68 replies to this topic

[HistoryFan]

There are some rumours about the Super Formula field 2024.

 

=> Kamui Kobayashi could retire - what would be a shame

=> Liam Lawson is likely not to return, could be replaced by Ayumu Iwasa

=> Daniil Kvyat will at least test for Nakajima Racing. Would be nice to have a big name in the series.

[HistoryFan]

Alfa Romeo wants a seat for Théo Pourchaire in Super Formula for 2024.

 

https://www.motorspo...haire/10540011/

[HistoryFan]

First 2 drivers for 2024 confirmed: Ayumu Isawa will replace Liam Lawson at Mugen, joining Tomoki Nojiri.

https://www.motorspo...-2024/10550326/

 

Théo Pourchaire will likely race for Team Impul in 2024.

 

Champion Ritomo Miyata won't be back in 2024 as he will race ELMS and Formula 2 (likely for Carlin)

 

Ryo Hirakawa won't be back in Super Formula in 2024 (after 9 seasons!) – he will focus on his duties in WEC (Toyota) and Formula 1 (McLaren).

https://www.motorspo...arlin/10549973/

 

Super Formula field 2024

Mugen-Honda: Tomoki Nojiri, Ayumu Isawa

TFOM's-Toyota:

Dandelion-Honda:

Cerumo-Toyota:

Impul-Toyota:

Kondo-Toyota:

Nakajima-Honda:

KCMG-Toyota:

TGM-Honda:
Rookie-Toyota:

ThreeBond-Honda:

B-Max-Honda:

[sladealonso]

So are we expecting much of the same in terms of the grid?

 

But with Iwasa filling Lawson's seat at Mugen-Honda, Pourchaire replacing Hirakawa at Team Impul, and potentially Kvyat in for Yamamoto?

 

If anyone has any clue let me know, trying to get a baring on the state of play in regards to the rumour mill.

[Jops14]

Seems crazy Pourchaire is going there when he seemed a lock for a Sauber seat once upon a time. I do love seeing F2 guys move over to Japan, seems like a great finishing school (or career alternative)

I like Iwasa, would hope he gets a shot soon, a good season here and who knows

[sladealonso]

I think it's crunch time for both of their F1 aspirations. Pourchaire - I'd argue - has the best chance. He can certainly usurp Zhou at Sauber with a top year here, won't be easier however, it's a strong field as always.

[HistoryFan]

Juju Noda to test for TGM. No chance for her for a seat in 2024, but it would ne nice so see her father setting up a team there and she could drive Super Formula in 2025 or 2026.

 

https://www.motorspo...h-tgm/10553515/

[HistoryFan]

So Toyota will likely have only 1 international driver next season – what's a shame, I think.

 

Super Formula field 2024

Mugen-Honda: Tomoki Nojiri, Ayumu Isawa

TOM's-Toyota: Ukyo Sasahara (?) – Sho Tsuboi (?)

Dandelion-Honda:

Cerumo-Toyota: Sena Sakaguchi (?) – Nirei Fukuzumi (?)

Impul-Toyota: Yuji Kunimoto (?) – Théo Pourchaire (?)

Kondo-Toyota: Kenta Yamashita (?) – Kazuto Kotaka (?)

Nakajima-Honda:

KCMG-Toyota: Kamui Kobayashi (?) – Toshiki Oyu (?)

TGM-Honda:
Rookie-Toyota: Kazuya Oshima (?)

ThreeBond-Honda:

B-Max-Honda:

[jals99]

So Toyota will likely have only 1 international driver next season – what's a shame, I think.

 

Super Formula field 2024

Mugen-Honda: Tomoki Nojiri, Ayumu Isawa

TOM's-Toyota: Ukyo Sasahara (?) – Sho Tsuboi (?)

Dandelion-Honda:

Cerumo-Toyota: Sena Sakaguchi (?) – Nirei Fukuzumi (?)

Impul-Toyota: Yuji Kunimoto (?) – Théo Pourchaire (?)

Kondo-Toyota: Kenta Yamashita (?) – Kazuto Kotaka (?)

Nakajima-Honda:

KCMG-Toyota: Kamui Kobayashi (?) – Toshiki Oyu (?)

TGM-Honda:
Rookie-Toyota: Kazuya Oshima (?)

ThreeBond-Honda:

B-Max-Honda:

Kobayashi was going to retire? Has he reversed his decision?

[KWSN - DSM]

Failing a seat in F1 for Vesti, any rumors he will go out that way?

[VamosVamos]

Failing a seat in F1 for Vesti, any rumors he will go out that way?

