View source for Autopolis

{{Short description|International racing circuit in Japan}}
{{Infobox motorsport venue
| Name              = Autopolis International Racing Course
| Image             = [[Image:Autopolis.svg|200px]]
| Image_caption     = Full Circuit (1990–present)
| Location          = [[Kamitsue, Ōita|Kamitsue village]], in <br />[[Hita, Ōita|Hita City]], [[Ōita Prefecture]], [[Japan]]
| Time              = [[UTC+09:00]]
| Coordinates       = {{Coord|33|2|13|N|130|58|22.9|E|type:landmark_region:JP|display=it}}
| Opened            = {{Start date and age|df=yes|1990|11}}
| Owner             = [[Kawasaki Motors]] (2005–present)<br />[[Hazama Ando]] (1995–2004)<br />Tomonori Tsurumaki (1990–1994)
| Operator          = Autopolis Co., Ltd.
| Construction_cost = [[Japanese yen|¥]]47 billion
| Architect         = Yoshitoshi Sakurai
| FIAGrade          = 2
| Events            = '''Current:'''<br />'''[[Super GT]]'''<br>(1999, 2003–2009, 2011–2015, 2017–2019, 2021–present)<br />'''[[Super Formula]]''' (1991–1992, 2006, 2009–present)<br />'''[[Super Taikyu]]''' (2012–present)<br />'''[[All Japan Road Race Championship|MFJ Superbike]]''' (2002–2015, 2017–present)<br />'''[[Ferrari Challenge#Ferrari Challenge Japan|Ferrari Challenge Japan]]''' (2023, 2025)<br />'''Former:'''<br />[[TCR Japan Touring Car Series|TCR Japan]] (2019–2021)<br />[[Formula Regional Japanese Championship|FR Japan]] (2020)<br />[[Asia Road Racing Championship]] (2009–2014)<br />[[Formula V6 Asia]] (2007)<br />[[Asian Touring Car Series]] (2003–2005, 2007)<br />[[World Sportscar Championship]] (1991)
| Layout1           = Full Circuit (1990–present)
| Length_km         = 4.673
| Length_mi         = 2.904
| Turns             = 19
| Record_time       = 1:26.960
| Record_driver     = {{flagicon|JPN}} [[Naoki Yamamoto (racing driver)|Naoki Yamamoto]]
| Record_car        = [[Dallara SF19]]
| Record_year       = [[2020 Super Formula Championship|2020]]
| Record_class      = [[Super Formula Championship|Super Formula]]
| Layout2           = Main Circuit (1990–present)
| Length_km2        = 3.022
| Length_mi2        = 1.877
| Turns2            = 12
| Record_time2      = 
| Record_driver2    = 
| Record_car2       = 
| Record_year2      =
| Record_class2     = 
| Website           = {{URL|https://autopolis.jp}}
}}

{{Nihongo|'''Autopolis'''|オートポリス|Ōtoporisu}} is a {{cvt|4.673|km|mi|abbr=on}} international racing circuit located near [[Kamitsue, Ōita|Kamitsue]] village in [[Ōita Prefecture]], [[Japan]] on the {{cvt|30|km|mi|adj=on}} northeast of [[Kumamoto]].<ref name="afos.com">[http://www.afos.com/calendar.php?cid=90&y=0 15 Oct 2010 - 17 Oct 2010  Autopolis International Circuit, Japan - afos.com] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100518120142/http://www.afos.com/calendar.php?cid=90&y=0 |date=18 May 2010}}</ref> Opened in 1990, it hosts a range of domestic and international motorsport events throughout the year. The track is noted to have a high standard of facilities and infrastructure. Due to the circuit ending up in financial difficulties, it has changed hands several times but still operates to this day.

