No more Suzuka in 2007

[Wouter Melissen]

Today it was finally officially announced that Fuji International Speedway Co. LTD and the Formula One Management came to an agreement where Fuji Speedway will host the 2007 Japanese Formula One Grand Prix, which will be held in October 2007, of the FIA Formula One World Championship.

Since the commemoration of its opening nearly 40 years ago in 1966, Fuji Speedway as one of the fastest circuits in the world has been the stage for numerous international and domestic car races of sport cars, grand touring cars, and formula cars.

Fuji Speedway used to host the first and second Japanese F1 Grand Prix in 1976 and 1977. The 2007 Japanese F1 GP will mark the thirty years anniversary.

In 2005 Fuji Speedway completed its overall renovation of the international racecourse and related facilities. When opening the renewal circuit, Fuji Speedway became certified to hold F1 races since it earned "Grade 1" license from the FIA (Federation Internationale de l'Automobile).

Bernie Ecclestone commented on the deal: "We, at FOA, have the pleasure that Fuji Speedway, as the brand new venue nestled at the foot of the most majestic Mt. Fuji, will be the new home of Japanese F1 Grand Prix. We also have a good expectation that the F1 event there would be the opening of new era of Formula One history."

http://www.f1racing.net/en/news.php?newsID=113200

[matek]

Suzuka is soo much better looking, the combination of corners adds up to one of the more challenging track nobody wants F1 to change into a Speedway Nascar style race, i know thats over the top but Suzuka Does look a like a better track in comparison to Fuji Speedway.

Hmmmm the recent changes in F1 haven't been to my liking 2008 ruling and this now hmmm im worried about whats going to happen next week:s

[sunk]

Suzuka is still much more competitive thanks to high speed corners.

[kingofthering]

fuji Speedway 2005 is harder than Suzuka because it has less grass so it is very hard to see the road and it gives certain drivers an opportunity to take short cuts since most of it is tarmac so you will not loose as much speed, but Suzuka is a bit easier because it has more grass, but it has some very difficult turns.

[Wouter Melissen]

fuji Speedway 2005 is harder than Suzuka because it has less grass so it is very hard to see the road and it gives certain drivers an opportunity to take short cuts since most of it is tarmac so you will not loose as much speed, but Suzuka is a bit easier because it has more grass, but it has some very difficult turns.

We are talking about Formula One here, not Gran Turismo 4.

[RacingManiac]

I think Fuji is kinda like a Japanese Monza, it was built like one, started out as their superspeedway and turned into a road course, with one of the longest straight on a permanant road course....Like Monza I expect due to the long straight going into a slow tight corner, that the aero effect on passing will be less, and therefore more likely to happen.....Suzuka is a more technical track, but passing like we saw last year wasn't always possible....

Is there a layout change after the Toyota renovation?

Funny thing to note, Toyota GT-One's last race was on 1999's Fuji 1000km, where it qualified on pole, set fastest lap, and finished 2nd to Nissan's R391 LMP car..... GT-One despite the hype and speed, have never won a race....

[cp01ae]

We are talking about Formula One here, not Gran Turismo 4.

Haha, so true...

I'm so glad I got to see the F1 race there last season. The penultimate race at Suzuka! The theme park is looking a bit delapidated though, it might be time for a break so the area can be improved. It's in the middle of nowhere and the train station is tiny, took 2 hours to get out through the station. And the station is a 30 minute bus ride from the actual circuit. Ah, good times though.

[PerfAdv]

Fuji Int'l Speedway is owned by Toyota and Suzuka is owned by Honda. Perhaps one has been more generous to the F1 franchise than the other. Still, Fuji has been revamped recently bringing it more in-line with the expected level of track facilities and new safety regs.

[kingofthering]

isn't fuji a speedway and suzuka more of a technical course?

[matek]

Yes Therefore more challenging, therefore more demading of the drivers, making it a better track to watch a race.

Fom what i've seen in pictures and plans of the speedway it doesn't look too difficult nice big round corners, just not demanding enough.

[cp01ae]

Suzuka is so old though, the runoff areas are fairly small compared to Fuji, and the whole area itself cannot support a GP properly. It must be one of the worst Grands Prix from a logistical standpoint. Trust me, if you've ever been there, its pretty ghetto looking. It needs a serrious upgrade.

[drakkie]

For immediate release
March 24, 2006
Fuji International Speedway, Co., Ltd.

Fuji Speedway to Host the 2007 Japanese F1 Grand Prix

FUJI INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY CO., LTD. (Fuji Speedway: Dr. Akihiko Saito, Chairman & CEO) and FORMULA ONE ADMINISTRATION LIMITED (FOA: Mr. Bernard Charles Ecclestone, Chairman & CEO) agreed that Fuji Speedway will host the 2007 Japanese Formula One Grand Prix, which will be held in October 2007, of the FIA Formula One World Championship (F1).

Since the commemoration of its opening nearly 40 years ago in 1966, Fuji Speedway as one of the fastest circuits in the world has been the stage for numerous international and domestic car races of sport cars, grand touring cars, and formula cars.

Fuji Speedway used to host the first and second Japanese F1 Grand Prix in 1976 and 1977. The 2007 Japanese F1 GP will mark the thirty years anniversary.

In 2005 Fuji Speedway completed its overall renovation of the international racecourse and related facilities. When opening the renewal circuit, Fuji Speedway became certified to hold F1 races since it earned "Grade 1" license from the FIA (Federation Internationale de l'Automobile).

FOA: Mr. Bernard Charles Ecclestone's comment: "We, at FOA, have the pleasure that Fuji Speedway, as the brand new venue nestled at the foot of the most majestic Mt. Fuji, will be the new home of Japanese F1 Grand Prix. We also have a good expectation that the F1 event there would be the opening of new era of Formula One history."

if you read this you will see that there have been upgrades done,answering your questions.