He will be reserve driver at Merc

[ARTGP]

He will be reserve driver at Merc

 

Mick Schumacher is the reserve driver at Merc and said he would skip WEC rounds if Merc needed him. So if Vesti is "also" a reserve driver at Merc, then he's likely just on a glorified observation tour.

Edited by ARTGP, 01 December 2023 - 19:17.

[VamosVamos]

Mick Schumacher is the reserve driver at Merc and said he would skip WEC rounds if Merc needed him. So if Vesti is "also" a reserve driver at Merc, then he's likely just on a glorified observation tour.

The position is a glorified observation role anyway. Vesti will attend all races as Merc reserve and Schumacher won’t be asked to skip rounds that clash.

[HistoryFan]

Kobayashi was going to retire? Has he reversed his decision?

 

yes, it seems like he will stay according to an article at motorsport.com

https://www.motorspo...uffle/10550733/

[HistoryFan]

Failing a seat in F1 for Vesti, any rumors he will go out that way?

 

no mention about him for Super Formula and he is also not driving at the rookie test starting tomorrow.

Daniil Kvyat ist also missing, suprisingly.

[Frood]

Juju Noda to test for TGM. No chance for her for a seat in 2024, but it would ne nice so see her father setting up a team there and she could drive Super Formula in 2025 or 2026.

https://www.motorspo...h-tgm/10553515/

"No chance for a seat" has turned into "will drive for TGM this year".

This is way too early for someone who's only done a partial season at F3 in an underweight car, in an uncompetitive championship. Look at Raoul Hyman last year - experience at F3 level, a champion at Formula Regional level - and how he completely flopped.

I think she could have had a decent career so far if it wasn't for Hideki Noda's complete scattergun approach and supposed willingness to bend the rules.

Edited by Frood, 10 January 2024 - 17:06.

[Disgrace]

Yeah, she was firmly at the back in W Series in 2022. Super Formula two years later? I will be amazed if she makes the season.

[maximilian]

It's an unbelievably big step up for her, but if she has ANY trace of being that "phenom" she had been hyped up to be since years ago, this will be the year to show it.  I fear for the worse, though... but best of luck.  I would love to see her succeed in any REAL racing series, let alone Super Formula. 

[Frood]

She's also a good two years younger than any Formula Nippon/Super Formula driver has been since Formula Nippon started in 1996.

[DW46]

She's also a good two years younger than any Formula Nippon/Super Formula driver has been since Formula Nippon started in 1996.

Didn’t JV compete in Formula Nippon in the early 90’s?

[KWSN - DSM]

She will be completely out of her league in Super Formula.

[Stephane]

Didn’t JV compete in Formula Nippon in the early 90’s?

Only F3

[Risil]

What was the basis of the Juji hype long ago? I remember feeling impressed by it but I can't remember why!

[KWSN - DSM]

What was the basis of the Juji hype long ago? I remember feeling impressed by it but I can't remember why!

 

Unfortunately think the hype were based on gender, and that she managed to win a Danish F4 race.

[eab]

What was the basis of the Juji hype long ago? I remember feeling impressed by it but I can't remember why!

I can't answer your question, but it must've been quite the effective hype then.

Edited by eab, 10 January 2024 - 16:27.

[Disgrace]

The hype stems from alleged cheating as well.

[Risil]

I can't answer your question, but it must've been quite the effective hype then.

I was sold a pig in a poke!

[Frood]

The hype pre-dates her racing career. Seemed to originate from a video shot by Jann Mardenborough, in which she was driving an F3 car at 11 years old.

I don't think it was ever undoubtedly proved there was cheating - apart from tyre irregularities in Danish F4 for which she was penalised. The Euroformula Open rules allowed a minimum weight reduction for female racers, which was revised during the season and led to her dad withdrawing her from the series.

The cheating allegations came from her brief sojourn into USF4, when she turned up for the first race of the year, went fastest in practice, and then promptly disappeared from the series. It's never been explained why she pulled out, apart from an apparent disagreement between Hideki Noda and Jay Howard. There was speculation that something dodgy was going on, but no-one has ever come forward to explain it.

What is certain is that Hideki Noda appears to very much be a helicopter parent!

Edited by Frood, 10 January 2024 - 17:07.

[balage06]

What was the basis of the Juji hype long ago? I remember feeling impressed by it but I can't remember why!

 

https://www.forbes.c...sh=463495807a93

[KWSN - DSM]

https://www.forbes.c...sh=463495807a93

 

That is a very sad read, I can not see anything good coming from Noda placing that much pressure on his daughter since she was 11, and ongoing with her racing in Super Formula this season.