== History ==
The circuit, located within [[Aso Kujū National Park]], was built at a cost of $500 million by the wealthy real-estate developer and investment banker [[Tomonori Tsurumaki]] who made headlines in 1989, when during a [[Paris]] auction, he successfully bid a [[Pablo Picasso]] painting ''[[Les Noces de Pierrette]]'' for $51.3 million from his Tokyo hotel room. Following his successful bid, he announced that his painting was to hang at the art gallery of the auto racing resort, under development at the time.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1989/12/01/arts/japanese-developer-buys-picasso-at-record-price.html Japanese Developer Buys Picasso at Record Price - New York Times]</ref>

The circuit was designed by [[Yoshitoshi Sakurai]] who was the project leader of the [[Honda F1]] team during the 1960s.<ref name=grandprix>[http://www.grandprix.com/gpe/cir-054.html F1 News - Grandprix.com > GP Encyclopedia > Circuits > Nippon Autopolis]</ref>

Tsurumaki ordered 30 [[Buick]] powered US built single seater race cars called "Sabre Cars" for a race to take place on his circuit's grand opening, in November 1990 consisting of a mixture of invited US [[Championship Auto Racing Teams|CART]] drivers such as [[Stan Fox]], [[Johnny Rutherford]], [[Dick Simon]], [[Gary Bettenhausen|Gary]] and [[Tony Bettenhausen]], against local Japanese drivers. After the grand opening, Tsurumaki planned on a series with the cars, known as [[Formula Crane 45]]. A few races were run in 1991, with only a handful of cars competing.

The only major international race held at Autopolis was the final race of the [[1991 World Sportscar Championship season]], the [[1991 430km of Autopolis]], which was won by [[Michael Schumacher]] and [[Karl Wendlinger]] in a [[Mercedes-Benz C291]] fielded by [[Sauber]].

To promote the venue's intention to host a Formula One race, it sponsored the [[Benetton Formula|Benetton]] [[Formula One]] team in 1990 and 1991. The cars featured prominent Autopolis logos. Visitors to the WSC event criticized the track for being too remote to the hotels which required a several hours bus ride and felt that it was unsuitable for an [[Formula One|F1]] race. 

Following the bankruptcy and collapse of Tsurumaki's company [[Nippon Tri-Trust]] in 1993 (the year the track was supposed to hold an F1 race),<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=rNNhhuURbLIC&dq=%22tomonori+tsurumaki%22&pg=RA1-PA302 Yakuza: Japan's Criminal Underworld By David E. Kaplan, Alec Dubro]</ref> the circuit and other assets he owned ended up in the hands of [[Hazama Corporation|Hazama]] who was responsible for the construction of the race track.<ref>[http://www.japaninc.com/article.php?articleID=211 The Art of a Failed Economy | www.japaninc.com]</ref> Ultimately, the track's F1 event slot for the Asian GP on [[1993 Formula One World Championship#Calendar_changes|11 April 1993]] was given to [[Donington Park]], and [[TI Circuit Aida]] would host a second Japanese race in Formula One calendar in [[1994 Formula One World Championship|1994]], but suffered from the same location-related criticism and was removed at the end of the [[1995 Formula One World Championship|following season]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Cooper |first1=Adam |title=Why Japan's second F1 race didn't take off |url=https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/t1-aida-pacific-gp-japan/4781785/ |website=Motorsport.com |access-date=October 28, 2020 |date=April 17, 2020}}</ref>

By 1995, the company offered the site for sale at 10% of its build cost which consisted of three [[hotels]], [[swimming pools]] and an [[artificial ski slope]]. Some of Tsurumaki's assets, such as paintings, remained in a [[bank vault]] waiting to be sold.<ref>[http://www.grandprix.com/ns/ns00349.html F1 News - Grandprix.com: Autopolis going to the wall]</ref>

Autopolis first hosted a [[Super GT]] race in [[1999 All Japan Grand Touring Car Championship|1999]], the season-ending exhibition race, which was won by [[Tom Coronel]] and [[Hidetoshi Mitsusada]] in a [[Honda NSX (first generation)#Super GT|Honda NSX-GT]] fielded by [[Nakajima Racing]]. After a three-year absence, the circuit has regularly been hosting races in the series since 2003, although with some exceptions. Autopolis first held a [[Super Formula Championship|Super Formula]] race in [[2006 Formula Nippon Championship|2006]], and with some exceptions, the track has regularly been part of the series since then.

