Suzuka International Racing Course

Location	Suzuka, Mie Prefecture, Japan
Time zone	GMT +9
Major Events	Formula One
Circuit Length	5. is a city located in Mie, Japan. As of 2008, the city has an estimated Population of 197437 and the density of 1010 people WikipediaWikiProject Japanese prefectures for guidelines --> is a prefecture of Japan which is part of the Kinki and Chūbu regions For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Japan topics. Greenwich Mean Time ( GMT) is a term originally referring to mean solar time at the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, London 807 km (3. The kilometre ( American spelling: kilometer) symbol km is a unit of Length in the Metric system, equal to one thousand 608 mi)
Turns	17
Lap Record	1:31. A mile is a unit of Length, usually used to measure Distance, in a number of different systems including Imperial units United States 540 ( Kimi Räikkönen, McLaren-Mercedes, 2005)

Suzuka International Racing Course (Suzuka Circuit for short) is a co-host of the Formula One Fuji Television Japanese Grand Prix, and is one of the oldest and most famous motorsport race tracks in Japan. Kimi-Matias Räikkönen (ˈkimi ˈmɑtiɑs ˈræikkønen born October 17, 1979 in Espoo) is a Finnish Formula One race car driver currently McLaren, founded in 1963 by New Zealander Bruce McLaren (1937&ndash1970 is a Formula One team based in Woking, Surrey, UK Mercedes-Benz is a German manufacturer of luxury Automobiles Buses coaches and Trucks It is currently a division of the is a Japanese Television station based in Daiba, Minato Tokyo, Japan, also known as or CX. The Japanese Grand Prix is a race in the calendar of the FIA Formula One World Championship. A race track (or 'racetrack' or 'racing track' is a purpose-built facility for Racing of animals (eg For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Japan topics. It is located in Suzuka City, Mie Prefecture and is owned by Honda Motor Co., Ltd.. is a city located in Mie, Japan. As of 2008, the city has an estimated Population of 197437 and the density of 1010 people WikipediaWikiProject Japanese prefectures for guidelines --> is a prefecture of Japan which is part of the Kinki and Chūbu regions () is a Multinational corporation, engine Manufacturer and engineering corporation headquartered in Japan.

Contents 1 Introduction 2 Motorsport Events 3 Popular culture 4 Future 5 Deaths 6 References 7 External links

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. () is a Multinational corporation, engine Manufacturer and engineering corporation headquartered in Japan. Johannes Bernhardus Theodorus "Hans" Hugenholtz, in English-speaking countries a 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. An overpass (called a flyover in the UK and most Commonwealth countries is a Bridge, Road, Railway or 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. The Formula One World Championship is awarded by the FIA to the most successful driver ( World Drivers' Championship or WDC) and constructor

Safety has been a concern at the circuit's 130R, a 130 metres (427 ft) 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. Biography Early career Allan McNish began his career in karting and like fellow Scottish driver David Coulthard, was recognised with a McLaren/Autosport

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 metres (279 ft) radius, and then a second featuring a 340 metres (1,115 ft) 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 venue of the Formula One Belgian Grand Prix and the Spa 24 Hours endurance race The Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps is the venue of the Formula One Belgian Grand Prix and the Spa 24 Hours endurance race

However, the problem continued for the new revised section. During the 2003 MotoGP Grand Prix of Japan, the track's first major event since the revisions, MotoGP rider Daijiro Kato was killed when he crashed in the new section, on his way to the braking zone for the Casio Triangle. Overview A Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix was first organized by the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM in 1949 Daijiro Kato Japanese: 加藤 大治郎 Katō Daijirō; ( July 4, 1976 - April 20, 2003) was a Japanese MotoGP has not returned to Suzuka since the incident.

