After several rumours regarding the addition of 2023’s Super Formula cars to iRacing in recent weeks, the online racing service has today (5th September 2023) confirmed the exciting Japanese single-seater is on its way to its Season 4 Build tomorrow.
Via a three-minute and 10-second video, iRacing revealed the Toyota-powered Super Formula SF23 is coming to the sim, showing the car in action around Suzuka and Fuji International Raceway.
The SF23 competes in the Super Formula open-wheeler series in Japan, a championship that commonly features cars with near-Formula 1 levels of aerodynamic performance, with both Toyota and Honda contributing two-litre, four-cylinder engines to teams.
Many of Europe’s top single-seater talent has participated in Super Formula (or Formula Nippon, as it used to be called) through the years; including Eddie Irvine, Heinz-Harald Frentzen, Stoffel Vandoorne and recent IndyCar and convert Jüri Vips.
The SF23 replaces the older Dallara SF19 chassis and still features a push-to-pass system with 200 seconds of usage permitted per race, with both Honda and Toyota engines producing around 540bhp. Both SF23 cars were made available in Gran Turismo 7 in April; to this date the only appearance for the cars in a game or sim.
The Dallara-built Toyota SF23 features its ‘Red Tiger’ development livery by default, with its Honda-powered rival notable by its absence. iRacing has not indicated whether the Honda-flavoured SF23 will also come to the subscription-based racing service at a later date.
Sustainability
The SF23 was developed with overtaking in mind thanks to trick aerodynamics, with a 50% reduction in dirty air production over the SF19. It was also designed to help reduce the championship’s carbon footprint, with 75% fewer emissions involved in the car’s production in comparison to the outgoing SF19.
The gains are mostly thanks to the Bcomp bio-composite materials used in the car’s construction; including the use of cork, flax fibres and recycled carbon fibre in its bodywork. Tyre supplier Yokohama also issues carbon-neutral rubber to teams, further enhancing the series’ sustainability credentials.
The Toyota SF23 Super Formula car is coming to iRacing’s 2023 Season 4 Build tomorrow, alongside the Porsche 963 LMDh/GTP, Acura ARX-06 GTP, 1987 Pontiac Grand Prix NASCAR and Ferrari 296 GT3 cars; with circuits including Kern County Raceway, Circuit de Lédenon and Zandvoort’s modern layout also on the way.
Are you looking forward to iRacing’s huge Season 4 Build? Let us know in the comments below.
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