The Japanese Grand Prix is one of the most-loved F1 events of the season, due to the exciting and challenging layout of Suzuka Circuit which hosted many races in the past, and because of its traditional place at the end of the schedule which means that this event has seen a great number of Championship crowns being won and lost. There are plenty of fast corners at Suzuka , but the Spoon Curve is by far the most challenging curve which is a long corner, followed by a long straight.
Track Information
Track Name
SUZUKA CIRCUIT
Length
5.807 KM
Race Length
53 LAPS (307.6KM)
LAP Record
KIMI RAIKKONEN 1:31.540 (2005)
Number Of Turns
18
Track Direction
CLOCKWISE
Downforce Level
MEDIUM - HIGH
No Of Gear Changes Per Lap
36
Average Speed
235KPH
Highest Speed
313KPH
Throttle % Per Lap
66%
Brake Wear
LOW
Tyre Wear
MEDIUM
Tyre Compounds Available
SOFT AND HARD
2009 Winner
1. SEBASTIAN VETTEL, RBR-RENAULT, 1:28:20.443
2. JARNO TRULLI, TOYOTA, +4.8 SECS
3. LEWIS HAMILTON,Mc LAREN-MERCEDES +6.4 SECS
2009 Force India Position
1. ADRIAN SUTIL - 13TH
2. VITANTONIO LIUZZI - 14TH
This year, the Japanese Grand Prix returns to the classic Suzuka track for the first time in three years following a brief two year switch to the Fuji circuit.
Suzuka, outside the city of Nagoya, is a real test of driver skill with its unique figure of eight layout. There are so many changes of direction, with radius corners, hairpins, chicanes, changing gradients and switchbacks that even small mistakes are punished. Although it classes as one of the most difficult to master, it is still loved by drivers and spectators alike for its long history of producing great racing.
Traditionally the Japanese round is one of the last of the series and holds claim to being the venue for many title-deciding races, with 12 world champions being crowned over the 24 Japanese Grands Prix that have been hosted. This year however, Japan will be the 15th round of the 17 event championship and will be a double header with the Singapore Grand Prix.
Tonio’s View
Suzuka is a real drivers’ track and the toughest circuit of the year. Into the first corner you go flat out into the apex and it’s a double right hander so you have to brake just when you are nailing the apex at 300kph. Then we go into a really difficult sequence like a long chicane from corner four, five and six that’s similar to Hungary but at much higher speed.
In the last corner the track goes uphill and into a blind flat corner that if you are not ready it can scare you a lot. Then there’s a flat area and double right where the first turn is really tight and flat right and the second turn, a 90 degrees turn where you need to get onto the brakes in a big way. The exit is really tricky as the track goes a little uphill and you can easily lose the rear of the car.
We then go up into the slowest part of circuit, a hairpin that has historically seen some great overtaking moves, especially in rainy conditions. You go into it really fast in fifth or even sixth gear and then brake down into the hairpin. It doesn’t upset the car as there’s a lot of grip from the tarmac here. We’re then into a fast section that keeps going uphill into a double left hander that you do like one corner with two apexes. From the second part of the corner we exit onto the longest part of the circuit.
At the end of the straight comes the classic 130R. It’s a cool corner as you’re at high speed, flat out in 7th before we go into the last chicane. You’re going really fast into it but also downhill in braking and to stop the car you have to use all the kerbs.
