2008 Formula 1 Fuji Television Japanese Grand Prix
About Japan
The Fuji Speedway is a relative unknown, with any available data the result of intensive simulation work carried out by the teams in the comfort of their factories. Drivers will therefore spend around three laps of Friday’s first practice session experimenting with braking distances and cornering speeds in order to identify the most efficient racing lines around the 4.563km lap.
33% of every one of those laps is dominated by the start / finish stretch. Measuring 1.5km in length, it’s the longest straight driven all season, one on which drivers will reach top speeds of 315km/h and spend almost 20 full seconds on the throttle. The end of the straight is then met by a hairpin at turn one, followed by a series of six left and ten right-hand low speed winding loops and gradient changes before the drivers journey back onto the start/finish straight.
Set-up direction will ultimately be dictated by Fuji’s long straight. In theory, therefore, a high downforce configuration, to carry speed and assist overtaking, coupled with strong brakes and a balanced ride through the winding corners, will be the optimum operating level for this weekend’s Japanese Grand Prix at the Fuji Speedway.
33% of every one of those laps is dominated by the start / finish stretch. Measuring 1.5km in length, it’s the longest straight driven all season, one on which drivers will reach top speeds of 315km/h and spend almost 20 full seconds on the throttle. The end of the straight is then met by a hairpin at turn one, followed by a series of six left and ten right-hand low speed winding loops and gradient changes before the drivers journey back onto the start/finish straight.
Set-up direction will ultimately be dictated by Fuji’s long straight. In theory, therefore, a high downforce configuration, to carry speed and assist overtaking, coupled with strong brakes and a balanced ride through the winding corners, will be the optimum operating level for this weekend’s Japanese Grand Prix at the Fuji Speedway.