Formula Beat, known as JAF Japan Formula 4 (JAF 地方選手権 F4, JAF Chihou Senshuken) until its rebranding in 2023, is a formula racing class in Japan.[1] The class was founded in 1993 by the Japan Automobile Federation as a class above FJ1600 and below the former All-Japan Formula Three Championship and the current Formula Regional Japanese Championship and Super Formula Lights.
Car
Formula Beat is an open chassis class, open for all chassis manufacturers. Since 2012 the engines have been limited to a maximum capacity of 2,000cc. Currently the cars are allowed to be fitted with a Honda K20A, Toyota 3ZR or Nissan SR20 engine. In the early 2010s, most cars were primarily built by Japanese constructor West Racing Cars, but the championship has since seen entries from older Dallara-built Formula 3 cars and Tatuus chassis.
Champions
1993-1996
| Season | Suzuka Champion | TI Champion | Tsukuba (1993-96)/Mine Champion | Super F4 Champion |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 |  Ryō Michigami
|
Ryō Michigami
|
Not held | Not held |
| 1994 | Hiroshi Sasaki
|
Yutaka Okano
| ||
| 1995 | Shōta Mizuno
|
Tatsuya Mizutani
|
Yasuhisa Fujiwara
| |
| 1996 | Tsuyoshi Takahashi
|
Ryōhei Sakaguchi
|
Takaya Tsubobayashi
| |
| 1997 | Yūsuke Matsuura
|
Akihiro Asai
|
Seiji Yoshimura
| |
| 1998 | Kōta Sasaki
|
Naoki Yokobayashi
|
Kōta Sasaki
|
Naoki Yokobayashi
|
| 1999 | Not held | Hideki Nishimura
|
Takeshi Ohtani
| |
| 2000 | Shun Nakamura
|
Takahiro Ogawa
| ||
1997-present
| Season | Kantō Champion | Kansai Champion |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Akihiro Asai
|
N/A |
| 1998 | Takeyuki Kishi
|
N/A |
| 1999 | Touya Higuchi
|
Keita Sawa
|
| 2000 | Issei Nishio
|
Hideaki Nakao
|
| 2001 | Naohiro Kawano
|
Kenji Kanehisa
|
| 2002 | Tetsuya Fujisawa
|
Katsumasa Katayose
|
| 2003 | Kei Idaka
|
Kenji Ōtaki
|
| Season | East Champion | West Champion |
| 2004 | Masanobu Katō
|
Koudai Tsukakoshi
|
| 2005 | Satoru Okada
|
Masaki Tanaka
|
| 2006 | Muneyuki Kurihara
|
Taku Ikeda
|
| 2007 | Kei Idaka
|
Yoshinari Tomimoto
|
| 2008 | Yūsuke Tsuchiya
|
Shōta Hanaoka
|
| 2009 | Tsubasa Kondō
|
Shōta Hanaoka
|
| 2010 | Makoto Kanai
|
Naoki Nishimoto
|
| 2011 | Yuhi Sekiguchi
|
Ryo Hirakawa
|
| 2012 | Ryōsuke Takehira
|
Kosuke Hattori
|
| 2013 | Kenta Yamashita
|
Shintarō Kawabata
|
| 2014 | Yuichi Mikasa
|
Yūya Hiraki
|
| 2015 | Tadasuke Makino
|
Tadasuke Makino
|
| 2016 | Toshiki Ōyu
|
Toshiki Ōyu
|
| 2017 | Yūki Tsunoda
|
Keisuke Ohara
|
| 2018 | Makoto Kanai
|
Norio Kubo
|
| Champion | ||
| 2019 | Kouhei Tokumasu
| |
| 2020 | Isao Nakajima
| |
| 2021 | Yūya Motojima
| |
| 2022 | Itsuki Satō
| |
| 2023 | Kōta Sasaki
| |
References
- ^ Hirano, Ryuji (November 27, 2022). "JAF地方選手権F4シリーズの名称が2023年から『Formula Beat（フォーミュラ・ビート）』に" [The name of the JAF Regional Championship F4 Series will change to "Formula Beat" from 2023]. Auto Sport (in Japanese). Retrieved February 7, 2025.
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