2009 Japanese Grand Prix – The F1 Fanatic unofficial race programme
1st October 2009, 19:27 by Keith Collantine 8 Comments »
Everything you need to know about the Suzuka Circuit and Japanese GP
Get ready for this weekend’s Japanese Grand Prix with the F1 Fanatic unofficial race programme.
It includes everything you nede to know about the track, the championship situation and the history of the race.
The 2009 Japanese Grand Prix
Drivers relish Suzuka challenge (Japanese Grand Prix preview) – A look ahead to this weekend’s race.
Button and Brawn can win titles in Japan – How the championships can be decided in Suzuka.
Championship standings before Japan – How they stand with three rounds to go.
Japanese Grand Prix weather forecast – Expect a dry race with a hint of rain in the build-up.
Suzuka, Japan – circuit information – Track data including tyre compounds and fuel use.
2009 Japanese Grand Prix race information – Support races and timings.
Kazuki Nakajima biography – This weekend’s home driver.
Japanese Grand Prix TV times – Watch the race live and don’t forget to join us on the live blogs during every session. You can also follow my live Twitter updates during the sessions.
Last year’s Japanese Grand Prix
The Japanese Grand Prix was held at Fuji last year. It got off to a dramatic start as Lewis Hamilton went wide at the first corner, and several other leading drivers followed him including his team mate and the Ferraris.
Hamilton was handed a penalty and so was title rival Felipe Massa after a controversial clash between the pair. These incidents and another questionable call that went against Sebastien Bourdais led to fresh criticism of the stewards.
Here are some selected highlights of last year’s coverage at F1 Fanatic.
Alonso wins as Hamilton and Massa stumble (2008 Japanese Grand Prix)
2008 Japanese Grand Prix pictures
Massa and Hamilton’s Fuji crash – the penalty they got right
Hamilton and Raikkonen’s Fuji clash – the penalty they got wrong
Lewis Hamilton on pole again at Fuji (2008 Japanese GP qualifying)
More Japanese Grand Prix reviews
Race reports from earlier Japanese Grands Prix including the first two races at Fuji in the 1970s.
Japanese Grand Prix 2007 review
Japanese Grand Prix 2006 review
Japanese Grand Prix 2005 review
1977 Japanese Grand Prix flashback
1976 Japanese Grand Prix flashback
More Japanese Grand Prix articles
The complete history of the Japanese Grand Prix as compiled by resident F1 history buff Joureneyer, and Andrew Tsvyk’s articles on past F1 drivers from Japan.
Japanese GP history 2000-2007 (Video)
Japanese GP history 1991-1999 (Video)
Japanese GP history 1976-1990 (Video)
steph90 said on 1st October 2009, 19:35
Thanks Keith, these race programmes are really great. F1 soon and live blog, great staying up purely for F1
Gman said on 1st October 2009, 19:40
There are few better backgrounds for a Grand Prix than an amusement park, so that photo is fantastic for me! Can’t beat Suzuka, Singapore, and Montreal in that regard.
On that topic, for a blast for the past, don’t forget Dallas in 1984. The Texas State Fairground…..with the “Big Tex” statue, Cotton Bowl Stadium, and the “Texas Flyer” Ferris wheel
Sush Meerkat said on 1st October 2009, 19:59
I Nede to know alot, that is true, such as good grammar… but I digress, I assume Ned Flanders is making an article, that would be nice, he does have a flair and knows his F1.
Now that i’ve stopped taking the mickey, thank you Keith, marvelous addition to your site.
mfDB said on 1st October 2009, 22:09
Sush…a lot is 2 words…hehehe
Sush Meerkat said on 1st October 2009, 20:04
wow all the big boys missed the first corner? I didn’t know that, I was in hospital for a month so I missed the Fuji race, I hear it was great fun to watch.
I was meant to miss the singapore race too, but I begged the doctors to let me out for it, which they did…. but then I missed the race after that because I was back in hospital. I hear that was a good race too. bit tactical but good because of it.
steph90 said on 1st October 2009, 20:09
Well heikki and Lewis went a bit bad and went wide forcing seveal others to go wide and avoid contact. Massa made a clumsy move on Lewis and got a drive through but fought back to get in the points.
steph90 said on 1st October 2009, 20:09
*mad
Leaf said on 1st October 2009, 21:33
From pictures that I have seen of the circuit so for it looks like a good sized crowd showed up for Thursday at Suzuka. Kind of funny….you’ll see a group of people in the stands and then a single person sitting alone in what appears to be not the best seat. Its that Japanese politeness thing of going to your correct seat. Guess we should all be so PC huh?