Coordinates: 34°50′35″N, 136°32′26″E Map of Earth showing lines of latitude (horizontally) and longitude (vertically), Eckert VI projection; large version (pdf, 1. ...

Suzuka International Racing Course

Location	Suzuka, Mie, Japan
Time zone	GMT +9
Major events	Formula One
Circuit Length	5.807 kilometres (3.608 miles)
Turns	17
Lap Record	1:31.540 (Kimi Räikkönen, McLaren-Mercedes, 2005)

Suzuka International Racing Course (Suzuka Circuit for short) was a host of the Formula One Fuji Television Japanese Grand Prix, and is 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 Co., Ltd.. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Suzuka (鈴鹿市; -shi) is a city located in Mie, Japan, about 50 miles south west of Nagoya. ... Mie Prefecture (三重県; Mie-ken) is part of the Kinki region on Honshu island, Japan. ... For alternate meanings of GMT, see GMT (disambiguation). ... Formula One - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ... ‹ The template below (Unit of length) is being considered for deletion. ... “Miles” redirects here. ... Kimi Matias Räikkönen (pronounced ), born October 17, 1979 in Espoo, Finland, is a Formula One racing car driver for Scuderia Ferrari. ... This article is about the racing team, for other McLaren businesses see McLaren Group and McLaren Automotive. ... This page is about the Mercedes-Benz brand of automobiles and trucks from the DaimlerChrysler automobile manufacturer. ... Formula One - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ... Fuji Television Network, Inc. ... The Japanese Grand Prix s traditional place at the end of the season means this event has seen a great number of Championship crowns being won and lost. ... Auto racing (also known as automobile racing or autosport) is a sport involving racing automobiles. ... A race track (or racetrack), is a purpose-built facility for the conducting of races. ... Suzuka (鈴鹿市; -shi) is a city located in Mie, Japan, about 50 miles south west of Nagoya. ... Mie Prefecture (三重県; Mie-ken) is part of the Kinki region on Honshu island, Japan. ... The logo of the Honda automobiles The logo of the Honda motorcycles Honda Motor Company, Limited )   (TYO: 7267 , NYSE: HMC), or simply called Honda, is a Japanese multinational corporation, engine manufacturer and engineering corporation. ...

Introduction

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 to 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. The logo of the Honda automobiles The logo of the Honda motorcycles Honda Motor Company, Limited )   (TYO: 7267 , NYSE: HMC), or simply called Honda, is a Japanese multinational corporation, engine manufacturer and engineering corporation. ... Johannes Bernhardus Theodorus Hans Hugenholtz, in English-speaking countries a. ... Figure 8 might refer to: Figure 8, an expression describing a Lissajous curve that resembles the number 8 Figure 8, the basis for compulsory figures in figure skating Figure 8 (album), a 2000 album recorded by American singer-songwriter Elliott Smith Figure-of-eight knot, (also called a Flemish Knot... Overpass in East Potomac Park, Washington, D.C. Flyover in Miami Beach, Florida An overpass (In UK, most Commonwealth countries flyover) is a bridge, road or similar structure that crosses over another road. ...

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. The Formula One World Championship is awarded by the FIA to the most successful driver (World Drivers Championship or WDC) and constructor (World Constructors Championship or WCC), as determined by a pointscoring system based on results over the season. ...

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. Toyota F1 is a Formula One team run by Japanese car manufacturer Toyota and based in Cologne, Germany. ... Allan McNish is a racing driver, born on 29 December 1969 in Dumfries, Scotland. ...

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. The Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps is the famous venue of the Formula One Belgian Grand Prix and the Spa 24 Hours endurance race. ... The Eau Rouge corner is a high-speed uphill left-right-left complex on the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps racetrack in Belgium, which is widely regarded as one of the greatest corners on any track in the world. ...

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. Grand Prix motorcycle racing refers to the premier categories of motorcycle road racing. ... Daijiro Kato (Japanese: 加藤 大治郎; Katō Daijirō; July 4, 1976–April 20, 2003) was a Japanese Grand Prix motorcycle road racer and the 2001 World Champion in the 250cc class. ...

Motorsport Events

Suzuka was dropped from the 2007 Formula 1 calender in favour of the Toyota owned Fuji Speedway, but continues to host other motorsport events including 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. The Suzuka 1000km is an annual 1000 kilometer endurance race for GT cars held at the Suzuka Circuit. ... GT may stand for: Ford GT (car) Georgia Institute of Technology, commonly known as Georgia Tech Golden Tee (video golf game from Incredible Technologies, Inc. ... Group C was a category of auto racing, and was introduced into sports car racing by the FIA (the governing body of World motor racing) during the early 1980s. ... The All Japan Sports Prototype Championship (Japanese name:全日本スポーツプロトタイプ選手権, abbr:JSPC), formed by the Japanese Automobile Federation, was a domestic championship which took place in Japan for Group C and IMSA GTP prototype cars and also featured cars that were eligible for touring car racing in its earlier years. ... The Super GT series, formerly known as the All-Japan Grand Touring Car Championship or JGTC (全日本GT選手権, Zen Nihon GT Sensyuken), is a grand touring car race series promoted by the GT-Association (GT-A), authorized by the Japan Automobile Federation and recognized by the FIA. Super GT racer in...

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. Suzuka 8 Hours is a Super NES game that allows you to virtually participate in the grueling eight-hour long Suzuka race in Japan. ... The Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) is the governing body of motorcycle racing. ...

