Fuji Speedway

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Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox motorsport venue

Script error: No such module "Nihongo". is a motorsport race track standing in the foothills of Mount Fuji, in Oyama, Suntō District, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. It was built in the early 1960s. In the 1980s, Fuji Speedway was used for the FIA World Sportscar Championship and national racing. Originally managed by Mitsubishi Estate, Fuji Speedway was acquired by Toyota in 2000. The circuit hosted the Formula One 2007 Japanese Grand Prix after an absence of nearly 30 years, replacing the Suzuka Circuit owned by Honda.[1] After Fuji Speedway hosted the 2008 race, the Japanese Grand Prix returned to Suzuka for races from 2009 onward. The Super GT Fuji 500 km race is held at the racetrack on Golden Week.[2]

Fuji Speedway has one of the longest straights in motorsport, at Template:Convert in length.[3] The circuit has an FIA Grade 1 license.[4]

History

1963–79: F1 launches in Japan

Fuji Speedway Corporation was established in 1963 as Japan IMSA[5] Corporation. At first, the circuit was planned to hold NASCAR-style races in Japan. Therefore, the track was originally designed to be a Template:Cvt banked superspeedway, but there was not enough money to complete the project and only one of the bankings was completed. Mitsubishi Estate invested in the circuit and took over the reins of management in October 1965.

Converted to a road course, the circuit opened in December 1965 and proved to be somewhat dangerous, with the wide banked turn (named "Daiichi") regularly resulting in major accidents. Vic Elford said:

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"In 1969 I spent two months in Japan doing a test contract for Toyota and their Toyota 7 (5 litre V-8), which along with a big Nissan (6.3 litre V-12), was destined for CanAm. My last testing and then the subsequent Sports Car GP were at Fuji, but the track was run in a clockwise direction. The reason that banking was so horrific, was that at the end of the straight we went over a blind crest at around 190/200 mph and dropped into the banking. At other tracks (Daytona, Montlhéry, etc.) you climb up the banking. One of the results was that although there were many brave Japanese drivers there were not too many with great skill and the death toll from that one corner was horrendous. To such an extent that the big Gp 7 cars were then banned in Japan and thus, neither Nissan or Toyota ever made it to CanAm."

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In 1966 and 1967, the circuit hosted the Japanese motorcycle Grand Prix as the final round of the FIM Road Racing World Championship. The 1966 race was run on the full track with the banking, which meant that the Honda works team did not take part due to safety reasons; the following year, the race was run on a shorter 4.3 km track without the banked section.[6] In 1966, the track hosted a USAC Indy Car non-championship race won by Jackie Stewart.[6] The track had a 24-hour race in 1967.[7]

After a fatal accident in 1974 on the Daiichi banking where drivers Hiroshi Kazato and Seiichi Suzuki were both killed in a fiery accident that injured 6 other people, a new part of track was built to counteract the problem, and the resultant Template:Cvt course, which also eliminated 5 other fast corners, proved more successful.

The speedway brought the first Formula One race to Japan at the end of the 1976 season. The race had a dramatic World Championship battle between James Hunt and Niki Lauda, and in rainy conditions, Hunt earned enough points to win the title. Mario Andretti won the race, with Lauda withdrawing due to the dangerous conditions. In 1977, Gilles Villeneuve was involved in a crash that killed two spectators on the side of the track, leading to Formula One leaving the speedway. When Japan earned another race on the F1 schedule ten years later, it went to Suzuka instead. The Grand Prix returned to Fuji in 2007 following its renovation.

1980–2000: National racing venue

File:Fuji Speedway evolution.svg
Fuji Speedway former layouts: Red 1966–1974, Blue 1984–1987, Green 1988–2004
File:Fuji Speedway 30-degree high bank.jpg
The abandoned "30° Bank" of the old track

Fuji remained a popular sports car racing venue; the FIA World Sportscar Championship visited the track between 1982 and 1988 and it was often used for national races. Speeds continued to be very high, and two chicanes were added to the track: one after the first hairpin corner, the second at the entry to the wide, fast final turn (300R). Even with these changes, the main feature of the track remained its approximately Template:Convert long straight, one of the longest in all of motorsports.

