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Super Formula explains why Suzuka finale wasn't rescheduled
The organisers of the Japanese Super Formula championship have defended their decision to cancel last weekend's Suzuka season finale, revealing why it couldn’t be postponed to a later date.
Rachit Thukral
Edited: Oct 27, 2017, 1:14 PM
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Heavy rain showers were expected throughout Sunday at Suzuka due to Typhoon Lan, forcing series organisers JRP to announce the cancellation of both Suzuka races on Saturday.
It meant Hiroaki Ishiura was declared the drivers' champion based on the standings after a shortened qualifying session, denying Red Bull protege Pierre Gasly the title by half a point.
Conditions on Sunday turned out to be far from suitable for racing, with the Mie Prefecture of Japan - where Suzuka is located - recording 700mm of rainfall.
The organisers considered the possibility of hosting a single race on Sunday, but ultimately decided not to risk running at all following discussions with team principals.
Rescheduling the race to a different weekend was also deemed impossible as several Super Formula drivers have commitments in other series, including Formula 1, Super GT and the FIA World Endurance Championship, which could have prevented them from competing.
"Japan Race Promotion, the promoter for the Super Formula series, met with Suzuka Circuit on Saturday, October 21, 2017 in the afternoon to discuss the possibility of postponing the races scheduled for Sunday, October 22, 2017," the organisers said in a statement.
"Due to the on-coming typhoon, it was decided that because of its size that it would be impossible to race on Monday. We later found out that there were mudslides at Suzuka Circuit caused by heavy rain, which would have prevented the races from being able to be held anyway.
"In addition to the possibility of Monday, we also discussed other dates to hold the races this season at either Suzuka or another circuit.
"To our dismay, the dates that we considered from next week on to the end of November were all filled. In addition, from October 29 through November 26, F1 or WEC are already on the schedule.
"It would make absolutely no sense to try to hold races without Pierre Gasly, Kazuki Nakajima, Kamui Kobayashi in them.
"The weather in December in Japan does not permit for the proper conditions needed to hold formula car races, therefore we were left with no option but to give up on the possibility of re-scheduling the Super Formula Round 7 races that were slated for Sunday, October 22, 2017."
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