Autopolis was purchased by [[Kawasaki Motors]] in 2005.<ref>[http://www.khi.co.jp/ba/2005data/ba0503-03.html Kawasaki Takes Over Autopolis Racing Course - News Releases KHI] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060102133733/http://www.khi.co.jp/ba/2005data/ba0503-03.html |date=January 2, 2006 }}</ref>

The circuit currently holds events for the [[Super GT]] as well as [[D1 Grand Prix]], [[Super Formula]], [[All Japan Road Race Championship|MFJ Superbike]] and [[Super Taikyu]].

In March 2019, the circuit was added to the video game ''[[Gran Turismo Sport]]'' through a game update.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gtplanet.net/gran-turismo-sport-1-34-update-now-available-five-new-cars-autopolis-circuit-and-more/|title=Gran Turismo Sport 1.34 Update Now Available: Five New Cars, Autopolis Circuit and More|date=5 March 2019|website=GTPlanet|language=en-US|access-date=8 September 2019}}</ref> It has also been featured in ''[[Need for Speed: ProStreet]]'', ''[[Need for Speed: Shift]]'', ''[[Shift 2: Unleashed]]'', and ''[[Gran Turismo 7]]''.

==The circuit==
The circuit is located in an upland area of the island which means the air is thin with low atmospheric pressure, similar to [[Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez]] in [[Mexico City]]. It has an elevation change of over {{convert|50|m|ft|abbr=on}} with the first section generally downhill and the latter part of the course runs uphill.<ref name="afos.com"/> The start/finish straight is located at an altitude of {{convert|820|m|ft|abbr=on}}.<ref>[[Google Earth]]</ref>

[[Image:Autopolis Pit Lane 2007.jpg|150px|Autopolis Pit Lane]]
[[Image:Autopolis from Mountainside 2007.jpg|150px|Autopolis From Mountainside]]
[[Image:Autopolis Entry Gate 2007.jpg|150px|Autopolis Entry Gate]]
[[Image:Autopolis racing circuit (Kamitsue, Oita, Japan).JPG|150px|Autopolis racing circuit.]]

==Events==

; Current

* May: [[Super Formula Championship]], [[Super Formula Lights]], [[Ferrari Challenge#Ferrari Challenge Japan|Ferrari Challenge Japan]]
* July: [[Super Taikyu]]
* September: [[All Japan Road Race Championship|MFJ Superbikes]]
* October: [[Super GT]], [[F4 Japanese Championship]]

; Former

* [[Asia Road Racing Championship]] (2009–2014)
* [[Asian Touring Car Series]] (2003–2005, 2007)
* [[JK Racing Asia Series|Formula BMW Asia]] (2004–2005)
* [[Formula Crane 45]] (1991–1992)
* [[Formula Regional Japanese Championship]] (2020)
* [[Formula V6 Asia]] (2007)
* [[Japanese Touring Car Championship]] (1991–1994)
* [[TCR Japan Touring Car Series]] (2019–2021)
* [[World Sportscar Championship]]
** ''[[1991 430 km of Autopolis|430 km of Autopolis]]'' (1991)