The circuit can be used in three configurations; the full circuit, the "Suzuka East" and "Suzuka West" configuration. The "East" portion of the course consists of the pit straight to the first half of the Dunlop curve (turn 7), before leading back to the pit straight via a tight right hander. The "West" course is made up of the other part of the full circuit, with the pitlane located at the straight before the 130R corner. In motorsports a pit stop is where a racing Vehicle stops in the pits during a race for refuelling new Tires repairs mechanical adjustments

Motorsport Events

Suzuka was dropped from the 2007 Formula 1 calendar 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. Group C was a category of Auto racing, introduced into Sports car racing by the FIA in 1982 along with Group A for touring cars The, abbreviated as JSPC formed by the Japanese Automobile Federation, was a domestic championship which took place in Japan for Group C and IMSA GTP 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

Another major motorsport event is the Suzuka 8 Hours for motorcycles, which has been run since 1978. The Coca-Cola Zero Suzuka 8 Hours (Japanese 鈴鹿8時間耐久ロードレース - Trans Suzuka hachi-jikan taikyū rōdo rēsu Literal Translation Suzuka 8 Hours 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. The Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM International Motorcycling Federation) is the governing body of motorcycle racing

NASCAR organized a pair of exhibition 100-lap races on the East Circuit, a 1. The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing ( NASCAR) is the largest sanctioning body of Stock cars in the United States. 4 miles (2. 3 km) 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. Elmo Langley ( August 21 1928 - November 21 1996) was a NASCAR driver and owner The Chevrolet Corvette is a Sports car that has been manufactured by General Motors since 1953 In 1997, rain caused Goodyear to use rain tires in NASCAR for the first time.

Popular culture

Along with Fuji Speedway, Suzuka Circuit was one of the four tracks featured in the video game Pole Position II (the first game featured only the Fuji track). Fuji Speedway is a race track standing in the foothills of Mount Fuji, in Oyama, Suntō District, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan Pole Position II is a racing Arcade game that was released by Namco in 1983 as the sequel to Pole Position The Suzuka Circuit was also featured in the Final Lap and the Ferrari F355 Challenge arcade games and video games like Forza Motorsport 2, Gran Turismo 4, Gran Turismo 5 Prologue, R: Racing Evolution, Le Mans 24 Hours, MotoGP 3, MotoGP 4, Tourist Trophy, Auto Modellista and as the final race in Taito's racing game Continental Circus. Final Lap is a Video game in the Racing game genre released by Namco and Atari Games (for the Americas in 1987 which Ferrari F355 Challenge is a Racing game based on the actual race car and Ferrari event Forza Motorsport 2 is a Racing simulator Video game developed by Turn 10 Studios, and the sequel to the original Forza Motorsport Gran Turismo 4 (also known as GT4) is a racing Video game for Sony PlayStation 2 which is published by Gran Turismo 5 Prologue (グランツーリスモ5 プロローグ guran tsūrisumo 5 purorōgu) is the latest installment in the Gran Turismo series RRacing Evolution is a racing Video game released across the GameCube, Xbox, and PlayStation 2 by Namco. Tourist Trophy The Real Riding Simulator is a motorcycle Racing game, and one of only two 1080i games for the PlayStation 2. Auto Modellista (アウトモデリスタ rough italian for "car designer" is a Racing game developed and published by Capcom Continental Circus is an arcade Racing game created and manufactured by Taito in 1987 The circuit appears in most F1 games that have been published since 1987. The NASCAR version of the track was featured in NASCAR 98. NASCAR 98 is a Racing simulator Video game published and developed by EA Sports and released on October 31, 1997 for the

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 Video game compilations released by Namco for various 32-bit and above consoles containing releases of Under the same issue the open source game TORCS also has the track renamed as "Wheel-2". The Open Racing Car Simulator (or TORCS is an Open source 3D racing simulator.

Suzuka lost the 2007 and 2008 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. Fuji Speedway is a race track standing in the foothills of Mount Fuji, in Oyama, Suntō District, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan () is a Multinational corporation, engine Manufacturer and engineering corporation headquartered in Japan. (pronounced) is a Multinational corporation headquartered in Japan, and is currently the world's largest Automaker. Hermann Tilke (born December 31, 1954 in Olpe) is a German Architect, designer of Formula One Motor racing circuits

Future

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. Teams Teams Signed with FOM The following teams are signed with Formula One Management to compete in the 2009 season Events 326 - The old St Peter's Basilica is consecrated 1302 - Pope Boniface VIII issues the Papal bull Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ^[1] It has now been confirmed that Suzuka will alternate the Japanese Grand Prix with the Fuji Speedway from 2009. ^[2]

