The FIA F4 Japanese Championship is back at Motegi for the final rounds of 2016 after a two and a half month break. This weekend will be the second three-race weekend of the season, instead of the regular double-header weekend. The Autopolis event (Rounds 5 & 6) was cancelled due to Kumamoto earthquakes in May. Therefore Round 6 will be held as a first race during the 11-13 November Motegi meeting, with Round 5 having been slotted in at Fuji Speedway in August.

It means that the maximum 75 points are available for the winner or winners of the three final races, and provides the opportunity to the top nine drivers to be crowned champion. This year will be one of the most unpredictable years in FIA F4 Japanese championship history, with so many drivers in contention going into the finale.

Current championship leader Ritomo Miyata (17 year-old, TOM’S SPIRIT) has won two races and accumulated 124 points so far. He holds an 11-point lead over Sena Sagaguchi (17 years old, Honda Formula Dream Project) at 113 points and Toshiki Oyu (21 years old, Honda Formula Dream Project) at 113. Mizuki Ishizuka is fourth with 21 points and Kotaka is ranked in fifth, the most winning driver in this season has recently been struggling without a win since mid-season.

The seasons have changed from summer to late autumn. Track conditions of Motegi races are completely different from the last Event in unbearably hot August. In addition the Motegi Event requires more toughness and concentration from the teams and drivers to fight the regular two races plus additional final showdown.

All of the teams and drivers have spent a long interval of months to gear up for the final push, and how they can adjust themselves to those differences will be one of keys to winning at Motegi.