== Lap records ==

As of May 2025, the fastest official race lap records at the Autopolis are listed as:<ref name='autopolis_fl_comparison'>{{cite web |title=Autopolis Fastest Lap Comparison |url=https://www.driverdb.com/circuits/fastestlaps/autopolis/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230226212849/https://www.driverdb.com/circuits/fastestlaps/autopolis/ |archive-date=26 February 2023 |access-date=15 October 2023 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
!Category!!Time!!Driver!!Vehicle!!Event
|-
! colspan=5 | Grand Prix Circuit: 4.673&nbsp;km (1990–present)
|-
| [[Super Formula Championship|Super Formula]] || '''1:26.960'''<ref>{{Cite web |title=2020 Autopolis Super Formula |url=https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/database/races/2020-autopolis-super-formula/ |website=[[Motor Sport (magazine)|Motor Sport Magazine]] |date=15 November 2020 |access-date=20 May 2022}}</ref> || [[Naoki Yamamoto (racing driver)|Naoki Yamamoto]] || [[Dallara SF19]] || [[2020 Super Formula Championship|2020 Autopolis Super Formula round]]
|-
| [[Formula Nippon]] || '''1:29.994'''<ref>{{Cite web |title=2012 Autopolis Formula Nippon |url=https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/database/races/2012-autopolis-formula-nippon/ |website=[[Motor Sport (magazine)|Motor Sport Magazine]] |date=27 May 2012 |access-date=20 May 2022}}</ref> || [[Hironobu Yasuda]] || [[Swift 017.n|Swift FN09]] || [[2012 Formula Nippon Championship|2012 Autopolis Formula Nippon round]]
|-
| [[Group C]] || '''1:30.615'''<ref>{{cite web |title=Sportscar World Championship Autopolis 1991 |url=https://www.racingsportscars.com/race/Autopolis-1991-10-27.html |date=27 October 1991 |access-date=5 April 2021}}</ref> || [[Yannick Dalmas]] || [[Peugeot 905#1991 season|Peugeot 905 Evo 1 Bis]] || [[1991 430 km of Autopolis]]
|-
| [[Formula 3000]] || '''1:34.225'''<ref>{{Cite web |title=1992 Autopolis Japanese F3000 |url=https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/database/races/1992-autopolis-japanese-f3000/ |website=[[Motor Sport (magazine)|Motor Sport Magazine]] |date=19 July 1992 |access-date=20 May 2022}}</ref> || [[Mauro Martini]] || [[Lola T92/50]] || [[1992 Japanese Formula 3000 Championship|1992 Autopolis Japanese F3000 round]]
|-
| [[Super GT#GT500|Super GT (GT500)]] || '''1:34.829'''<ref>{{cite web |title=2021 Round 6 Autopolis GT500 Results |url=https://supergt.net/results/index/2021/Round6/4/gt500 |date=24 October 2021 |access-date=25 October 2021}}</ref> || [[Kenta Yamashita]] || [[Toyota Supra (J29/DB)#Motorsport|Toyota GR Supra GT500]] || [[2021 Super GT Series|2021 Autopolis GT 300km Race]]
|-
| [[Super Formula Lights]] || '''1:37.114'''<ref>{{Cite web |title=2020 Autopolis Super Formula Lights - Round 10 |url=https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/database/races/2020-autopolis-super-formula-lights-2/ |website=[[Motor Sport (magazine)|Motor Sport Magazine]] |date=15 November 2020 |access-date=20 May 2022}}</ref> || [[Sena Sakaguchi]] || [[Dallara 320]] || [[2020 Super Formula Lights|2020 Autopolis Super Formula Lights round]]
|-
| [[Formula Three]] || '''1:38.646'''<ref>{{Cite web |title=2017 Autopolis Japanese F3 - Round 17 |url=https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/database/races/2017-autopolis-japanese-f3-2/ |website=[[Motor Sport (magazine)|Motor Sport Magazine]] |date=9 September 2017 |access-date=20 May 2022}}</ref> || [[Sho Tsuboi]] || [[Dallara F3 cars#F317|Dallara F317]] || [[2017 Japanese Formula 3 Championship|2017 Autopolis Japanese F3 round]]
|-
