Suzuka Circuit

, Suzuka Circuit for short, is a motorsport race track located in Ino, Suzuka City, Mie Prefecture, Japan and operated by Mobilityland Corporation, the subsidiary of Honda Motor Co., Ltd..

Introduction

Designed as a Honda test track in 1962 by John Hugenholtz, Suzuka is one of few circuits in the world to have a "figure 8" layout, with the back straight passing over the front section by means of an overpass.

The circuit was modified three times, once in 1983, when a chicane was put at the last curve to slow the cars into the pit straight and the Degner curve was made into two corners instead of one long curve; and again in 2002, when the chicane was slightly modified, 130R was also modified and some of the Snake curves were made a bit straighter and faster, and in 2003, when the chicane was made slightly faster and closer to the 130R.

The circuit can be used in three configurations; the full circuit, the "Suzuka East" and "Suzuka West" configuration. The "East" portion of the course consists of the pit straight to the first half of the Dunlop curve (turn 7), before leading back to the pit straight via a tight right-hander. The "West" course is made up of the other part of the full circuit, including the crossover bridge.

Motorsport events

Suzuka is one of the oldest remaining tracks of the Formula One World Championship, and so has a long history of races as venue of the Japanese Grand Prix. Its traditional role as one of...
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