2009 Season Overview

The Japan F3 Championship is a series of tough battles competed by young drivers. Toyota supplies the 1AZ-FE engine (based on a 2-liter factory car) for the C Class (last year’s Japan Championship Class) to five cars in the series. All cars in the N Class (last year’s National Class) use the Toyota 3S-G engine. TOM’S drivers Marcus Ericsson, Takuto Iguchi and Yuji Kunimoto (two TDP drivers) stormed into the C Class series. With Iguchi winning the first three races of the year, Ericsson and Kunimoto began dividing center podium spots until Iguchi returned with wins in races 13 and 14. In the last race of the season, Iguchi and Ericsson engaged in an amazing battle, until Iguchi was forced out of the race with mechanical issues. The victory helped Ericsson to a come-from-behind drivers’ championship. In an overwhelming demonstration of power, the three TOM’S cars won 14 of the 16 season races, easily capturing the team title. In the N Class, HFDP driver Naoki Yamamoto won eight races and the top driver honor.