| [[Formula Regional]] || '''1:43.165'''<ref>{{cite web |title=FRJC Autopolis Round 14 Results |url=https://frj.jp/2020/results/rd6/FN_14.pdf |date=12 December 2020 |access-date=18 May 2021}}</ref> || [[Yuga Furutani]] || [[Formula Regional Japanese Championship#Car|Dome F111/3]] || [[2020 Formula Regional Japanese Championship|2020 Autopolis FRJC round]]
|-
| [[Super GT#GT300|Super GT (GT300)]] || '''1:44.408'''<ref>{{cite web |title=2023 Autopolis GT 450km Race GT300 Official Result |url=https://autopolis.jp/ap/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/2023-10-14-300-2-.pdf |date=15 October 2023 |access-date=15 October 2023}}</ref> || [[Hibiki Taira]] || [[Toyota 86#Super GT|Toyota GR86 GT300]] || [[2023 Super GT Series|2023 Autopolis GT 450km Race]]
|-
| [[Formula Renault#Formula Renault 3.5L|Formula Renault 3.5]] || '''1:47.298'''<ref name='autopolis_fl_comparison' /><ref>{{cite web |title=2007 Formula V6 Asia Autopolis (Race 1) |url=https://www.racingyears.com/race/2007_Formula_V6_Asia_Autopolis_(Race_1) |date=13 October 2007 |access-date=3 April 2025}}</ref> || [[Armaan Ebrahim]] || [[Tatuus#Racecars|Tatuus FRV6]] || [[2007 Formula Renault V6 Asia Championship|2007 Autopolis Formula Renault V6 Asia round]]
|-
| [[Superbike racing|Superbike]] || '''1:47.752'''<ref>{{cite web |title=2024 MFJ All Japan Road Race Championship Series Round 6 - Kyushu Superbike Race - Autopolis - JSB1000 Supported by ETS Racing Fuels - Race 1 Result |url=https://autopolis.jp/ap/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240907_jsb_2-kai-.pdf |date=7 September 2024 |access-date=20 October 2024}}</ref> || [[Yuki Okamoto (motorcyclist)|Yuki Okamoto]] || [[Yamaha YZF-R1]] || [[All Japan Road Race Championship|2024 Autopolis All Japan Road Race Championship Superbike round]]
|-
| [[Ferrari Challenge]] || '''1:48.810'''<ref>{{cite web |title=2025 Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli Japan Round 2 - Race 2 - Official Results |url=https://cdn.ferrari.com/cms/network/media/pdf/FCJ%20R2%20AP%20Race%202%20Result_Final.pdf |date=25 May 2025 |access-date=25 May 2025}}</ref> || [[Tosei Moriyama]] || [[Ferrari 296#296 Challenge|Ferrari 296 Challenge]] || [[Ferrari Challenge#Ferrari Challenge Japan|2025 Autopolis Ferrari Challenge Japan round]]
|-
| [[IMSA GT classes#Grand Touring Supreme|IMSA GTS]] || '''1:49.061'''<ref>{{cite web |title=IMSA GT Autopolis 1994 |url=https://www.racingsportscars.com/race/Autopolis-1994-11-20-25393.html |date=20 November 1994 |access-date=12 January 2023}}</ref> || [[Steve Millen]] || [[Nissan 300ZX#Motorsports|Nissan 300ZX]] || [[1994 IMSA GT Championship|1994 IMSA GT in Japan]]
|-
| [[Formula 4]] || '''1:52.183'''<ref>{{cite web |title=2024 Japanese F4 Round 12 Results |url=https://fiaf4.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/e284964_e7acac12e688a6-e6b1bae58b9de6ada3e5bc8fe7b590e69e9ce8a1a8.pdf |date=20 October 2024 |access-date=20 October 2024}}</ref> || [[Yuto Nomura]] || [[Toray Industries|Toray Carbon Magic MCSC-24]] || [[2024 F4 Japanese Championship|2024 Autopolis Japanese F4 round]]
|-
| [[Sport bike#Classes|Supersport]] || '''1:53.455'''<ref>{{cite web |title=2020 MFJ All Japan Road Race Championship Series - Autopolis - ST600 Supported by Bridgestone - Race 2 Result |url=https://autopolis.jp/ap/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/20200920_st600-2.pdf |date=20 September 2020 |access-date=15 October 2023}}</ref> || [[Tomoyoshi Koyama]] || [[Honda CBR600RR]] || [[All Japan Road Race Championship|2020 Autopolis All Japan Road Race Championship Supersport round]]
|-