The long pit straight has also been utilised for drag racing. NHRA exhibitions were run in 1989, and in 1993 Shirley Muldowney ran a 5.30 on the quarter-mile strip at Fuji. Local drag races are common on the circuit, at both Template:Convert & Template:Convert distances.

The track continued to be used for Japanese national races. Plans to host a CART event in 1991 were abandoned due to conflicts with the Fédération Internationale du Sport Automobile. It was not until the autumn of 2000 that the majority of the stocks of the track were bought by Toyota from Mitsubishi Estate[8] as part of its motor racing plans for the future.

On May 3, 1998, there was a multi-car crash during a parade lap before a JGTC race caused by the safety car slowing in torrential rain.[9] Ferrari driver Tetsuya Ota suffered serious burns over his entire body after being trapped in his car for almost 90 seconds,[10] and Porsche driver Tomohiko Sunako fractured his right leg.[10]

2001–present: renovations

In 2003, the circuit was closed down to accommodate a major reprofiling of the track, using a new design from Hermann Tilke. The track was reopened on April 10, 2005, and hosted its first Formula One championship event in 29 years on September 30, 2007. In circumstances similar to Fuji's first Grand Prix in 1976, the race was run in heavy rain and mist and the first 19 laps were run under the safety car, in a race won by Lewis Hamilton.

File:Fisco-mainstand.jpg
Rebuilt grandstand in the 2000s

The circuit has hosted the Nismo Festival for historic Nissan racers since refurbishment in 2003; the event previously took place at Okayama. Script error: No such module "Unsubst". When the festival returned in 2005, the organisers allowed circuit owner Toyota to bring in its Toyota 7 Can-Am racer to re-enact an old Japanese GP battle. Toyota also hosts its own historic event a week before the Nismo festival called the Toyota Motorsports Festival. Close to the circuit is a drifting course, which was built as part of the refurbishment under the supervision of "Drift King" Keiichi Tsuchiya and former works driver and Super GT team manager Masanori Sekiya. There is a Toyota Safety Education Center and a mini circuit. In addition to motorsports, Fuji also hosts the Udo Music Festival.

The only time the circuit is run on a reverse direction is during the D1 Grand Prix round, as Keiichi Tsuchiya felt the new layout meant reduced entry speed, making it less suitable for drifting.[11] The series has hosted its rounds since Template:D1; with the exception of the 2004 closure, the circuit became the first to take place on an international level racetrack[11] and the first of the three to take place on an F1 circuit. The drift course starts from the 300R section and ends past the Coca-Cola corner. With the reprofiling, as cars no longer run downbank, entry speeds have since been reduced, the hill at the exit making acceleration difficult.[11] As part of the 2003 renovations, most of the old banked section of track was demolished. Only a small section remains to this day.

Fuji Speedway was announced to host the finish of the road cycling races at the 2020 Summer Olympics and 2020 Summer Paralympics.[12]

2007 and 2008 Japanese Grands Prix

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During the 2007 Japanese Grand Prix, Fuji Speedway met with a lot of problems, including the paralysis of the transportation network provided by the shuttle buses, poor facilities including some reserved seats without a view, lack of organization, and expensive meals such as simple lunch boxes being sold for 10,000 yen (US$87) at the circuit.[13][14]

Newspaper accounts of the event also alleged problems with Toyota bias and control. The circuit prohibited spectators from setting up flags and banners to support teams and drivers,[15][16] with the exception of the Toyota F1 team.[17] Therefore, there were very few flags and banners in the event compared with other Grand Prix events.[18][19]

For the 2008 Japanese Grand Prix race, organizers responded to lessons learned the previous year by reducing the total number of spectators allowed at the event. Compared to 140,000 persons allowed for Sunday events in 2007, attendance was restricted to 110,000.[20] Additionally, walkways and spectator facilities were improved, along with larger screens.[21] However, the race was also affected by rainy weather, which has historically interfered in a number of past races at the circuit, and later in 2013, led to interference with a 6-hour endurance race at the track for the FIA World Endurance Championship.

