Formula Crane 45

The Formula Crane 45 was a single-seater racing series held at Autopolis in 1991 and 1992.

Formula Crane 45

Category	Single seaters
Country	Japan
Region	Autopolis, Ōita Prefecture
Inaugural season	1991
Folded	1992
Constructors	Sabre Racing Cars
Engine suppliers	Buick

History

Owner of the Autopolis circuit Tomonori Tsurumaki ordered 30 Buick powered US built single seater race cars called Sabre FC45 for a race to take place on his circuit's grand opening on November 1990, consisting of a mixture of invited US CART drivers such as Stan Fox, Johnny Rutherford, Dick Simon, Gary and Tony Bettenhausen against local Japanese drivers. The cars were originally built for a spec racing class to have been run by USAC; however, this class was never realized. After the grand opening, Tsurumaki planned on a series with the cars, known as Formula Crane 45. With only a handful of cars during the 1991 and 1992 season the class was not very successful. When Autopolis went bankrupt the assets including the cars were sold to the highest bidder.

1991

Round	Date	Winning driver
1	April 21	Masatomo Shimizu
2	June 9	Masatomo Shimizu
3	August 18	Shunji Kasuya
4	November 11	Shunji Kasuya

1992

Round	Date	Winning driver
1	May 31	Shunji Kasuya
2	September 20	Tetsuji Tamanaka
3	October 18	Fumio Muto
4	November 22	Tetsuji Tamanaka

Champions

Year	Driver	Car
1991	Masatomo Shimizu	Sabre FC45
1992	Tetsuji Tamanaka	Sabre FC45