This weekend's SFormula season-opening Fuji double-header marks the start of a new era for Japan's top single-seater category. Here's your guide to every team and driver on the 2023 grid:
After some lean years, not helped by the COVID-19 pandemic, it feels like Super Formula is 'back' this season. Japan's borders are now fully open, which has resulted in a minor influx of new international drivers, and the grid itself is up to a healthy 22 cars, the highest number since 2007.
But the thing that really makes this the most anticipated Super Formula campaign in years is the new Dallara SF23, a major refresh of the previous SF19 car featuring revised aerodynamics designed to reduce downforce and promote better racing. Throw in new, faster-degrading sustainable Yokohama tyres, and the ingredients are there for a real shake-up of the competitive order.
Teams have had just one pre-season test to prepare for the new season, which took place last month at Suzuka. Reigning two-time champion Tomoki Nojiri was fastest overall, but concluded the test with an uncharacteristic spin - and hardly sounded optimistic of his chances of becoming the series' first driver to make it three titles in a row since Satoru Nakajima in 1986.
"I think the competitive order from last year could be overturned," said Ichise."With the SF19, I think most teams were struggling with understeer. So with the SF23, those teams will now be in the correct window in terms of balance. The teams like us that did well with the SF19 are struggling with oversteer, and the teams that had understeer are now in the window."
With that in mind, let's take a look at each team in turn, what they have changed for 2023 and how they might perform at the start of this brave new era...
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