The 1996 Formula Nippon Championship was the first season under the name Formula Nippon; before 1996, the category was named Japanese Formula 3000. This season was contested over 10 rounds. Fifteen different teams, 28 different drivers, three different chassis and three different engines competed. Ralf Schumacher won the championship, winning three races.
This was the final season for six-time Top Formula Champion Kazuyoshi Hoshino, who announced his retirement from the series prior to the start of the 1997 season.
Race calendar and results
edit
All races were held in Japan.
Championship standings
edit
Drivers' Championship
edit
- Scoring system
| Position |
1st |
2nd |
3rd |
4th |
5th |
6th
|
| Points |
10 |
6 |
4 |
3 |
2 |
1
|
|
|
| Colour |
Result
|
| Gold |
Winner
|
| Silver |
Second place
|
| Bronze |
Third place
|
| Green |
Points finish
|
| Blue |
Non-points finish
|
| Non-classified finish (NC)
|
| Purple |
Retired (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
|
| Rank
|
Team
|
Car
|
SUZ
|
MIN
|
FUJ
|
TOK
|
SUZ
|
SUG
|
FUJ
|
MIN
|
SUZ
|
FUJ
|
Points
|
| 1
|
X-Japan Le Mans
|
24
|
8
|
Ret
|
2
|
3
|
3
|
8
|
1
|
3
|
1
|
Ret
|
78
|
| 25
|
3
|
1
|
19
|
1
|
4
|
Ret
|
Ret
|
1
|
4
|
Ret
|
| 2
|
Team Impul
|
1
|
18
|
Ret
|
12
|
11
|
9
|
10
|
7
|
4
|
3
|
Ret
|
38
|
| 19
|
1
|
Ret
|
3
|
4
|
5
|
2
|
Ret
|
Ret
|
2
|
Ret
|
| 3
|
PIAA Nakajima
|
64
|
Ret
|
3
|
Ret
|
Ret
|
1
|
1
|
Ret
|
Ret
|
6
|
Ret
|
35
|
| 65
|
Ret
|
8
|
15
|
7
|
2
|
5
|
8
|
5
|
8
|
Ret
|
| 4
|
Shionogi Nova
|
9
|
5
|
7
|
6
|
6
|
Ret
|
11
|
6
|
Ret
|
5
|
2
|
35
|
| 10
|
14
|
2
|
1
|
Ret
|
8
|
Ret
|
2
|
Ret
|
11
|
Ret
|
| 5
|
Funai Super Aguri
|
55
|
6
|
Ret
|
4
|
5
|
7
|
Ret
|
4
|
Ret
|
Ret
|
1
|
35
|
| 56
|
7
|
Ret
|
5
|
17
|
12
|
3
|
5
|
6
|
Ret
|
DNS
|
| 6
|
Mugen Dome
|
2
|
9
|
Ret
|
10
|
Ret
|
Ret
|
6
|
Ret
|
10
|
Ret
|
Ret
|
21
|
| 8
|
2
|
13
|
Ret
|
9
|
6
|
7
|
3
|
2
|
9
|
4
|
| 7
|
Kanagawa Clinic Stellar
|
20
|
Ret
|
Ret
|
7
|
14
|
Ret
|
4
|
Ret
|
7
|
Ret
|
5
|
9
|
| 21
|
4
|
6
|
11
|
16
|
11
|
9
|
Ret
|
Ret
|
Ret
|
Ret
|
| 8
|
Pal Checkers
|
7
|
10
|
5
|
Ret
|
2
|
17
|
15
|
9
|
11
|
Ret
|
Ret
|
8
|
| 17
|
15
|
10
|
14
|
Ret
|
15
|
Ret
|
Ret
|
Ret
|
14
|
Ret
|
| 9
|
Navi Connection
|
27
|
Ret
|
Ret
|
Ret
|
Ret
|
16
|
12
|
Ret
|
9
|
7
|
3
|
5
|
| 28
|
Ret
|
9
|
16
|
13
|
Ret
|
Ret
|
14
|
8
|
Ret
|
6
|
| 10
|
5Zigen
|
5
|
12
|
4
|
8
|
8
|
14
|
13
|
12
|
Ret
|
10
|
Ret
|
3
|
| 6
|
Ret
|
Ret
|
9
|
Ret
|
10
|
14
|
10
|
12
|
Ret
|
Ret
|
| –
|
Asahi Kiko Sports
|
72
|
Ret
|
11
|
Ret
|
15
|
19
|
16
|
13
|
Ret
|
Ret
|
7
|
0
|
| 73
|
17
|
Ret
|
Ret
|
Ret
|
Ret
|
Ret
|
Ret
|
15
|
Ret
|
NC
|
| –
|
Art Brilliant Gullwing
|
30
|
13
|
12
|
13
|
12
|
18
|
Ret
|
Ret
|
Ret
|
Ret
|
DNS
|
0
|
| 31
|
11
|
Ret
|
17
|
10
|
20
|
Ret
|
11
|
10
|
Ret
|
DNS
|
| –
|
Slim Beauty House Cerumo
|
12
|
16
|
Ret
|
Ret
|
Ret
|
13
|
Ret
|
16
|
13
|
12
|
Ret
|
0
|
| –
|
Nihon Lead Yamada
|
15
|
DNQ
|
DNQ
|
18
|
DNQ
|
DNQ
|
Ret
|
15
|
DNQ
|
13
|
Ret
|
0
|
|
| Colour |
Result
|
| Gold |
Winner
|
| Silver |
Second place
|
| Bronze |
Third place
|
| Green |
Points finish
|
| Blue |
Non-points finish
|
| Non-classified finish (NC)
|
| Purple |
Retired (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
|
| first column of every race |
10 |
= grid position
|
| second column of every race |
10 |
= race result
|
R=retired NC=not classified NS=did not start NQ=did not qualify
Germany
Argentina
Spain
United Kingdom
Italy
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