
The fifteenth round of the world championship sees Formula 1 make a welcome return to the Suzuka circuit after a two year hiatus spent in the shadow of Mount Fuji. This years race will be the twenty fifth running of the Japanese Grand Prix and Suzuka has been its home for all but four races. Owned by Honda, who built it as a test track in 1962, it is now considered to be one of the all time classic circuits, up there with Spa in the F1 drivers affections. It is also the only circuit on the calendar to feature a figure of eight layout. There are eighteen turns, beginning with a very fast downhill run past the pits to a quick right, followed by the famous Esses before the Spoon Curve and the legendary 130R, one of the most daunting corners on the F1 calendar. Despite its fast and flowing nature, overtaking is not that straightforward here, with the best opportunities coming at the final chicane, although if conditions are right, a move is possible at the first corner and at the hairpin. While all the familiar landmarks, such as the giant wheel in the Suzuka Circuitland Amusement Park will be there, along with the politest fans in the world, sitting late into the night in the main grandstand across from the pits, there will be many new features this year, with a rebuilt paddock, replacing the rather antiquated facilities of the past. Several sections of the track have been resurfaced. As this work was carried out two years ago, there should be none of the problems usually <b>...</b>
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