Following both poor ticket sales and weather, it was decided by FOM that the FIA Japanese Grand Prix would be shared between Fuji and Suzuka on alternate years, with Suzuka holding the next race on Sunday, October 4, 2009. After the Great Recession and its own operational deficit, Toyota discontinued the hosting of Japanese Grand Prix beginning in 2010.[22]

2020 Summer Olympics

During the 2020 Summer Olympics, which due to the COVID-19 pandemic were postponed to 2021, the speedway was a venue and finish for the cycling races:

2022: Fuji Motorsports Forest

In April 2022, Toyota announced the construction of the "Fuji Motorsports Forest", which Template:Ill, a real-estate company of Toyota Group, was pushing forward as the "Motorsports Village" project until then. The project precedes the completion of the Shin-Tōmei Expressway and smart interchange near the circuit.

With the regional redevelopment plan centered on Fuji Speedway, the Fuji Speedway Hotel (operated by Hyatt) including the Fuji Motorsports Museum was built on the west side of the circuit and opened in October 2022.

Events

Current
Former

Layout history

Race lap records

File:Fuji speedway eastgate.JPG
Main gate of the circuit
File:Fuji Speedway with Mount Fuji.jpg
Mount Fuji seen from the speedway

As of June 2025, the fastest official race lap records at the Fuji Speedway are listed as:[23]

