SuzukaFrom Trackpedia
Track SummaryWeb site: http://www.suzukacircuit.com/index.html Address: Suzuka, Japan Upcoming EventsTrack Map
Weather ForecastCurrent Conditions: Fair in Suzuka, JPN (as of 9:00 AM 2/21/2013) Current conditions (as of 9:00 AM) Forecast for Thursday, February 21, 2013 for Suzuka, JPN Today: Showers / Clear. More information at MSN Weather Introduction/HistorySuzuka Circuit is the host of the Formula One Fuji Television Japanese Grand Prix and one of the oldest and most-famous motorsport race tracks in Japan. It is located in Suzuka City in Mie Prefecture and is owned by Honda Motor Company. Designed as a Honda test track in 1962 by John Hugenholtz, Suzuka is a unique circuit, being one of the very few in the world to have a figure 8 layout. Obviously, due the danger of an intersecting track, the track doesn't actually intersect with itself; instead, the back straight passes over the front section by means of an overpass. Due to its unique layout, Suzuka is a massive test of driver skill and is easily one of the most difficult racing circuits in the world. Nevertheless, the track is loved by drivers and spectators alike for its challenging design and many opportunities for overtaking. Suzuka is one of the oldest remaining tracks on the Grand Prix circuit, and so has a long history of exciting races. Japan's traditional role as the penultimate or final Grand Prix of the season means numerous World Championships have been decided at the track. Safety has been a concern at the circuit's 130R, a 130-meter radius turn starting past the Crossover, following two tremendous accidents in 2002 and 2003. In 2002, Toyota driver Allan McNish suffered a high-speed crash through the bump, which sent him through a metal fence; fortunately, he was not seriously injured. Track officials revised the 130R, which has been compared to Spa's Eau Rouge, redesigning it as a double-apex section, one with an 85 meter radius, and then a second featuring a 340-meter radius, leading to a much closer Casio Triangle (chicane), with the chicane becoming a "bus stop" type for motorcycles. However, the problem continued for the new revised section. During the track's first major event since the revisions during the 2003 MotoGP Grand Prix of Japan, MotoGP rider Daijiro Kato was killed when he crashed in the new section headed to the braking zone for the Casio Triangle. MotoGP has not returned to Suzuka since the incident. Other than the Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix Suzuka also hosts the Suzuka 1000km endurance race. Previously a part of multiple GT racing series including the now defunct Group C class of the All Japan Sports Prototype Championship, the Suzuka 1000km as of 2006 is now a points round of the Super GT series, and is the only race of such length in that series. Another major motorsport event is the Suzuka 8 Hours for motorcycles, which has been run since 1978. This event usually attracts big name riders and with the exception of 2005, due to the importance of the big name manufacturers involvement, the FIM ensures that no motorcycle races clash on the date. NASCAR organised a pair of exhibition 100-lap races on the East Circuit, a 1.4 mile layout which utilises the pit straight and esses, before rejoining the main circuit near the Casio Triangle. The cars were Winston Cup and Winston West Series cars and the field was by invitation for the two races, run after the 1996 and 1997 seasons. 1996 saw a dark day in NASCAR when during practice, pace car driver Elmo Langley died of a heart attack in the Chevrolet Corvette Pace Car at the esses during an evaluation run. In 1997, rain caused Goodyear to use rain tires in NASCAR for the first time. Along with the Fuji Speedway, the Suzuka Circuit was one of the four tracks featured in the video game Pole Position II (the first game featured only the Fuji track). The Suzuka Circuit was also featured in the Final Lap and the Ferrari F355 Challenge arcade games and video games like Gran Turismo 4 and R: Racing Evolution. Suzuka Circuit is also featured as the final race in Taito's racing game Continental Circus. Suzuka recently lost the Formula One Japanese Grand Prix to the Fuji Speedway after the latter underwent a transformation and redesign by famous race circuit designer Hermann Tilke. Many however believe that a Pacific Grand Prix at Suzuka may be a possibility due to the track's popularity with both drivers and spectators. Track GuideThe follow sections describe the turns or series of turns on the race track in a step by step detail from various people who have driven the track Turn by turn guide to the Suzuka track Motorcycle turn by turn guide to the Suzuka track GPS Track Map and Vehicle DynamicsComing soon Typical Lap Times
VideosMore videos of Fuji Speedway on Google Videos
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Lo: 30°F. Hi: 44°F. Chance of precipitation: 70%
Lo: 28°F. Hi: 42°F. Chance of precipitation: 5%