Deaths

Driver	Date	Vehicle	Entrant	Section	Event
Masao Asano	May 4, 1963	Austin-Healey 3000		130R	Japanese Grand Prix
As Asano approached the 130R bend, he crashed into the guardrail, throwing him clear of the car suffering a severe head injury. Events 1256 - The Augustinian monastic order is constituted at the Lecceto Monastery when Pope Alexander IV Year 1963 ( MCMLXIII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The Austin-Healey 3000 was a Sports car built from 1959 to 1967 by Jensen Motors for the Austin-Healey marque and is the best known of the 'big' The Japanese Grand Prix is a race in the calendar of the FIA Formula One World Championship. Traumatic brain injury. THIS PAGE IS FOR INFORMATION ON HEAD INJURY (NOT SPECIFICALLY THE BRAIN--> Head injury is Asano died in hospital three months later. [3]
Tojiro Ukiya	August 20, 1965	Honda S600		130R	Practice
Whilst avoiding two spectators who were walking on the course, Ukiya swerved but crashed into a lamppost. Events 636 - Battle of Yarmouk: Arab forces led by Khalid ibn al-Walid take control of Syria and Palestine Year 1965 ( MCMLXV) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the 1965 Gregorian calendar. The Honda S600 is an Automobile manufactured by Honda. It was launched in March 1964 He was thrown off his car, suffering head injury and fracturing both legs and died in hospital 21 days later. [4][3]
Takeshi Mitsuno	October 10, 1965				Suzuka KSCC race meeting
[3]
Takashi Matsunaga	August 10, 1969	Honda R1300	Honda	Spoon Curve	Suzuka 12 Hours race
As Matsunaga was about to stop to refuel, he crashed into a guardrail, causing the car to explode into a fireball. Events 680 - Battle of Karbala: Shia Imam Husayn bin Ali, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, is decapitated Year 1965 ( MCMLXV) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the 1965 Gregorian calendar. Events 612 BC - Killing of Sinsharishkun, King of Assyrian Empire Year 1969 ( MCMLXIX) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. () is a Multinational corporation, engine Manufacturer and engineering corporation headquartered in Japan. Matsunaga was taken into hospital where he died 25 days later on September 4[3]
Kiyoshi Akiyama	August 23, 1970	Honda S800		Spoon Curve	Suzuka 12 Hours race
Collision at Spoon Curve with another vehicle, causing the two cars to explode into a fireball, burning 150 liters of gasoline. Events 476 - Romulus Augustus, last emperor of the Western Roman Empire, is deposed when Odoacer proclaims himself Events 79 - Mount Vesuvius begins stirring on the feast day of Vulcan the Roman god of fire Year 1970 ( MCMLXX) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link shows full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The S800 was a Sports car from Honda. Introduced at the 1965 Tokyo Motor Show, the S800 would replace the successful Honda S600 as the company's Akiyama was trapped the burning car about 15 minutes, burning him to death. [5]
Minoru Kawai	August 26, 1970	Toyota 7	Toyota	Degner bend	Testing
Kawai lost control of the Toyota at the Degner bend at about 200 km/h, being thrown out of the car. Events 1071 - Battle of Manzikert: The Seljuk Turks defeat the Byzantine Army at Manzikert. Year 1970 ( MCMLXX) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link shows full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The Toyota 7 was a racing car developed by Toyota Motor Company and subsidiary Yamaha Motor Corporation. (pronounced) is a Multinational corporation headquartered in Japan, and is currently the world's largest Automaker. (pronounced) is a Multinational corporation headquartered in Japan, and is currently the world's largest Automaker. He sustained a basal skull fracture and both legs broken, being immediately taken to hospital by ambulance. But about 30 minutes later he died to his injuries. [5][6][7]
Senkichi Omura	April 7, 1974	Brabham BT21			F2000 practice
Omura crashed into a guardrail, killing him instantly with a broken neck. Events 529 - First draft of Corpus Juris Civilis (a fundamental work in Jurisprudence) is issued by Eastern Roman Emperor Year 1974 ( MCMLXXIV) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the 1974 Gregorian calendar. Formula Nippon is a type of Formula racing and the top level of single-seater racing in Japan. [5]
Masazi Iso	6 March 1982				All-Japan Formula Three race
