The SF23 was presented publicly on 13 December 2022, ahead of its competition debut in the 2023 Super Formula season. The development programme was extensive: the car went through seven distinct test sessions covering a combined distance of 10,000 km (6,200 miles) before it was deemed ready for competitive use. This level of pre-season validation reflected the importance of ensuring that a spec chassis — the sole car permitted across the entire championship — delivered reliable and fair performance from the outset.
The SF23 carries forward the core formula established by the SF19 — a ground-effect single-seater powered by 2.0-litre turbocharged engines supplied by Honda or Toyota — but introduces meaningful aerodynamic changes throughout the package. The front and rear ailerons, the barge boards, and the underbody floor were all revised with the specific aim of increasing overtaking opportunities. By reducing the aerodynamic sensitivity of a following car in the wake of a rival, Dallara sought to produce closer racing with more late-braking duel opportunities.
A notable aspect of the SF23's construction is its use of sustainable materials in selected bodywork components. Flax fibre, cork, and recycled carbon fibre are incorporated into parts of the car's outer skin, resulting in a claimed 75% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions during the manufacturing process compared with conventional carbon fibre construction. This made the SF23 one of the first top-level single-seaters to adopt renewable composites as part of a deliberate environmental strategy rather than purely as a weight-saving measure.
A modified version of the SF23 designated the EAV-24 was developed for the Abu Dhabi Autonomous Racing League, a competition focused on self-driving racing cars. The EAV-24 incorporates a comprehensive sensor suite including cameras, RADAR, LIDAR, and GPS systems required for autonomous operation, replacing the standard driver interfaces. The autonomous variant is fitted with a Honda K20C1 engine — a different unit from the Super Formula-specification turbocharged motors used in the standard car. A manned configuration of the EAV-24 also exists, allowing human drivers to operate the vehicle outside of autonomous racing contexts.
The SF23 entered Super Formula competition in 2023 as the mandatory spec chassis, continuing the championship's tradition of a single-make formula that levels the playing field between the competing teams and places a premium on engine performance and driver ability. Like its predecessor, it accommodates both Honda and Toyota power units, maintaining the inter-manufacturer engine development contest that has long been a defining feature of Super Formula's competitive dynamic.
The Dallara SF23 represents the latest chapter in Dallara's long partnership with Japan's top open-wheel championship, continuing the evolution of a racing car designed to balance spectacle, driver challenge, and competitive fairness within a single-chassis framework. Its integration of sustainable composite materials signals a broader shift in motorsport towards environmental accountability even at the highest domestic levels, while the autonomous EAV-24 derivative extends the SF23's reach into the growing field of self-driving motorsport.