Fuji Speedway facts for kids
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| Location | Oyama, Suntō District, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan |
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| Time zone | GMT +9 |
| Major events | Japanese Grand Prix, JLMC, Japan GT |
| 5th and current configuration (2005–present) | |
| Length | 4.563 km (2.835 mi) |
| Turns | 16 |
| Race lap record | 1:18.426 ( Felipe Massa, Ferrari, 2008) |
| 4th configuration (1993–2004) | |
| Length | 4.469 km (2.777 mi) |
| Turns | 12 |
| Race lap record | 1:14.854 ( Takuya Kurosawa, Lola, Formula 3000, 2008) |
| 3rd configuration (1985–1992) | |
| Length | 4.440 km (2.759 mi) |
| Turns | 10 |
| Race lap record | 1:14:088 ( Kazuyoshi Hoshino, Nissan R92CP, JSPC, 1992) |
| 2nd configuration (1974–1984) | |
| Length | 4.360 km (2.709 mi) |
| Turns | 8 |
| Race lap record | 1:10.02 ( Stefan Bellof, Porsche 956, Mount Fuji 1000 km, 1983) |
| Original circuit (1965–1973) | |
| Length | 6 km (3.728 mi) |
| Turns | 15 |
| Race lap record | 1:32:57 ( Vern Schuppan, March-Ford F2, 1973) |
Fuji Speedway (富士スピードウェイ, Fuji Supīdowei) is a famous race track located near the beautiful Mount Fuji in Oyama, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. It was built in the early 1960s. This track is special because it hosted the very first Formula One race in Japan in 1976.
In the 1980s, Fuji Speedway was a popular place for international and national car races. It was first managed by Mitsubishi. Later, in 2000, Toyota Motor Corporation bought the track. Fuji Speedway is well-known for having one of the longest straight sections on any motorsport track, measuring about 1.5 km (0.93 mi) long!
Contents
History of Fuji Speedway
The Start of F1 in Japan
The company that runs Fuji Speedway was started in 1963. It was first called "Japan NASCAR Corporation." The original plan was to build a track for NASCAR-style races. It was supposed to be a 4 km (2.5 mi) track with high-banked turns. However, there wasn't enough money to finish the whole project. Only one of the banked turns was ever built.
In October 1965, Mitsubishi Estate Co. invested in the circuit and took over its management. The track was then changed into a regular road course. Fuji Speedway officially opened in December 1965. The banked turn that was built was quite dangerous and caused several big accidents. Drivers found it tricky because they would go over a blind hill at high speeds and then suddenly drop into the banking.
To fix these safety problems, a new part of the track was added. The updated course was 4.359 km (2.709 mi) long and much safer. In 1966, the track hosted a special Indy Car race, which Jackie Stewart won. Fuji Speedway then brought the first ever Formula One race to Japan at the end of the 1976 season. Mario Andretti won that race, and James Hunt earned enough points to become the world champion.
Sadly, in 1977, a crash involving Gilles Villeneuve killed two people watching the race. After this, Formula One stopped racing at Fuji Speedway and in Japan for a while. When F1 returned to Japan ten years later, the races were held at Suzuka instead. F1 didn't come back to Fuji until 2007.
A Home for National Racing
Even after Formula One left, Fuji Speedway remained a popular place for sports car racing. The FIA World Sportscar Championship visited the track every year from 1982 to 1988. Fuji was also often used for national races within Japan.
To make the track safer and slow down cars, two chicanes (S-shaped turns) were added. But even with these changes, the track's most famous feature was still its long 1.5 km (0.93 mi) straight section. This straight is one of the longest in all of motorsports!
The long straight section has also been used for drag racing. In 1989, there were special drag racing shows by NHRA. Local drag races are still common at the circuit today. The track continues to be used for many Japanese national races. In 2000, Toyota bought most of the shares of the company that owns the track. Toyota had big plans for the future of motor racing at Fuji.
Modern Changes and Updates
In 2003, Fuji Speedway was closed for a big update. A famous track designer named Hermann Tilke created a new layout for the circuit. The track reopened on April 10, 2005. It then hosted its first Formula One championship race in 29 years on September 30, 2007. That race was won by Lewis Hamilton.
Fuji Speedway also hosts special events like the NISMO Festival, which features historic Nissan race cars. Toyota also holds its own historic event called the Toyota Motorsports Festival. Near the main track, there's even a special drifting course that was built during the updates.
The only time the circuit is used in the opposite direction is during the D1 Grand Prix drifting competition. This series has held events at Fuji since 2003. Fuji Speedway was the first international-level race track to host a D1 Grand Prix event.
During the 2003 renovations, most of the old, dangerous banked section of the track was removed. Only a small part of it remains today. After a few years, because of low ticket sales and bad weather, it was decided that the Japanese Grand Prix would be shared between Fuji Speedway and Suzuka every other year. Suzuka was set to host the next race in 2009. However, due to the global recession and its own money problems, Toyota decided to stop hosting the Japanese Grand Prix at Fuji.
Fuji Speedway in Games and TV
Video Games
The Fuji circuit is well-known to fans of the classic arcade racing game Pole Position. In this game, cars race on a track based on Fuji.
Fuji Speedway is also featured in many other video games. These include Top Gear, several Gran Turismo games, and TOCA Race Driver.
Television Shows
The Fuji circuit plays a big role in the Japanese television drama Engine. It is the main setting for all the exciting racing scenes in the show. It is also the home of the fictional "Regulus Cup" in the series.
Images for kids
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The sixth corner hairpin
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Fuji Speedway (1987–2004)
See also
In Spanish: Fuji Speedway para niños
