Suzuka Circuit
34.844444444444136.53333333333Koordinaten: 34 ° 50 ' 40 "N, 136 ° 32' 0" E
The Suzuka International Racing Course (Japanese鈴鹿 サーキット, Suzuka Suzuka Circuit for Sākitto ) is a circuit near the city of Suzuka in Japan, near Nagoya. The course was built in 1962 by the car manufacturer Honda according to a plan of the Dutch racetrack designer Hans Hugenholtz as a test track, along with an amusement park called Motopia park for employees and their families.
The track is 5.807 km long in its present form. In addition, it is one of his driving and most demanding circuits in the world, because it contains many changes of direction and almost all types of curves: slow, medium and fast curves alternate in Suzuka from. Especially the "S- Curves " behind the paddock and the fast left-hander " 130R " after a long straight ask the drivers from a lot of skill.
- 2.1 All winners of Formula 1 Grand Prix at Suzuka
History
Formula 1
In Suzuka 1987-2012 so far 24 Grand Prix of Japan Formula 1 have been discharged. Since this Grand Prix is traditionally one of the last race in the calendar of the Formula 1 season, the championship was decided here already eleven times. Legendary are the Duels of the big rivals Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost, which collided at Suzuka three times in a direct fight for the World Championship while two collided.
In 1987, Formula 1 for the first time at Suzuka guest and came up with Nelson Piquet ( Williams - Honda ) as the World Cup leading to the penultimate race of the season. Piquet's team-mate Nigel Mansell was 12 points behind also still promising in the race for the world championship. A serious accident in training ended his ambitions, however, as Mansell back with bruises could not participate in the race. Piquet was thus already the start of the Grand Prix as the new world champion firmly.
In 1988, the Frenchman Alain Prost (McLaren - Honda), the penultimate race of the season in Japan in the championship ahead of Ayrton Senna ( McLaren - Honda also ) in the lead. Because of the void results - regulation, however, the Frenchman had to win in order to get even more points can be credited. Senna started from pole position, but stalled his engine and fell to 14th place back while Prost took the lead. When it starts to rain, the Brazilian picked up again, overtook Prost and won the race and the championship.
In 1989 Prost held again (McLaren - Honda) before the race at Suzuka the championship lead. After the Frenchman had by then led the race, it came at a overtaking Senna in the 46th round of the chicane before the start and finish straight to the collision of the two teammates. Both cars came off the track and were hooked into each other in the outlet zone of the final chicane. While Prost got out, Senna let himself slide by the marshals back on track and won the race yet. The Brazilian, however, was disqualified because the FIA (International Automobile Sports Federation ) deemed the shortening of the chicane as rules. This Senna could not defend his title and Alain Prost was clear as the new world champion.
1990 came Senna ( McLaren - Honda) and Prost, who had since moved to Ferrari, again together. However, this time the Frenchman was the one of the two, the lagged in the championship and absolutely had to reach the goal before his opponent. Having started from second on the grid, he overtook Senna right at the start. Receipt of the first corner but this torpedoed its competitors in a overtaking, both could not continue the race. Senna was crowned so early as the new world champion.
In 1991, the World Cup for the fifth time in a row, it was decided at Suzuka. Ayrton Senna ( McLaren - Honda) traveled while leading the championship ahead of his rival Nigel Mansell ( Williams - Renault) to Japan. The Brit, however, turned already in the ninth round of the track, leaving Senna so the world title.
1994 traveled Michael Schumacher ( Benetton - Ford) as the leader in the World Cup in Suzuka. His only rival for the title was the Briton Damon Hill ( Williams - Renault), who won the race in the pouring rain for themselves, and thus had only one point behind Schumacher before the last race.
1996 took place in Suzuka for the first time the season finale instead. Favorites for the title went to Damon Hill ( Williams - Renault), which led in the championship ahead of his teammate Jacques Villeneuve. After Villeneuve had secured the pole position, but he left in the race, while Hill drove to a comfortable victory and the first son of a Formula 1 World Champion (Graham Hill ) also won the title.
In 1997, the world championship leader Jacques Villeneuve ( Williams - Renault) playful already in training every chance of the title fight to decide in his favor, as he repeated the pace did not slow down during a yellow phase and was allowed to begin the race with reservation. His rival Michael Schumacher (Ferrari ) won Villeneuve and took the championship lead before the last race, while the Canadians was disqualified.
In 1998 it came to the title showdown between Mika Häkkinen (McLaren -Mercedes) and Michael Schumacher ( Ferrari), who had to win over its competitor. However, his pole position could not use Schumacher and dropped to the rear of the field. Häkkinen, meanwhile freely to victory and world title, while his rival was forced to retire due to a puncture.
In 1999, the Formula 1 world championship decided also on the Japanese Grand Prix circuit. This time traveled Häkkinen (McLaren -Mercedes) with four points behind the championship leader Eddie Irvine (Ferrari ), but this could still displace with a comfortable win from the top of the World Cup and secure the second title.
2000 contributed again Michael Schumacher (Ferrari) and Mika Hakkinen (McLaren -Mercedes) to fight for the world championship of which should be decided in Suzuka. After a tight battle in the race Schumacher won ahead of Häkkinen and thus secured his third overall World Cup title. For Ferrari it was the first drivers' title in Formula 1 for 21 years.
2003 had before the last race at Suzuka two drivers' title chances: Championship leader Michael Schumacher ( Ferrari) and his rival Kimi Raikkonen (McLaren -Mercedes), who had, however, win residue at nine points. Räikkönen ended the race in second, just behind Schumacher's team-mate Rubens Barrichello, while the German eighth secured a spot and the world title.
The championship rival Michael Schumacher ( Ferrari) and Fernando Alonso ( Renault) in 2006 were tied to the penultimate race at Suzuka. The German saw the race began to look like the sure winner. However, in the 36th round, he rolled out with a technical defect in the lead while Alonso went contrary to the victory and the sole championship lead.
2007 and 2008, the Japanese Grand Prix was held at Fuji Speedway, since 2009, the race will again annually at the Suzuka International Racing Course instead.
2011 traveled Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull - Renault) five races to go as a superior leading the championship after Suzuka and secured there with a third place his second title.
Motorcycle
Between 1962 and 1965, and from 1987 to 2003 and the Grand Prix of Japan was held the Motorcycle World Championship in Suzuka. After the fatal accident of the Japanese 250 cc World Champion Daijiro Katō However, the FIM (International Motorcycling Federation ) stressed the racetrack from the calendar, after the actions performed as a result of the accident reconstruction measures were deemed insufficient. Since then, the Grand Prix takes place at Motegi at the Twin Ring. As before, each year there is a round of the Motorcycle Endurance World Championship held in the form of an 8- hour race. High quality front driver fields show the importance of this race, especially for the Japanese motorcycle manufacturers. 2013 travels among others, the World Champion from 1993 in the 500 cc class Kevin Schwantz with the Japanese Noriyuki Haga.
Statistics
All winners of the Formula 1 race in Suzuka
Record winner Driver: Michael Schumacher ( 6) Record winner designers: Ferrari / McLaren ( 7) Record winner Engine Manufacturer: Renault (9 ) Record winner tire manufacturer Goodyear (11 ) Record winner nations: Germany (10 )