Why common dampers have failed to knock Team Mugen off its stride

Three races into the Super Formula season, and Team Mugen looks stronger than ever despite hopes in some quarters new dampers would shake things up... (Photos: JRP)

One of the most notable things about the 2024 Super Formula season so far has been how little change there has been since last year in terms of the competitive order despite the introduction of new common dampers this year.

Sure, there have been some teams showing signs of progress - Nakajima Racing is having its best start to a season for a while - and one or two, like Team Impul, are struggling more. But generally, the picture is remarkably stable. And Team Mugen is looking about as impervious in its position at the head of the field as ever.

We may be only three races into the season, but Mugen drivers Tomoki Nojiri and Ayumu Iwasa occupy the top two positions in the standings, having taken two of the wins and two of the poles between them. Combined, they’ve already opened a 17.5-point lead over Dandelion Racing, and that’s with half points being awarded at Sugo.

It wasn’t meant to be like this. Some had hoped the introduction of spec dampers would provide something of a reset, allowing the other teams to close in on Mugen. But in reality, Mugen has not only managed to extract more damping performance than the rest with the new standard Ohlins components, its strengths in other areas have kept it clear of the field and firmly on course for a third title in four years.