Category Record Driver Car Date
Grand Prix Circuit 4th Configuration: 4.549 km (2005–present)[24]
Formula One 1:18.426[23] Template:Flagicon Felipe Massa Ferrari F2008 October 12, 2008
Super Formula 1:21.391[23][25] Template:Flagicon Nirei Fukuzumi Dallara SF19 December 20, 2020
LMP1 1:24.645[23][26] Template:Flagicon Loic Duval Audi R18 October 16, 2016
Formula Nippon 1:27.011[27] Template:Flagicon Andre Lotterer Swift FN09 April 5, 2009
GT500 1:28.493[23][28] Template:Flagicon Kazuya Oshima Toyota GR Supra GT500 November 28, 2021
LMP2 1:30.042[23][26] Template:Flagicon Nyck De Vries Oreca 07 October 6, 2019
Hypercar (LMH) 1:30.735[23][29] Template:Flagicon Kamui Kobayashi Toyota GR010 Hybrid September 11, 2022
Hypercar (LMDh) 1:30.878[30] Template:Flagicon Laurens Vanthoor Porsche 963 September 10, 2023
Class 1 Touring Car 1:31.549[23][31] Template:Flagicon Marco Wittmann BMW M4 Turbo DTM November 23, 2019
Super Formula Lights 1:32.223[23][32] Template:Flagicon Ritomo Miyata Dallara 320 December 20, 2020
Formula Three 1:34.209[23][33] Template:Flagicon Sho Tsuboi Dallara F317 October 13, 2018
LMP3 1:36.296[23][34] Template:Flagicon Nigel Moore Ligier JS P3 December 9, 2018
GT300 1:36.553[35] Template:Flagicon Kohta Kawaai Toyota GR Supra GT300 November 29, 2020
Formula Regional 1:36.775[23][36] Template:Flagicon Yuga Furutani Dome F111/3 September 26, 2021
GT3 1:37.061[23][37] Template:Flagicon Alexandre Imperatori Nissan GT-R Nismo GT3 July 22, 2018
LM GTE 1:37.392[23][38] Template:Flagicon Tom Blomqvist BMW M8 GTE October 14, 2018
Lamborghini Super Trofeo 1:37.508[23][39] Template:Flagicon Kei Cozzolino Lamborghini Huracán Super Trofeo July 22, 2018
Ferrari Challenge 1:38.925[40] Template:Flagicon Sota Muto Ferrari 296 Challenge June 22, 2025
Porsche Carrera Cup 1:40.263[41] Template:Flagicon Tsubasa Kondo Porsche 911 (992) GT3 Cup May 3, 2022
GT1 (GTS) 1:41.195[23][42] Template:Flagicon Tomonobu Fujii Ferrari 550-GTS Maranello June 2, 2007
Audi R8 LMS Cup 1:41.946[43] Template:Flagicon Marchy Lee Audi R8 LMS ultra October 10, 2015
Formula Toyota 1:43.795[44] Template:Flagicon Takuto Iguchi Tom's FT30 November 25, 2007
Formula 4 1:45.185[23][45] Template:Flagicon Hibiki Taira Dome F110 November 28, 2020
TCR Touring Car 1:47.098[46] Template:Flagicon Anna Inotsume Honda Civic Type R TCR (FK8) October 7, 2023
GT4 1:47.333[23][37] Template:Flagicon Takayuki Kinoshita BMW M4 GT4 July 22, 2018
Grand Prix Circuit 3rd Configuration: 4.400/4.470 km (September 1987 – 2004)[47]
Formula 3000 1:17.025[48] Template:Flagicon Andrew Gilbert-Scott Lola T93/50 April 10, 1994
Group C 1:17.574[49] Template:Flagicon Masahiro Hasemi Nissan R92CP May 4, 1992
Formula Nippon 1:17.728[50] Template:Flagicon Naoki Hattori Reynard 2KL April 7, 2002
LMGTP 1:18.806[51] Template:Flagicon Ukyo Katayama Toyota GT-One (TS020) November 7, 1999
Fuji Grand Champion Series 1:21.800[52] Template:Flagicon Masanori Sekiya March 89GC October 29, 1989
JGTC (GT500) 1:25.134[53] Template:Flagicon Takuya Kurosawa Toyota Supra (JZA80) July 28, 2002
Formula Three 1:26.344[54] Template:Flagicon Tatsuya Kataoka Dallara F302 April 6, 2003
GT1 1:30.822[55] Template:Flagicon David Brabham McLaren F1 GTR May 4, 1996
Formula Toyota 1:32.293[56] Template:Flagicon Yokomizo Naoki Tom's FT20 November 25, 2001
Group A 1:32.867[57] Template:Flagicon Anders Olofsson Nissan Skyline GT-R R32 November 8, 1992
JGTC (GT300) 1:32.872[58] Template:Flagicon Shinsuke Shibahara Vemac RD320R May 4, 2002
Super Touring 1:34.138[59] Template:Flagicon Anthony Reid Nissan Primera GTe November 3, 1996
GT 1:34.320[60] Template:Flagicon Atsushi Yogou Porsche 911 (996) GT3-R May 4, 2000
Superbike 1:36.833[61] Template:Flagicon Noriyuki Haga Yamaha YZF750 June 22, 1997
250cc 1:38.215[61] Template:Flagicon Daijiro Kato Honda NSR250 June 22, 1997
125cc 1:44.017[62] Template:Flagicon Shinya Sato Honda RS125R June 23, 1996
Grand Prix Circuit 2nd Configuration: 4.359/4.410/4.441 km (1966–August 1987)[63]
Formula One 1:14.300[64] Template:Flagicon Jody Scheckter Wolf WR1 October 22, 1977
Formula Two 1:18.310[65] Template:Flagicon Satoru Nakajima March 842 April 15, 1984
Formula 2000 1:18.810[66] Template:Flagicon Kazuyoshi Hoshino March 742 August 8, 1976
Group C 1:19.228[67] Template:Flagicon Stefan Bellof Porsche 956 October 2, 1983
125cc 1:39.640 Template:Flagicon Bill Ivy Yamaha RA31A October 14, 1967
USAC IndyCar (anti-clockwise[6]) 1:22.490[68][69] Template:Flagicon Jackie Stewart Lola T90 October 9, 1966
Original Grand Prix Circuit: 5.999 km (1965–1974)
Formula 2000 1:32.570[70] Template:Flagicon Vern Schuppan March 722 May 3, 1973
Formula Libre 1:52.670[71] Template:Flagicon Leo Geoghegan Lotus 39T May 3, 1969
Group 7 1:52.810[72] Template:Flagicon Moto Kitano Nissan R381 May 3, 1968
Group 6 2:00.800[73] Template:Flagicon Tetsu Ikuzawa Porsche 906 May 3, 1967
Group 4 2:05.000[73] Template:Flagicon Ginji Yasuda Lola T70 May 3, 1967
250cc 2:05.870 Template:Flagicon Phil Read Yamaha RD05 October 15, 1966
Group 3 2:15.530[74] Template:Flagicon Ginji Yasuda Jaguar XK-E May 3, 1966
50cc 2:26.510 Template:Flagicon Yoshimi Katayama Suzuki 50 GP October 15, 1966