[Muppetmad]

I agree entirely with Frood. Noda's father has done her no favours at all in this. It looks like her junior formula experience has been unusually erratic, which is exactly what a potentially promising driver doesn't need. With a single points-scoring result in W Series, I don't get the sense she is anywhere near ready to step up to Super Formula. It's a shame: it's never nice to see somebody being set up to fail.

[Muppetmad]

I couldn't find a better thread for it but Juju Noda is having an absolute nightmare in testing today.

In the morning session she spun once and then crashed the car on her 16th lap.
She was 12 seconds from P1.

In the afternoon session she almost had the most laps of anyone. 9 seconds off pace.

...as I say, it's never nice to see somebody being set up to fail.

[Disgrace]

I said earlier that I'd be surprised if she makes the season, but I meant the end rather than the start...

[BRG]

...as I say, it's never nice to see somebody being set up to fail.

And people crib about how Lance Stroll is only there because his Dad told him to go racing.  At least he has real talent even if he isn't a potential WDC. 

[SouthF1]

And people crib about how Lance Stroll is only there because his Dad told him to go racing.  At least he has real talent even if he isn't a potential WDC.

There are still people who thinks Noda could race in F1 right now. One guy kept saying she is a future F1 champion, she just needs time.

[Disgrace]

I suppose it's interesting to see an F4 driver (and not a top one) going up against F2 and some near F1 level drivers, but I wonder how this ends. If that's the best she can do come round one, the series will need to take away the keys before the race.

[jals99]

I suppose it's interesting to see an F4 driver (and not a top one) going up against F2 and some near F1 level drivers, but I wonder how this ends. If that's the best she can do come round one, the series will need to take away the keys before the race.

She was in Euroformula last year, which is F3

[Muppetmad]

I presume Super Formula has an equivalent to the 107% rule?

[Disgrace]

She was in Euroformula last year, which is F3

 

Thanks. I struggle to believe she would be competitive in FIA F3 on the F1 circus, to be honest...

[juicy sushi]

She is definitely being pushed erratically, and too quickly, by her father.  If there is a good driver in there, we'll never find out unless someone else begins to guide her career.

[SouthF1]

Thanks. I struggle to believe she would be competitive in FIA F3 on the F1 circus, to be honest...

I watched every race of W Series and Noda was struggling even in that series. She would be last in F3, without a shadow of a doubt.

[Jellyfishcake]

She was in Euroformula last year, which is F3

 

It's kind of a below par F3 though isn't it?

 

Her father seems determined to have her fail. 

Ironically, she'd be better off racing a full year in F1Academy than bouncing between series at her fathers scattergun approach

[Frood]

Good to see Iwasa up the sharp end of the times. Will be interesting to see how he goes compared to Lawson last year. I'm not sure how well he knows the tracks in Japan as he moved to Europe with only 4 Japanese F4 races under his belt.

[jals99]

It's kind of a below par F3 though isn't it?

Her father seems determined to have her fail.
Ironically, she'd be better off racing a full year in F1Academy than bouncing between series at her fathers scattergun approach

It is closer to F3, than FRECA)

[SouthF1]

Juju had another, bigger crash this morning going in a straight line from Degner 2. Lost the car and hit the barrier on the right side.

Is her father paying for the seat or did they get a sponsor? Might be expensive this and the season hasn't even started.

[Disgrace]

Looks to me like she lost it on a damp patch under the bridge as went to put temperature into the tyres.

[midgrid]

To her credit, she's improved her times by a lot today, and is now just behind the penultimate driver, rather than miles adrift.

[Frood]

I went back and crunched some numbers from W Series in 2022, and she wasn't that bad. She was quicker than her "team-mate" Bustamante by a decent margin in Quali pace, and her race pace by the end of the season was decent (she ended up quicker than Abbie Eaton and Emely de Heus as well). Bustamante and de Heus are both winners in F1 Academy.

She's certainly not the fastest driver in the world, by a long shot, but I'm sure she'd look better had she had some decent career structure (i.e. had Hideki Noda not tried to live vicariously through her).

Pourchaire showing some decent pace now, which is also good to see.

[SouthF1]

It was Jujus 4th year in single seaters.
Meanwhile Bustamante joined W Series with 4 races outside of karting under her belt.

[juicy sushi]

Pourchaire will be interesting. A good season here, maybe some good results in Super GT as well, and he could become a designated heir to a WEC ride at GR.