Jann Mardenborough’s trying his hand at another branch of motorsports this week as he participates in the Super Formula ‘Rookie’ test at Okayama – known to 90s F1 fans as the Aida Circuit, location of the 1994 and 1995 Pacific Grands Prix.
For those unfamiliar with Super Formula – formerly Formula Nippon – it’s an open wheel series using a spec Dallara chassis dubbed SF14 with 2.0 turbo engines supplied by Honda and Toyota. Weighing in at 660kg with the driver and shovelling around 540hp to the rear wheels, the Super Formula car is much closer to a GP2 car than the GP3 cars Jann has been driving this season.
The series has been won in recent years by Le Mans winning drivers like Loic Duval, Benoit Treluyer and Andre Lotterer, while F1 drivers Ralph Firman, Ralf Schumacher, Tora Takagi and Pedro de la Rosa all count Formula Nippon titles in their trophy cabinets.
Testing the Toyota-powered Team Impul car and surrounded by other ‘rookies’ like Kamui Kobayashi, Kazuki Nakajima and Takuma Sato, Jann showed amazing pace on day 1 to come home with the 2nd fastest time of the day – his 1’12.401s only 0.6s off Kobayashi’s pace and 1.8s faster than Michael Schumacher’s official lap record from 1994.
In the wet on Thursday Jann was the class of the field, only losing out on top spot as the track dried in the afternoon – 1’17.498s still good enough for 3rd behind Kobayashi and last season’s champion Nakajima. You can view video of the test sessions below:
We don’t yet know what the plans are for Jann in 2015. Though all eyes are on him for a headlining drive in Nissan’s LMP1 attack on Le Mans, this successful open-wheel test may push him more into contention for GP2 and F1…
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I’d really like to see any GTAcademy winner competing in F1, just to see what Bernie might say.
I made my PC racing debut (R07) at Okayama in the rain. It didn’t end well.
Anyhow, it’s good for Mardenborough, especially when there’s none other than Kamui Kobayashi and F1 legend Takuma Sato taking part in the same test.
I’m sure anyone here that has an iracing sub knows Okayama. It’s a great track
This guy. Good stuff.
Jann is this awesome. He is this impressive because of his confident not that lousy trackdays and experience before gt academy or something.
I remember people complaining that he is only where he is because of his marketability. Score another one for Team Jann.
Jann, the Mann… sorry. *sees self out*
His Twitter profile is @jannthaman
Go Jann!
Wow Jann!
Awesome.