Since the other two 'major' championships were won by 'foreign' drivers, perhaps it's only fitting that an Italian took the honours in Japan. Quintarelli did the business for the Inging squad, taking the series with a round remaining, while Australian Jones has forsaken his domestic championship to dominate the Asian series with two rounds to run.
The three confirmed champions will be the main attractions in the 31-car field, but there will be 28 cars out to beat them. Most of these will be driven by frontrunners from around the world and, given the unpredictable nature of street racing, there is no guarantee that the blue-riband event won't fall to an unexpected name.
Piquet will be joined by drivers from leading British series outfits Carlin Motorsport, Hitech Racing and Menu Motorsport, with the former pair running three cars each, while Menu will field two.
Multiple champions Carlin will have two of its 2004 race winning drivers, Alvaro Parente and Danilo Dirani, leading the line, while the third car will be filled by Macau's very own Rodolfo Avila. At just 17 years of age, the talented Formula Renault star has been preparing for what will be his F3 debut by testing at both Pembrey and
Croft in the UK.
Hitech is also bringing two race-winners from 2004, with Lucas di Grassi and Danny Watts heading the team's challenge. Watts will have to re-adjust to the team's Dallara, however, having proven a thorn in the Italian manufacturer's side at the wheel of the only Lola-Dome in the British series this year, winning at Castle Combe. di Grassi, meanwhile, has shown flashes of form in his debut UK season with Hitech, performing with apparent ease on unfamiliar tracks. Improving Estonian Marko Asmer will be the team's third driver, continuing his relationship with David Hayles squad.
