Comments on: Toyota confirm Fuji Speedway will not hold an F1 race in 2010

By: zerogee

zerogee — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 00:02:17 +0000

I nearly voted ‘no opinion’ because it’s such a dull track and I always forget about it.

I’ll be enthusing to friends about the unchallenged awesomeness of Suzuka and then think…oh, hang on, it’s Fuji. I get disappointed when Fuji pops up in the next race on Gran Turismo, too…

By: YeaMon

YeaMon — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 00:48:32 +0000

I loved the pure speed of the front straight, and the long fast 3rd turn. Other than that, the circuit was not that great. The design of the newer track still had some the key points to the old track, but I found the old track to be boring as well.

The two races at the track weren’t all that boring, but in my opinion this is due to the aspect of them being in the latter part of calender.

It’s nice to see diversity in tracks like the rotation in some parts of the world, but in Japan nothing can compete than Suzuka.

By: Maurice Henry

Maurice Henry — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 19:35:17 +0000

I think this is the inevitable end game for many of the deals Bernie Ecclestone has done over the years. Don’t be too quick to rejoice at this news. As with Hockenheim and Nurburgring in Germany, alternating a grand prix between two circuits is a way for the promoters of both to halve the, depending on how well you get on with Bernie, eye wateringly high FOM franchise fee. Will Honda be prepared to subsidise this event when they don’t even, at the very minimum, supply engines to any of the participants? I doubt it.

By: David A

David A — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 15:49:29 +0000

I think it still hosts Super GT, though I remember F1 found it to be worse than Fuji in almost every possible way.

By: PJA

PJA — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 09:38:01 +0000

If it means we get Suzuka back every year I am glad Fuji has gone, but as the article pointed out it does raise questions about the future of Toyota’s F1 team.

By: ajokay

ajokay — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 08:22:01 +0000

Maybe in 2036 and 2037 the track will crop up on the calendar for a couple more stabs at a race, on a track redesigned by Herman Tilke Jr. It will probably rain then too.

By: scunnyman

scunnyman — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 08:08:59 +0000

Toyota say there will be no race at Fuji in 2010. They definitely do NOT say from 2010 so maybe there is a problem for 2010 and it will be back after that.
And yes they really do need a toyboata at fuji when it’s wet, maybe driven by Jeremy Clarkson? He can’t do any worse than the current drivers lol

By: Rob R.

Rob R. — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 07:50:48 +0000

How many tens of millions did Toyboata spend to have the circuit Tilkefied, just for a two year run in the championship?

By: Prisoner Monkeys

Prisoner Monkeys — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 05:51:27 +0000

I think the biggest problem with Fuji was its location. Even if they’d kept the old incarnation untouched for Formula One, it was still sitting in the shadow of its namesake, Mount Fuji. Its poisitioning left it wide open to fog and the kind of torrential rain that sees the cars jsut do laps behind the safety car.

By: sumedh

sumedh — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 05:47:50 +0000

I am with the minority here.

Those saying that the last 2 races were boring have clearly slept through the race. 2007 and 2008 races were excellent.

Plus one unparalleled advantage of Fuji over any other track in the world (barring Spa perhaps) is that it is in close vicinity of a sublime Mount Fuji. Apart from that providing great snapshots of cars in the backdrop of a snow covered mountain, it also makes the entire region very fickle in terms of weather. Thus, the chances of rain (and thus, exciting race) are much higher.

Also, this could be a forerunner to Toyota’s withdrawal from the sport. Which, no one wants.

Suzuka, no doubt is an exceptional track, one of the best in the world. However, do you guys know who owns the Suzuka track? and what did their owners do to their previous team? Do you still think the owners would continue hosting the race after the contract expires in 2010?

By: mp4-19b

mp4-19b — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 04:00:38 +0000

i’m with the majority here. but i must admit however that the 2 races held here so far were crucial in deciding the championships. 2007 was the turning point for alonso, his championship almost ended when he crashed out & last year ofcourse we had that huge pile up at the first corner & massa stupidly taking out lewis. the final sector is very twisty. i requires absolutely extremely high mechanical grip. anyway it is being replaced by one of the most exciting circuits, so i’m not complaining. & i would like to know what happened to aida(pacific gp) last held in 1994. somehow i like that circuit when i drive in rfactor.

By: todd

todd — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 03:47:09 +0000

at least it has overtaking points – and produces overtaking – and the best wet weather battle i’ve seen in a long time (massa v kubica)…

By: The sri lankan

The sri lankan — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 01:00:21 +0000

i totally agree. atleast the last 2 fuji races were action packed despite the boring label its been given. along with its first ever f1 race, this is the only circuit that “accidentally” offered excitement for the fans. as a toyota fan i am sorry to see it go. hope it returnes someday after being modifies by some one other than herman tilke

By: SoLiD

SoLiD — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 00:30:55 +0000

the races weren’t bad, but it can never touch Suzuka!
Great for us:)

By: David A

David A — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 00:00:34 +0000

Fuji is quite harshly treated, I think. It’s not a great circuit, but the two recent races were still quite good.

By: Keith Collantine

Keith Collantine — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 23:38:15 +0000

Wasn’t Autopolis expected to hold a race in the mid-90s but the deal fell through and Donington ended up taking its place?

By: Mahir C

Mahir C — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 23:06:20 +0000

Fuji and Valencia are the only two tracks whose layout I cant remember off the top of my head. I know first corner turns right and there are some mickey mouse turns at the end, thats all it.

So I am not sorry to see it out. Goodbye Fuji, take Shangai or Bahrain and Valencia with you.

By: scunnyman

scunnyman — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 22:31:17 +0000

I agree Keith that this could be the precursor to the withdrawal of Toyota from F1. It’s not like they are a front running team, and don’t look likely to ever be.

By: Chalky

Chalky — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 22:12:35 +0000

Maybe Autopolis could finally get a F1 race, alternating with Suzuka?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autopolis

By: TommyB

TommyB — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 21:42:15 +0000

Fuji 07 and 08 were both amazing!!