Corners

This is the official listing of the twelve corners that make up the current circuit layout, in use since 2005. Only some corners have Japanese names, most of which are a result of sponsorship agreements. The rest are named after the radius of the corner in metres.

File:Fisco hairpin2.jpg
The sixth corner hairpin
  1. TGR Corner (27R)
  2. 75R
  3. Coca-Cola Corner (80R)
  4. Toyopet (100R)
  5. Advan Corner (30R)
  6. 120R
  7. 300R
  8. Dunlop Corner (15R)
  9. 30R
  10. 45R
  11. GR Supra Corner (25R)
  12. Panasonic Corner (12R)

The Dunlop corner differs with the configuration used. In the full configuration, it consists of a tight right hairpin turn followed by a left-right flick. In the GT course, it is a medium-speed right-hander, bypassing turns 11 and 12.

In media

Video games

The Fuji circuit is represented in the arcade racing game Pole Position, and is one of the four selectable tracks in Pole Position II. Fuji is also featured in Project CARS 2, Top Gear, TOCA Race Driver, Gran Turismo 4: Prologue, Gran Turismo 4, Tourist Trophy, Gran Turismo 5: Prologue, Gran Turismo (PSP), Gran Turismo 5, Gran Turismo 6, Gran Turismo Sport, and Gran Turismo 7. For F1 Challenge '99–'02, Grand Prix Legends, rFactor, GTR 2 – FIA GT Racing Game, GT Legends, Assoluto Racing, Race 07, the track is available as free downloadable content. The track is also available in Grid Legends and iRacing as paid downloadable content.

Television

The Fuji circuit is featured prominently in the Japanese television drama Engine as the main setting for the racing scenes, as well as the home of the (fictional) "Regulus Cup".

The track was also featured in an episode of the 11th season of the British automotive show Top Gear, in which host Jeremy Clarkson drives a Nissan GT-R.

Part of the Gaki no Tsukai 2013 New Year's Holiday No-Laughing Earth Defense Force punishment game was also shot at Fuji Speedway.

The circuit was featured in the opening scene of tokusatsu series Dennou Keisatsu Cybercop.

The anime Overtake! takes place at Fuji Speedway.

Notes

Template:Reflist Template:Notelist

External links

Template:Sister project

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  11. ↑ a b c JDM Option Vol.21
  12. ↑ Challenging Cycling road race courses revealed – Tokyo 2020 official website, 9 August 2018
  13. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  14. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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  23. ↑ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  24. ↑ Reprofiled by Hermann Tilke in 2003
  25. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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  47. ↑ The Suntory chicanes was added in 1987.
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  62. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  63. ↑ After abolishing the high-banking in 1974, The Dunlop Tyres chicanes was later added in 1984, and the 27R Corners Shape was change in 1986
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  69. ↑ unofficial qualifying
  70. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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