© Getty ImagesFive Things To Know About SuzukaSome lesser-known facts about the race in the land of the rising sun.
EveryoneispleasedtoseeSuzukabackonthecalendar–especiallythedrivers–TheJapanesecircuithasanexceptionalpastsinceitwasfirstbultintheearly1960s,andherearefivefactsaboutthetrackyoumaynotknow…
TheSuzukaCircuitWasCommissionedByHonda
The Honda Motor Company was established in 1948 by Soichiro Honda and by the late 1950s decided he wanted to create a permanent test track in the Mie prefecture.
The track was designed by Dutchman John Hugenholtz and featured the unique figure of eight layout.
Suzuka hosted the first two Japanese Grands Prix in 1964 and 1965, but they weren’t Formula One races, they were a sports car race and then Formula Libre. Suzuka made its Formula One debut in 1987 and apart from two years in when it was held in Fuji and the last two seasons due to COVID-19 it’s been a regular on the calendar.
We Can't Wait To Have That View Again© Getty Images
TheJapaneseGrandPrixLookedToBecomeABattleBetweenHondaAndToyota
The 2007 and 2008 editions of the Japanese Grand Prix were held at the Fuji Speedway, which is owned by the Toyota Motor Corporation. The Fuji Speedway was also built in the 1960s and also hosted the two Formula One Grands Prix in Japan in 1976 and 1977. Toyota bought it in 2000 and then employed Hermann Tilke to redesign the circuit.
After Suzuka had hosted the race for 20 years, it was then held at Fuji for two years. It was then deemed that Fuji Speedway and Suzuka would alternate which track would host the Japanese Grand Prix. However, in July 2009, Fuji Speedway announced that it would not be part of the Formula One calendar due to the global financial crisis at the time. Suzuka has hosted every race since.
Scream If You Want To Go Faster© Getty Images
NoJapaneseDriverHasEverWonAtTheirHomeRace
Despite 35 editions of the Japanese Grand Prix and 22 Japanese drivers competing in Formula One, none of them have been able to take the top spot at their home race.
The highest position a Japanese driver has finished at their home race is third. Aguri Suzuki finished third for Lola in 1990 and Kamui Kobayashi for Sauber in 2012.
Yuki Tsunoda will be making his home race debut this year and will be the first Japanese driver since Kobayashi who last raced at the track in 2014.
On The Charge In The Land Of The Rising Sun© Getty Images
ThereWereThreeCrossoversOnTheOriginalDesign
Suzuka is famed for its figure of eight layout – the only track on the formula one calendar that has a crossover on the racing track (Abu Dhabi’s pitlane goes under the pit straight, but Suzuka is the only one where the circuit crosses over itself). But more interesting than that is the fact that John Hugenholtz's first draft featured a layout which had three crossovers. The first crossover was to come just after the first corner. The second was set a few metres later, before a series of tight corners took the track back over them. Crossover three was located in roughly the same place it occupies today.
Throwing It Back To 2019© Getty Images
DegnerCurvesHasAGreatStory
Looking at a track map of Suzuka you may notice that the Degner Curves look a little out of place compared to the flow of the rest of the circuit. That’s because it was modified from a single, faster turn in the 1980s to encourage Formula One to race there.
The curves themselves are named after German motorcycle racer Ernst Degner. East German Degner spent the early part of his career riding for the state-owned MZ team, but with the help of Suzuki defected to the west in 1961. The engineer stole some engineering secrets when he crossed over. He won the 125cc world title for Suzuki the following year. Degner crashed at the corner at Suzuka and suffered severe burns and even though the track is owned by Honda, they named the corner in honour of the Suzuki-riding legend.
How Many Wheels Can You See In This Picture?© Getty Images
