1Docomo Team Dandelion Racing40642135116178.5
4125193233Ret
2Petronas Team TOM'S151Ret121058DSQ76.5
21352451217
3Team Impul1932Ret6164Ret251.5
2086457Ret2Ret5
4Team Kygnus Sunoco8911346372325
5Team LeMans74863Ret4871021.5
6Project μ/cerumo・INGING3810NC778895610
3914988101311124
7Nakajima Racing31161011111212101194
3215Ret101013Ret6411
8Mugen1591710134
1677912Ret1415Ret8
9HP Real Racing10121312Ret1171414122
111514
10Kondō Racing311121316911139160
11Le Beausset Motorsports621314Ret14151613140
12SGC by KCMG181715RetRetRetRet1815150
PosTeamNo.SUZMOTAUTFUJMOTSUGSUZFUJPoints
ColourResult
GoldWinner
SilverSecond place
BronzeThird place
GreenPoints classification
BlueNon-points classification
Non-classified finish (NC)
PurpleRetired, not classified (Ret)
RedDid not qualify (DNQ)
Did not pre-qualify (DNPQ)
BlackDisqualified (DSQ)
WhiteDid not start (DNS)
Withdrew (WD)
Race cancelled (C)
BlankDid not practice (DNP)
Did not arrive (DNA)
Excluded (EX)

External links