title: Formula Crane 45
text: # Formula Crane 45
  
  The Formula Crane 45 was a single-seater racing series held at Autopolis in 1991 and 1992.
  
  ## 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 |
  