Fuji International Speedway (JAPAN)
Rd. 3, 1 - 2 May 2010
Rd. 7, 11 - 12 September 2010
Special, 13 - 14 November 2010
| Width: 15 - 25m |
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| Length: 4,563m |
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Longest Straight: 1,475m
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| Course Record |
| GT500 |
1'33.022 |
Benoit Treluyer / CALSONIC IMPUL Z |
(2007-11-03 / 2007 Round9 ) |
| GT300 |
1'40.682 |
Haruki Kurosawa / EBBRO M-TEC NSX |
(2005-05-03 / 2005 Round2 ) |
Circuit Profile
Built in 1966 in the style of an American speedway, the circuit was the original home of the Japanese Grand Prix when it hosted the event for the first time in 1976. The first Grand Prix became the setting for arguably the decade’s best title showdown between Niki Lauda and James Hunt. Despite the popularity, the following year’s Grand Prix event was the circuit’s last appearance in the championship for the next three decades.
Plans to revive the circuit’s profile began as early as 2000 when it received the financial backing when a huge Japanese auto-manufacturer bought the majority stake in the circuit. In 2003 the Fuji Speedway was closed only for it to be reopened in 2005 having undergone renovation works with a little help from track design maestro, Herman Tilke.
The re-design and renovation works were significant as it combined the original features of the speedway with Tilke’s signature twist and turns, The updated Fuji Speedway circuit now measures just over 4.5 kilometres in length and features a 1.5 kilometre overtaking-friendly straight as well as widened tarmac run-off areas, improving the circuit’s safety features.
Located in the Shizuoka Prefecture, the area surrounding the circuit is considered as the birthplace of Japan's auto industry, as it is the hometown of both Sakichi Toyota and Soichiro Honda - the founders of the Toyota Corporation and Honda Motor Corporation, respectively. As a result, the track is considered as Toyota's home ground with Suzuka being Honda's.
The circuit now plays a central role in hosting hotly contested championships including the Super GT Series, Formula Nippon and All-Japan Formula 3 Championship. In 2008, the Fuji International Speedway will host Rd. 3 of the Super GT Series featuring a 400km format race.
Situated about 100kilometres from Tokyo, the circuit is well within reach from the country's capital and other major cities like Nagoya and Osaka.