This famous circuit, nestling at the foot of the majestic Mount Fuji, was built 40 years ago, in 1966. It was the venue for the first and second Japanese F1 Grands Prix in 1976 and 1977. The 2007 Japanese F1 GP will mark the 30th anniversary of the last F1 GP at this track.

The 1976 Japanese Grand Prix at Fuji Raceway had seen Britain’s James Hunt snatch the world driver’s championship from Austrian Niki Lauda, when the latter withdrew early in the race due to the pouring rain and left the way open for Hunt to take the title. (The Japanese GP took place when Lauda  had his horrific Nurburgring crash fresh in his memory and said he was not prepared to risk his life under the dangerous conditions).

A marshal was killed at the end of the straight during the 1977 Japanese Grand Prix at Fuji Raceway and Japan did not have a round of the F1 world championship for 10 years. The race moved subsequently to the Honda-owned Suzuka track and has been held at this venue from 1987. This year will mark the 20th running of the Japanese GP at Suzuka. There is speculation that this circuit could be reincorporated in the F1 championship as the pacific or Asian Grand Prix.

The total renovation of Fuji Speedway was completed in 2005 and it now complies fully with all the regulations relating to a modern GP circuit and has been awarded a Grade 1 licence from the FIA.

Fuji Raceway is one of the fastest circuits in the world and has been the venue for numerous international and domestic races for sports cars, grand touring cars as well as a variety of single-seater formula cars. The circuit is 4,6 -km in length and features 16 corners and eight straights, with the longest straight measuring
1,5-km – the longest of any track in the world. Width varies from 15-25 metres. Track safety is of the highest standard and the total run-off area – both gravel and tarmac – exceeds the total surface area of the track itself.

The much-revised circuit was designed by Tilke GmbH, a German company renowned for the design of many modern circuits, such as those in Malaysia, Bahrain and Turkey. Required smoothness for a Grade 1 circuit is no more than a 2 mm variance over each 4 metres. The new Fuji Raceway surface is even smoother, measured to be within 1 mm per 4 metres.

The Fuji Raceway complex includes a short course for the Toyota racing school, driver training and experiential driving. There is also a course for the new motor sport activity of “drifting” and a massive paved expanse for use as a gymkhana course. All these facilities are aimed at fulfilling Toyota’s three themes for the venue – promoting motor sport, promoting safe driving and disseminating information to young people. To this end the Toyota Safety Education Centre “mobilitas” is a focal feature.

Fuji Raceway also accommodates the extensive Lexus Training Centre to provide resources to the Lexus luxury vehicle division that was established in Japan last August. (Previously vehicles sold under the Lexus nameplate outside Japan were marketed as Toyota models on the Japanese domestic market).