Iso crashed into the guardrail at the first corner of the race and was killed instantly. Events 1079 - Omar Khayyám completes the Iranian calendar. 1454 - Thirteen Years' War: Delegates of Year 1982 ( MCMLXXXII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link displays the 1982 Gregorian calendar) also known as Japanese Formula Three, is a national motor racing championship that takes place in Japan. [8]
Hitoshi Ogawa	May 24, 1992	Lola T92/50 - Mugen Honda			Japanese Formula 3000 race
Ogawa attempted to overtake Andrew Gilbert-Scott's car on a straight, but Gilbert-Scott held his position. was a Japanese racing car driver Ogawa won the 1989 All Japan Formula 3000 Championship and finished 2nd in the same championship the following year Events 1218 - The Fifth Crusade leaves Acre for Egypt. 1276 - Magnus Ladulås is crowned Year 1992 ( MCMXCII) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar) () is a Multinational corporation, engine Manufacturer and engineering corporation headquartered in Japan. Formula Nippon is a type of Formula racing and the top level of single-seater racing in Japan. Andrew Gilbert-Scott (born 11 July 1958 in Cookham Dean, England) is a former British racing driver As Ogawa moved to the side of Gilbert-Scott's car but hit the rear-left wheel of the British driver's car. The front wheel of Ogawa's car climbed over the aforementioned wheel and became lodged in front of it. The two of them travelled down the straight at speed and off into the gravel trap. Gilbert-Scott's car spun while Ogawa's car went in nose-first. Gilbert-Scott's car hit the tyre wall and flipped, landing upside down. However, Ogawa hit a mound and went over the tyre barrier, hitting a high-fence supporting pole with violent force. Both cars were completely destroyed in the accident and the race was immediately stopped. One cameraman, several photographers, and Gilbert-Scott were all injured. Ogawa was freed from his wrecked Team Cerumo Lola, but had suffered severe leg, head and neck injuries during the crash. He died on the way to a hospital. [9]
Elmo Langley	November 21, 1996	Chevrolet Corvette			NASCAR Suzuka Thunder Special 100 evaluation run
Whist approaching the esses during an safety car evaluation run for a NASCAR exhibition race, Langley suffered a heart attack which he died shortly. Elmo Langley ( August 21 1928 - November 21 1996) was a NASCAR driver and owner Events 164 BC - Judas Maccabaeus, son of Mattathias of the Hasmonean family restores the Temple in Jerusalem. Year 1996 ( MCMXCVI) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar) The Chevrolet Corvette is a Sports car that has been manufactured by General Motors since 1953 The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing ( NASCAR) is the largest sanctioning body of Stock cars in the United States. In Motorsport, a safety car or pace car is a car which limits the speed of competing cars on a racetrack in the case of a caution period such The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing ( NASCAR) is the largest sanctioning body of Stock cars in the United States. Myocardial infarction ( MI or AMI for acute myocardial infarction) also known as a heart attack, occurs when the blood supply [10][11]
Mamoru Yamakawa	July 30, 2000	Kawasaki Ninja ZX-9R	Challenge of Yamakawa		Suzuka 8 Hours race
Yamakawa lost control of his Kawasaki after failing to negotiate a curve and crashed into the cushioned barriers. Events 1419 - First Defenestration of Prague. 1502 - Christopher Columbus lands at Guanaja in the Bay Islands off 2000 ( MM) was a Leap year that started on Saturday of the Common Era, in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. The ZX-9R was a sport bike manufactured by the motorcycle division of Kawasaki Heavy Industries of Japan from 1994 to 2004 The Coca-Cola Zero Suzuka 8 Hours (Japanese 鈴鹿8時間耐久ロードレース - Trans Suzuka hachi-jikan taikyū rōdo rēsu Literal Translation Suzuka 8 Hours He was dead on arrival, caused by severe hemorrhage due to the loss of blood. Dead on arrival or DOA is a term used to indicate that a patient was found to be dead upon the arrival of professional medical assistance such as a hospital often [12][13][14]
Daijiro Kato	April 20 2003	Honda RC211V			Japanese motorcycle Grand Prix race

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

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