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Formula Crane 45

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Formula Crane 45
CategorySingle seaters
CountryJapan Japan
RegionAutopolis, Ōita Prefecture
Inaugural season1991
Folded1992
ConstructorsSabre Racing Cars
Engine suppliersBuick

The Formula Crane 45 was a single-seater racing series held at Autopolis in 1991 and 1992.

History

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Owner of the Autopolis circuit Tomonori Tsurumaki ordered 30 Buick powered US built single seater race cars called Sabre FC45 for a race to take place on his circuit's grand opening in November 1990, consisting of a mixture of invited US CART drivers such as Stan Fox, Johnny Rutherford, Dick Simon, Gary and Tony Bettenhausen against local Japanese drivers. The cars were originally built for a spec racing class to have been run by USAC; however, this class was never realized. After the grand opening, Tsurumaki planned on a series with the cars, known as Formula Crane 45. With only a handful of cars during the 1991 and 1992 season the class was not very successful. When Autopolis went bankrupt the assets including the cars were sold to the highest bidder.[1]

1991

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Round Date Winning driver
1 April 21 Japan Masatomo Shimizu
2 June 9 Japan Masatomo Shimizu
3 August 18 Japan Shunji Kasuya
4 November 11 Japan Shunji Kasuya

1992

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Round Date Winning driver
1 May 31 Japan Shunji Kasuya
2 September 20 Japan Tetsuji Tamanaka
3 October 18 Japan Fumio Muto
4 November 22 Japan Tetsuji Tamanaka

Champions

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Year Driver Car
1991 Japan Masatomo Shimizu Sabre FC45
1992 Japan Tetsuji Tamanaka Sabre FC45

References

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  1. ^ "Formula Crane 45". Racing History Japan. Retrieved 2 January 2014.