Formula One flies to the Pacific to end the 2001 season at Suzuka, the current home of the Japanese Grand Prix. As always, Ewan Tytler reviews the field

The Suzuka circuit was opened in 1963 and has hosted the Japanese Grand Prix since 1987. Honda commissioned the Dutch circuit designer John Hugenholtz to design the Suzuka circuit as a motocycle testing circuit. Hugenholtz was successful in his mission - Suzuka is a 'testing' track for both man and machine.

At 5.864 km, Suzuka is the third-longest circuit used in Formula One and it is the favourite circuit of many drivers. Although fast in sections, Suzuka is average in speed as there are a number of slow corners. The track is unique to Formula One in that it has a fly-over, but it is best described as 'funky', as it has a few idiosyncrasies and is quite difficult to learn. The start is difficult as the grid is on a downhill slope, which means the drivers have to be careful not to accidentally jump the start or stall holding the car back.

The left-handed 130R corner, which gives the drivers a lateral load of almost 4G, is considered to be one of the most challenging corners in Formula One. Accident black-spots on the circuit are the 3rd gear Spoon curve, the 2nd gear Degner curve and the 2nd gear Casio chicane at the end of the lap.

Overtaking on Suzuka is not easy, often the following driver has to force the leading driver to make an error. Conventional wisdom was that local knowledge of Suzuka, early in a young driver's career, is an advantage at Suzuka. In last year's race, however, Jenson Button showed that this isn't always true, by qualifying 5th, well ahead of drivers with leagues more experience at Suzuka.

Sam Michael, Chief Operations Engineer of Williams, explained the challenges presented by the Japanese circuit: "Suzuka is the last race on the calendar and is one of the most exciting circuits - in the same league as Spa. The high speed flowing corners to start the lap, combined with a hairpin, a chicane and the infamous high speed 130R, are a tall demand on the drivers and rhythm is an important aspect of being quick at Suzuka. The Japanese circuit usually requires maximum downforce and a stiffer than normal set-up to ensure high speed stability. Engine power is important to be able to run the high wing levels. This aspect also makes it difficult to overtake, although a great opportunity exists into the chicane. The high fuel penalty and tyre degradation usually means a two stop strategy in the race."

Jaguar Cosworth's Pedro de la Rosa added a driver's perspective: "It's a real 'drivers' circuit and I personally think it is the best race on the F1 calendar. It is a tough lap, as the majority of the track is made up of fast and slow corners; many of them are blind and lead directly into one another. I hear lots of people say that Eau Rouge in Spa is the most difficult corner to drive, but I think that some of the corners in Suzuka are harder."

Pitstop and tyre strategies

Attrition can be quite high at Suzuka - twelve finished in 1995 and 1998, thirteen finished in 1997, 1996 and 1994, while fourteen were classified as finishers in 1999 and fifteen finished last year's race. Furthermore, weather is a major concern at Japan. Although the past five Grands Prix have been dry, it rained during the 1988, 1993, 1994 and 1995 races.

There is limited opportunity for overtaking, so qualifying and pitstop strategy are very important. In last year's race, most teams used a two-stop strategy while Benetton and Sauber used a one-stop strategy. The first stops were made between laps 15-24 while the 2nd stops were made between laps 28-40.

For the 2001 Japanese Grand Prix, Bridgestone have developed two new tyre compounds which are on the harder end of the spectrum. Bridgestone's Technical Manager, Hisao Suganuma, stated: "Suzuka is a fascinating track, with big changes in speed. For example, the very slow Hairpin leads to the medium-speed Spoon Curve followed, after the straight, by the infamous 130R left-hander and then the Chicane. In addition, the track is quite undulating and the surface is abrasive which can cause degradation problems. There has to be good balance between the front and rear tyres, and between wear and grip. Key spots to look out for are the fast, uphill S bends and Spoon corner. Both require responsiveness from the front tyres and good rear stability.

"All in all, it is a track that is hard on tyres and gives us a lot to think about. The tracks that are most like Suzuka are Mugello and Silverstone. Some of our teams have been testing the Suzuka tyres at Mugello this week. We expect our new specifications to give improved grip and better traction, which is something we have been working on in tyre development recently. Finally, from past experience, we would anticipate it being a two-stop race."

Michelin motorsport director Pierre Duspaquier revealed his company's strategy for the final race: "Despite its two 180-degree corners, one tight hairpin and a chicane, average lap speeds at Suzuka are particularly high, and we have no problem with that. With our partner teams, we have been able to perform with distinction at similar tracks on several occasions this season, and we also won the eight-hour motorcycle endurance race at this track. If you take all forms of the sport into account, our record here hasn't been one of unbroken success, but at least we shouldn't feel completely alienated.

"It is true that we have never used grooved F1 tyres at Suzuka and we are at a disadvantage because we have no applicable data to transfer from our previous experience at the track. A track like this demands a compromise between high speeds and cornering grip, so cars must be quick in a straight line while generating high levels of downforce. Our most recent tyre developments should be able to cope with the atypical demands of this circuit, in terms of both compound and construction."

Down the Pitlane

Ferrari, the provisional 2001 Constructors' Champion, have won at Suzuka in 1987, 1997 and 2000 and have scored 58 points at Suzuka during 1990-2000. "Japan is a good circuit for us, so we can prove ourselves," the provisional 2001 World Champion, Michael Schumacher, stated. "You will see that we will be competitive again there, it's another good opportunity to win a race, because our car should allow us to do this."

Michael won the Japanese Grand Prix in 1995 for Benetton and in 1997 and 2000 for Ferrari. He also finished second in 1994 for Benetton and again in 1996 for Ferrari. Schumacher took pole position in 1994, 1995, 1998, 1999 and 2000, and set fastest lap in 1995, 1998 and 1999.

Rubens Barrichello is still in 3rd position in the Drivers' Championship. Michael Schumacher explained Barrichello's predicament and pledged their team's support, stating: "He must win at Suzuka, hoping that David (Coulthard) arrives out of the top five. It will be hard but we will try." Barrichello finished 4th in last year's race for Ferrari and 5th in 1993 for Jordan, but he has not shone during qualifying at Suzuka, his highest grid position being 4th in 2000.

McLaren are provisionally second in the Constructors' Championship. Team Principal Ron Dennis stated: "the outcome of the United States Grand Prix was a demonstration of the hard work and development undertaken by the team, and we continue to remain determined and focused on achieving the required result in Japan." McLaren have won 5 times at Suzuka - in 1988, 1991, 1993, 1998 and 1999, and have scored 83 points at Suzuka in 1990-2000. McLaren also hold the qualifying record for Suzuka, of 1:34.700, set by Gerhard Berger in 1991.

Mika Hakkinen has climbed to 5th position in the Drivers' Championship after an impressive victory at Indianapolis. After his win, