Breaking news
Super Formula
Fittipaldi could add Super Formula programme to IndyCar/WEC
Formula V8 3.5 champion Pietro Fittipaldi could add a Super Formula programme to his scheduled IndyCar and WEC outings in 2018, following a debut test in the category.
Valentin Khorounzhiy
Edited: Mar 14, 2018, 5:05 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Fittipaldi, grandson of two-time Formula 1 world champion Emerson, joined Team LeMans for his first taste of the series' Dallara SF14 car in pre-season testing at Suzuka.
He drove the car on Tuesday, the second day of the test, and finished ahead of team regular Kazuya Oshima.
Earlier this year, Fittipaldi was confirmed for a seven-race IndyCar programme with Dale Coyne Racing – and he has since also been called up for the Spa and Fuji WEC events by the Dragonspeed LMP1 outfit.
"I can say that Super Formula is a possibility for 2018," Fittipaldi told Motorsport.com. "I think, if it happens, it'd be great for my programme this year.
"I'd be racing in three of the top series in the world, with IndyCar, Super Formula and WEC - I'd be really privileged to be racing that.
"And I'm a racer, you know, if I can race every weekend, I'm doing what I love, so that would be amazing."
Fittipaldi, who has trialled IndyCar, LMP1, Formula 2 and Formula E machinery since winning last year's 3.5 title, stated he was very impressed by the "rocket"-like SF14.
Speaking about the test, he said: "I really enjoyed it. The team did a great job, it was great working with them.
"I was really surprised and impressed with the acceleration of the car – the car is very light, it accelerates super-quick out of the corners, it's like a rocket, it's unbelievable.
"It was a great experience – the cornering speeds are also really really high. I was speaking to a couple friends of mine who raced Super Formula before I went to the test, like Andre Lotterer, JP [Joao Paulo] de Oliveira, they explained to me ' you're going to be really impressed with the performance of the car and how fast it is through the corners, especially sector one in Suzuka'.
"That's exactly how I felt, it's extremely impressive. I'm pretty sore now after the test, because the car is so fast in the corners, you're pulling some pretty high Gs."
The Toyota-powered Team LeMans has already confirmed Oshima for one of its seats, but is now the only Super Formula outfit yet to finalise its driver line-up for 2018.
Formula E frontrunner Felix Rosenqvist drove for the team last year, finishing third in the championship.
In the recent Suzuka test, Fittipaldi shared the car with Williams F1 junior Oliver Rowland, who is understood to likewise be a candidate for the seat.
Rowland has one clash between his Manor LMP1 programme and the Super Formula schedule – while the Japanese series' May races overlap with the GP of Indy and the Indy 500, both of which Fittipaldi is confirmed for.
Super Formula's next test will take place at Fuji at the end of March, and it is believed that Team LeMans will likely have its line-up firmed up by then.
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Matsushita quickest as Super Formula test ends
Next article Fittipaldi lands 2018 Super Formula drive
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Valentin Khorounzhiy
WTCR's April opener cancelled due to coronavirus
WTCR
WTCR
Hungaroring
WTCR's April opener cancelled due to coronavirus
Australian GP issues update on nine F1 paddock coronavirus tests
Formula 1
Formula 1
Australian GP
Australian GP issues update on nine F1 paddock coronavirus tests
Motorsport Games unveils 15 disciplines for 2020
General
General
Motorsport Games unveils 15 disciplines for 2020
More from
Pietro Fittipaldi
Pietro Fittipaldi is fueled by 5-Hour Energy and lots of carbs
Sponsored
Sponsored
Indianapolis 500
Pietro Fittipaldi is fueled by 5-Hour Energy and lots of carbs
Rahal encouraged despite limited running in Indy 500 Open Test
IndyCar
IndyCar
Indianapolis 500 Open test
Rahal encouraged despite limited running in Indy 500 Open Test
Sato returning to Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing for Indy 500
IndyCar
IndyCar
Indianapolis 500
Sato returning to Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing for Indy 500
More from
Team LeMans
Merhi feels first SUPER GT victory now within reach
Super GT
Super GT
Sugo
Merhi feels first SUPER GT victory now within reach
Merhi ready to fight for podiums in second SUPER GT season
Super GT
Super GT
Merhi ready to fight for podiums in second SUPER GT season
Merhi convinced Audi R8 still has potential in SUPER GT
Super GT
Super GT
Motegi
Merhi convinced Audi R8 still has potential in SUPER GT
Latest news
Sesks tight-lipped on WRC future after ERC season finale triumph
WRC
WRC WRC 8 min
Sesks tight-lipped on WRC future after ERC season finale triumph
Franco Colapinto responds to Jeremy Clarkson’s controversial comment about him
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
United States GP
57 min
Franco Colapinto responds to Jeremy Clarkson’s controversial comment about him
WRC legend Carlos Sainz set for Ford Puma Rally1 outing
Other rally
Misc Other rally 1 h
WRC legend Carlos Sainz set for Ford Puma Rally1 outing
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe