From the 2014 edition, the Super Formula has had an Italian soul after Dallara was chosen as the sole supplier of all the chassis in the championship – its carbon fibre chassis building on the series metrics of “light and powerful” cars with approximately 600 hp, high speeds of up to 320 km/h and very high performing, with top speeds often higher than those of Formula 1.

The Dallara SF14 was a revolutionary car, the first to be designed with the involvement of drivers. They played an integral role in the design of the car thanks to the Dallara Simulator, which provided a continuous exchange of information between the drivers and the designers.

The SF14 has a high nose, an engine cover that can be quickly tilted very and comes equipped with two types of 2-litre turbocharged engines, one from Honda and the other from Toyota with both producing around 600 horsepower. At launch it was a somewhat controversial choice as it was built in Italy, although around 30% of the parts are claimed to be manufactured in Japan.

To ensure a better show, the Super Formula cars are equipped with OTS (Overtake System), which can be activated for a period of twenty seconds and for a maximum of five times during the race.
 
From next season Super Formula will extend its agreement with Dallara and introduce a new chassis, dubbed the SF19, will be built based on higher safety standards and an advanced design that expected to draw more attention to the Super Formula series.

The new SF19 comes as by the end of this year the SF14 chassis will have been in use for five seasons. Safety standards for other formula series, including F1, are upgraded yearly, so that is one of the main reasons why a new chassis was considered. In addition, advancements in aerodynamics, and furthering the possibility of overtaking other cars during races were other factors that led to the decision for a new chassis.

The SF14 is based on the “quick and light” concept, and the SF19 has been designed with that same concept in mind. The “quick and light” SF14 has brought more attention to the series since it was brought into use, and the promoter, JRP, hopes to further the popularity of Super Formula with the introduction of the SF19.

The SF19 will feature advanced aerodynamics, which will allow for drivers to be able to further control their cars as they come into close proximity of other cars during overtake maneuvers. Overtaking in formula races add to their overall entertainment value, as well as to the level of completion.

Development Schedule for the SF19 will see the first test car completed in June, with testing beginning the next month. The car will be finalised in October when production also begins with delivery to the teams slated to take place next January.

The first race of the 2018 season of the Japanese Super Formula Championship takes place today (Sunday 22 April) at the Suzuka Circuit. The championship will be run over seven races; the last round will take place on October 28th always at Suzuka. Nineteen drivers will compete in the race representing 11 teams; the 2017 winner is the Japanese Hiroaki Ishiura. This is a very prestigious competition: in the previous editions drivers such as Michael Schumacher, Heinz-Harald Frentzen, Ralf Schumacher, Eddie Irvine, the FIA World Endurance Champion Andre Lotterer and Kazuki Nakajima competed. More recently, Formula 1 drivers Stoffel Vandoorne and Pierre Gasly have raced in Super Formula, with Gasly finishing 2nd in the 2017 series.

In terms of drivers, this year two drivers who raced in 2017 in GP3 and Formula 2 will be back: Nirei Fukuzumi and Nobuharu Matsushita. In addition, worthy of mention is the entry into Super Formula of the 21-year-old Brazilian Pietro Fittipaldi, nephew of the two-time Formula One world champion and Indy 500 champion Emerson Fittipaldi, who will race with the Le Mans team.