NASCAR organized a pair of exhibition 100-lap races on the East Circuit, a 1.4 mile layout which utilizes 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. Jeff Burton (99), Elliott Sadler (38), Ricky Rudd (21), Dale Jarrett (88), Sterling Marlin (40), Jimmie Johnson (48), and Casey Mears (41) practice for the 2004 Daytona 500 The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) is the largest sanctioning body of motorsports in the United States. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... The Chevrolet Corvette is the sports car that has been manufactured by Chevrolet since 1953. ...

Popular Culture

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, R: Racing Evolution, Le Mans 24 Hours, Tourist Trophy, Auto Modellista and as the final race in Taito's racing game Continental Circus. The circuit appears in most F1 games that have been published since 1987. Fuji Speedway is a race track standing in the foothills of the Mount Fuji, in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. ... Pole Position II is an arcade game that was released by Namco in 1983. ... Final Lap is a video game released by Namco and Atari Games (for the Americas) in 1987 which was the unofficial sequel to the popular Pole Position games. ... Ferrari F355 Challenge is a racing game based on the actual race car and Ferrari event. ... This article contains a trivia section. ... The Isle of Man TT (Tourist Trophy), or Manx TT, is a motorcycle racing event held on the Isle of Man. ... Auto Modellista (アウトモデリスタ) is a racing game developed and published by Capcom, first released on Sony PlayStation 2, and subsequently, on Nintendo GameCube and Microsoft Xbox. ... Continental Circus was published originally in 1987 as an arcade game, it was then republished in 1989 along with a home version of the game; this was available on platforms including Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, Amiga, Commodore 64, and ZX Spectrum. ...

Presumably due to licensing issues on Pole Position II, the track is referred to in the Namco Museum versions as the "Wonder" Circuit, after Namco's "Wonder" series of amusement parks, despite its logo appearing on the startline flag mast since 1983. Namco Museum refers to the series of compilations released by Namco for various 32-bit and above consoles, containing releases of their games from the 1980s. ...

Future

Suzuka lost the 2007 Formula One Japanese Grand Prix to the Fuji Speedway (owned by Honda's perennial rival, Toyota Motor Corporation) 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. Fuji Speedway is a race track standing in the foothills of the Mount Fuji, in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. ... The logo of the Honda automobiles The logo of the Honda motorcycles Honda Motor Company, Limited )   (TYO: 7267 , NYSE: HMC), or simply called Honda, is a Japanese multinational corporation, engine manufacturer and engineering corporation. ... This article is about the automaker. ... Hermann Tilke (born December 31, 1954 in Olpe) is a German architect, designer of Formula One motor racing circuits and auto racer. ... The Pacific Grand Prix was a round of the Formula One World Championship twice in the mid-1990s. ...

In his 2006 year-end CEO speech, Takeo Fukui, president & CEO of Honda Motor Co., Ltd., explicitly announced that Honda will continue negotiating toward hosting a Formula One race again at Suzuka Circuit while renovating it with the goal to achieve the further evolution of mobility and motorsports. The renovation will include refurbishment of the Traffic Education Center, but among others, the planned overhauling of the pits and paddocks on the race course should carry a far more significance for those motorsport fans who look forward to a comeback of the world’s greatest motor race to Suzuka. Recently there have been talks to stage a Pacific Grand Prix although no action has taken yet. The circuit will close for a year in order for the renovation to make it F1-compliant for 2009, with the last major event beforehand scheduled to take place on November 18, 2007.^[1] It has now been confirmed that Suzuka will alternate the Japanese Grand Prix with the Fuji Speedway from 2009. Honda Motor Co. ... The logo of the Honda automobiles The logo of the Honda motorcycles Honda Motor Company, Limited )   (TYO: 7267 , NYSE: HMC), or simply called Honda, is a Japanese multinational corporation, engine manufacturer and engineering corporation. ... Formula One - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ... 2009 Formula One season - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ... is the 322nd day of the year (323rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ...

Deaths

• Hitoshi Ogawa, died in a wheel-over-wheel collision with Andrew Gilbert-Scott on the pit straight.
• Elmo Langley, died of a Heart Attack in the esses in the pace car
• Mamoru Yamakawa, killed after crashing into barriers during the Suzuka 8 Hours motorcycle race.
• Daijiro Kato, motorcycle racer, crashed at first GP of the MotoGP 2003 season

Hitoshi Ogawa (born 15 February 1956 - died 24 May 1992) was a Japanese racing car driver. ... Andrew Gilbert-Scott was a racing driver born on the 11th July 1958 in Cookham Dene, England. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... A myocardial infarction occurs when an atherosclerotic plaque slowly builds up in the inner lining of a coronary artery and then suddenly ruptures, totally occluding the artery and preventing blood flow downstream. ... Suzuka 8 Hours is a Super NES game that allows you to virtually participate in the grueling eight-hour long Suzuka race in Japan. ... Daijiro Kato (Japanese: 加藤 大治郎; Katō Daijirō; July 4, 1976–April 20, 2003) was a Japanese Grand Prix motorcycle road racer and the 2001 World Champion in the 250cc class. ...

References

External links

• Suzuka Circuit
• Suzuka Circuit History and Statistics
• Ciro Pabón's Racetracks 3D views and virtual laps of all F1 circuits, including this one, via Google Earth
• Satellite picture by Google Maps