Teams and drivers
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The 2012 Formula Challenge Japan was a multi-event motor racing championship for open-wheel formula racing cars, and the seventh running of the Formula Challenge Japan series, a young driver development series jointly supported by Honda, Toyota, and Nissan. The championship featured a mix of manufacturer-affiliated drivers and independent entries, and commenced on 7 April and ended on 4 November. [1] [2]
The championship featured a close battle between Honda-backed Nobuharu Matsushita and Toyota-supported Ryō Hirakawa; both drivers scored five wins over the course of the 12-race season, with Nissan-supported Mitsunori Takaboshi taking the remaining two victories. Matsushita would ultimately claim the championship title by countback over Hirakawa, with Takaboshi finishing third in the points standings.
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| Round | Circuit | Date | Pole position | Fastest lap | Winning driver |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fuji Speedway, Oyama | 7 April |  Ryō Hirakawa | Ryō Hirakawa | Ryō Hirakawa |
| 2 | 8 April | Ryō Hirakawa | Ryō Hirakawa | Ryō Hirakawa | |
| 3 | Twin Ring Motegi, Motegi | 12 May | Mitsunori Takaboshi | Mitsunori Takaboshi | Ryō Hirakawa |
| 4 | 13 May | Mitsunori Takaboshi | Mitsunori Takaboshi | Mitsunori Takaboshi | |
| 5 | Fuji Speedway, Oyama | 1 September | Nobuharu Matsushita | Nobuharu Matsushita | Nobuharu Matsushita |
| 6 | Nobuharu Matsushita | Nobuharu Matsushita | |||
| 7 | 2 September | Nobuharu Matsushita | Nobuharu Matsushita | ||
| 8 | Suzuka Circuit, Suzuka | 6 October | Ryō Hirakawa | Nobuharu Matsushita | Nobuharu Matsushita |
| 9 | 7 October | Nobuharu Matsushita | Ryō Hirakawa | ||
| 10 | Suzuka Circuit, Suzuka | 3 November | Ryō Hirakawa | Ryō Hirakawa | Ryō Hirakawa |
| 11 | Mitsunori Takaboshi | Nobuharu Matsushita | |||
| 12 | 4 November | Ryō Hirakawa | Mitsunori Takaboshi |
Points were awarded to the top six classified finishers, with one point awarded for pole position and fastest lap respectively.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | PP | FL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
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