2009 Season Overview

The Formula NIPPON is the pinnacle formula car race in Japan. Toyota began supplying engines for this series in 2006. This season, both chassis and engine were redesigned (3.4-liter V8; RV8K), with five teams and eight cars using Toyota engines. Benoit Treluyer of IMPUL team won the first race of the year at Fuji, going on to capture a total of five podium finishes. Andre Lotterer of the TOM’S team won his first victory in two years at Motegi (6th race of the season), competing for the season’s top driver honors with four podium finishes. Ultimately, the drivers finished 2nd and 3rd on the year, respectively, barely missing out on the title. In their second year of this series, TDP drivers Kohei Hirate and Hiroaki Ishiura both secured podium finishes, completing the season at a respective 5th and 6th in the drivers’ chase.