| [[Formula BMW]] || '''1:55.339'''<ref>{{cite web |title=2004 Formula BMW Asia - Round 9 - Autopolis - Race |url=https://www.press.bmwgroup.com/global/article/detail/T0004698EN/formula-bmw-asia-round-9-autopolis-race |date=5 September 2004 |access-date=27 July 2022}}</ref> || [[Marchy Lee]] || [[Mygale FB02]] || [[2004 Formula BMW Asia season|2004 Autopolis Formula BMW Asia round]]
|-
| [[Group A#Touring car racing|Group A]] || '''1:55.768'''<ref>{{Cite web |title=1993 All-Japan Touring Car Championship 2nd round - Autopolis |url=http://touringcarracing.net/Races/1993%20Autopolis.html |date=25 April 1993 |access-date=20 May 2022}}</ref> || [[Kazuyoshi Hoshino]] || [[Nissan Skyline GT-R#Motorsports|Nissan Skyline GT-R BNR32]] || [[1993 Japanese Touring Car Championship|1993 Autopolis JTCC round]]
|-
| [[TCR Touring Car]] || '''1:56.798'''<ref>{{cite web |title=2020 TCR Japan Autopolis Round 4 Saturday Race Results |url=https://tcr-japan.jp/2020/race/pdf/20rd4sat.pdf |date=14 November 2020 |access-date=7 August 2021}}</ref> || [[Takuro Shinohara]] || [[Audi RS 3 LMS TCR]] || [[2020 TCR Japan Touring Car Series|2020 Autopolis TCR Japan round]]
|-
| [[Grand Prix motorcycle racing#Moto3 class|Moto3]] || '''1:57.579'''<ref>{{cite web |title=2024 MFJ All Japan Road Race Championship Series Round 6 - Kyushu Superbike Race - Autopolis - J-GP3 - Race Result |url=https://autopolis.jp/ap/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240907_jgp3_2-.pdf |date=8 September 2024 |access-date=20 October 2024}}</ref> || [[Hiroki Ono]] || [[Honda NSF250R]] || [[All Japan Road Race Championship|2024 Autopolis All Japan Road Race Championship J-GP3 round]]
|-
| [[Super Touring]] || '''2:00.547'''<ref>{{cite web |title=1994 RRC Touring Car Champions in RACING PARK N-T 1st Result |url=https://motorsports.jaf.or.jp/results/search/1994/race/1994-9999-8 |language=Japanese |date=24 April 1994 |access-date=7 April 2025}}</ref> || [[Anthony Reid]] || [[Vauxhall Cavalier#Motorsport|Vauxhall Cavalier 16v]] || [[1994 Japanese Touring Car Championship|1994 Autopolis JTCC round]]
|-
| [[Sport bike#Classes|Supersport 300]] || '''2:08.537'''<ref>{{cite web |title=2024 MFJ All Japan Road Race Championship Series Round 6 - Superbike Race in Kyushu - Autopolis - JP250 Dunlop - Race Result |url=https://autopolis.jp/ap/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/2023-09-02-jp250-2-.pdf |date=2 September 2023 |access-date=20 October 2024}}</ref> || [[Aiki Iyoshi]] || [[Kawasaki Ninja ZX-25R]] || [[All Japan Road Race Championship|2023 Autopolis All Japan Road Race Championship JP250 round]]
|-
|}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commonscat}}
* {{Official website|https://autopolis.jp}}
*[http://racingcircuits.info/asia/japan/autopolis.html Circuit map and full history at RacingCircuits.info]
*[http://www.grandprix.com/gpe/cir-054.html Article about the origins of the Autopolis circuit]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20071019150038/http://www.autopolis.jp/whats_ap/facility/course_map/overall.html Circuits' Map]
*[https://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=Hita,+Japan&layer=&ie=UTF8&om=1&z=14&ll=33.035959,130.971457&spn=0.032811,0.084028&t=k&iwloc=addr Satellite picture by Google Maps]

{{Navboxes
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{{World Sportscar Championship circuits}}
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{{Kawasaki Heavy Industries}}
}}

[[Category:Motorsport venues in Japan]]
[[Category:Sports venues in Ōita Prefecture]]
[[Category:Sports venues completed in 1990]]
[[Category:1990 establishments in Japan]]
[[Category:Kawasaki Motors]]
[[Category:Hita, Ōita]]