The first Formula Three championship to take place in
Japan was held by
Nippon Formula 3 Association (Japanese Formula 3 Association) in 1979, which was won by
Toshio Suzuki. By 1981, it had evolved into a national-level series, the Japanese Championship, and was organised by the
Japan Automobile Federation (JAF). Foreign drivers' participation has increased since the 1980s and the majority of champions have been foreign since the beginning of the 1990s. Since 2008 a two-tier championship system was adopted as a bid to increase driver and team participation. The "Championship" class was open to cars conforming to the current three-year cycle, whilst the lower tier "National" class was open to cars meeting the previous three-year cycle and using the spec Toyota engine. Prior to the changing of super license requirements for the
2016 Formula One season onward, the series used to be one of the four major Formula Three championships that guaranteed the winner an
FIA Super Licence. Under the new requirements the winner of the championship earns 10 points towards their super license, with drivers finishing from 2nd to 5th in the final standings receiving a smaller number of points. ==Equipment==