Suzuka Circuit is the host of the Formula One Fuji Television Japanese Grand Prix and one of the oldest and most-famous motorsport race tracks in Japan. It is located in Suzuka City in Mie Prefecture and is owned by Honda Motor Company.

Designed as a Honda test track in 1962 by John Hugenholtz, Suzuka is a unique circuit, being one of the very few in the world to have a figure 8 layout. Naturally, the track doesn't actually intersect with itself; instead, the backstraight passes over the front section by means of an overpass. Due to its unique layout, Suzuka is a massive test of driver skill and is easily one of the most difficult racing circuits in the world. Nevertheless, the track is loved by drivers and spectactors alike for its challenging design and many opportunities for overtaking.

Suzuka is one of the oldest remaining tracks on the Grand Prix circuit, and so has a long history of exciting races. Japan's traditional role as the penultimate or final Grand Prix of the season means numerous World Championships have been decided at the track.

Safety has been a concern at the circuit's 130R, a 130-meter radius turn starting past the Crossover, following two tremendous accidents in 2002 and 2003. In 2002, Toyota driver Allan McNish suffered a high-speed crash through the bump, which sent him through a metal fence; fortunately, he was not seriously injured.

Track officials revised the 130R, which has been compared to Spa's Eau Rouge, redesigning it as a double-apex section, one with an 85 meter radius, and then a second featuring a 340-meter radius, leading to a much closer Casio Triangle (chicane), with the chicane becoming a "bus stop" type for motorcycles.

However, the problem continued for the new revised secton. During the track's first major event since the revisions during the 2003 MotoGP Grand Prix of Japan, MotoGP rider Daijiro Kato was killed when he crashed in the new section headed to the braking zone for the Casio Triangle. MotoGP has not returned to Suzuka since the incident.

The circuit's other major event is the Suzuka 8 Hours for motorcycles, which has been run since 1978. This event usually attracts big name riders and with the exception of 2005, due to the importance of the big name manufacturers involvement, the FIM ensures that no motorcycle races clash on the date.

NASCAR organised a pair of exhibition 100-lap races on the East Circuit, a 1.4 mile layout which utilises the pit straight and esses, before rejoining the main circuit near the Casio Triangle. The cars were Winston Cup and Winston West Series cars and the field was by invitation for the two races, run after the 1996 and 1997 seasons. 1996 saw a dark day in NASCAR when during practice, pace car driver Elmo Langley died of a heart attack in the Chevrolet Corvette Pace Car at the esses during an evaluation run. In 1997, rain caused Goodyear to use rain tires in NASCAR for the first time.

Along with the Fuji Speedway, the Suzuka Circuit was one of the four tracks featured in the video game Pole Position II (the first game featured only the Fuji track). The Suzuka Circuit was also featured in the Final Lap arcade game and video games like Gran Turismo 4 and R: Racing Evolution.

Suzuka recently lost the Formula One Japanese Grand Prix to the Fuji Speedway after the latter underwent a transformation and redesign by famous race circuit designer Hermann Tilke. Many however believe that a Pacific Grand Prix at Suzuka may be a possibilty due to the tracks popularity with both drivers and spectators.

Deaths
Elmo Langley, died of a Heart Attack in the esses in the pace car
Daijiro Kato, motorcycle racer, crashed at first GP of MotoGP 2003 seasons

In 1976, the grand prix circus arrived at Mount Fuji circuit for the final round of the championship, with James Hunt in the McLaren needing to finish four points ahead of Niki Lauda in the Ferrari, to take his first title. The race was held in appalling conditions which saw the course car aquaplaning off the track even before the start! As for Mount Fuji itself, it was hidden in the clouds. Lauda was almost literally back from the dead, having survived terrible injuries in a fire at the German GP. After one lap he retired, judging the conditions too dangerous. Hunt led at first, but eventually finished third, unaware he had done enough to take the title. He won the race the following year and that was the last anyone saw of Japan until 1987, when the race came to its present home.

Suzuka is probably the Japanese word for "controversy" as rage and recrimination are often on the menu. In 1989, Ayrton Senna had to beat McLaren team-mate Alain Prost to have any chance of retaining his championship crown. He tried to pass the Frenchman at the tight chicane and the two cars ended up locked together. While Prost retired on the spot, Senna pitted for repairs and was first past the flag. However, he was disqualified and vowed never to talk to Prost again. The following year, it was Prost in a Ferrari who needed to win to keep his title hopes alive. Senna, on pole, was angry at not being allowed to start from the "clean" side of the track and to make sure of the title simply drove Prost off the road at the very first corner; a potentially lethal move, given the high speeds involved. The Brazilian, also out of the race, later admitted he did it deliberately. In the post race conference, he launched a scathing attack on the sport's governing body, liberally peppered with swear words, much to the bemusement of the crowd, who heard it all over the Public Address system!

The 1990 race also marked the one and only F1 podium appearance of a Japanese driver, as Aguri Suzuki finished third. In 1993, Senna was at it again; punching F1 debutant Eddie Irvine for not showing enough respect when being lapped!

Suzuka is the only track on the F1 calendar that uses a figure-of-eight course. Will that be an advantage for Ferrari? Their own private test track at Fiorano shares that unusual configuration.

Three Japanese drivers share the honour of being the first to represent their country in a grand prix. Masahiro Hasemi, Kazuyoshi Hoshino and Noritake Takahara all took part in the 1976 edition of their home race. Takahara was ninth in a Surtees, Hasemi was eleventh and last in a Kojima and Hoshino retired in a Tyrrell.

Accelerating along the downhill pit straight at Suzuka, you reach 195mph / 312km/h in seventh gear, before lifting slightly for the fast, fifth gear right of First Curve. Your speed decreases only slightly to 162mph / 260km/h. The track continues to bend to the right through the second corner, which is much tighter and negotiated at 95mph / 153km/h in third gear. A quick burst on the throttle to some 153mph / 245km/h, sees you reach the snake section. The track flicks left-right-left-right through this fourth gear complex. Your speed ranges from 130mph / 210km/h at the start, to some 86mph / 140km/h for the final right-hander. The challenging, long left of Dunlop Curve is next. Taken at 135mph / 217km/h, Dunlop is quite bumpy on the entry and is nearly flat out. On the following straight you reach 180mph / 290km/h in seventh on the approach to the Degner Curve. The first section of this double right-hander is taken at 115mph / 185km/h in fourth gear, before dabbing the brakes for the tighter turn nine, which is taken at 75mph / 120km/h in second. A short straight follows, and you flow under the bridge at speeds of 160mph / 225km/h in fifth gear, as the track kinks to the right slightly leading into the tide hairpin. Braking hard you drop to 40mph / 64km/h in first gear for the 180-degree left-hander. On the throttle as you exit, the circuit begins to sweep right through the long curve of turn twelve. You reach speeds of 185mph / 297km/h in seventh, before braking for the double apex of Spoon Curve. The first left-hander is entered at 112mph / 180km/h in fourth. As you continue round the corner, your speed increases slightly before a dab on the brakes takes your speed down to 87mph / 140km/h in third for the second apex. It is important to maintain good momentum through the Spoon Curve, as the exit takes you out onto the longest, straight of the track. Powering up through the gears, you are travelling at 195mph / 312km/h in seventh as you crossover the track below on the approach to the 130R. Either flat out or with only a slight lift for the fast left-hander, your speed stays around the 170mph / 275km/h mark in the corner. Another straight leads to the Casino Triangle chicane. You then sweep back via a long right hander onto the start-finish straight.