Motegi Formula Nippon Results

Press Release 98 Update Oct. 2nd., 1997

Pedro, 6th overall in the Champion World Driver ranking

Pedro de la Rosa, 1997 Formula Nippon Champion, ranks 6th overall in the CHAMPION Drivers Ranking after his fifth win of the season at Motegi last Sunday.

The CHAMPION (Spark-plug) World Drivers Ranking computes all drivers participating in 25 of the most important circuit championships all over the World, from F-1 and CART to F-3 championships and from NASCAR to most of National Super Touring Car championships.

Pedro has strong chances of improving his actual position because he still has two races of F. Nippon left while CART and BSTCC have finished already.

The 1997 Formula Nippon Champion has also won one race and has finished 2nd and 3rd once in the Japanese GT Championship -the popular International series in which several former F-1 drivers can be found-. Unfortunately for Pedro, this series is not considered for the Ranking.

CHAMPION Drivers Ranking - Standings as by Sep. 29th.

1 - Michael Schumacher         F-1                 899 points        15 races accounted
2 - Alex Zanardi        CART                887                17 races
3- Jacques Villeneuve        F-1                874                15 races
4- Jeff Gordon                NASCAR                808                25+
5- Gil de Ferran        CART                751                17 races
6- Pedro de la Rosa        JF-3000                748                8 races
7- Alain Menu                BSTCC                691                24 races

15- Jean Alesi 19- Ricardo Zonta 20- Heinz-Harald Frentzen

Information about CHAMPION World Drivers Ranking system and full standings can be found on http://www.champion-ranking.com

FORMULA NIPPON - Round 8 - MOTEGI (28.09.97)

Pedro won his fifth F. Nippon race of the season at Honda's new hi-tech facility, Motegi. Starting from pole, Pedro was unchallenged most of the race. Briton Ralph Firman finished 5th.

FINAL RESULTS

1 - Pedro M. de la Rosa        Lola - Mugen                1h. 09.34.297 at 178.05 km/h
2 - Masami Kageyama        Reynard - Mugen                1h. 09.37.588
3 - Norberto Fontana        Reynard - Mugen                1h. 09.47.753
4 - Jyuichi Wakisaka        Dome - Honda                1h.10.01.055
5 - Ralph Firman        Reynard - Mugen                1h.10.24.002
6 - Michael Krumm        Reynard - Mugen                1h.10.26.127

Championship standings after 8 races (out of 10): 1 - Pedro M. de la Rosa, 66 points. 2 - Takuya Kurosawa, 22. 3 - Norberto Fontana, 21. 4 - Hidetoshi Mitsusada, 18. 5 - Toranosuke Takagi, 16. 6 - Masahiko Kageyama, Ralph Firman & Masami Kageyama,12..... 16 qualifiyed.