Japanese Grand Prix In Stats

Circuit Name	Suzuka Circuit
Country	Japan
City	Suzuka
Circuit Type	Permanent course
Capacity	110,000
Designer	John "Hans" Hugenholtz
First Race Held	1987
Number of Races Held	24
Number of Laps	53
Circuit Direction	Figure Eight
Total Number of Corners	17
Number of Right Hand Corners	10
Number of Left Hand Corners	7
Maximum G-Force	4.0 G
Circuit length	5.807 km (3.608 miles)
Race length	307.5 km (191.2 miles)
Pit Lane Length	400m
Longest Stretch at Full Throttle	16 seconds
Time Spent At Full Throttle	469%
Number of Gear Changes	49
Most Successful Team	Ferrari/McLaren, 7 wins
Most Successful Driver	Michael Schumacher, 6 wins
Lap Record	1:31.540 - Kimi Räikkönen, McLaren 2005
Lap Record Average Speed	222 km/h (138 mph)
Top Speed Recorded	320 km/h (198 mph)
Wins From Pole	12/50%
Time Zone	GMT +9
Coordinates	34°50′35″N 136°32′26″E
Average Temperature	22°C
Average Weather	Sunny, changeable

CIRCUIT INFO

Although unique is a much over-used word in F1, it can rightly be referred to Suzuka. Not only is the Japanese circuit the only one that crosses over itself, in a figure of eight format, but this fact means that it is also the only circuit that runs both clockwise and anti-clockwise. The grounds play host to a huge funfair, and the big wheel is prominent on the skyline.

Designed as a test track for the Honda Motor Company in 1962 by Dutchman John Hugenholtz, it was mainly used for vehicle development. After hosting numerous races in lower formulae Suzuka began its quest to host the Japanese Grand Prix, a feat it managed in 1987, when it took the honour away from Fuji, Toyota's test track. Although the grand prix returned to Fuji for 2007 and 2008 the race is now confirmed to take place at Suzuka till 2011.

An extremely fast and technical circuit, Suzuka is popular with drivers and spectators alike and has some notorious corners including Spoon Curve and 130R. The circuit closed for a year in 2008 in order to make revisions necessary for F1, it re-opened on April 12, 2009.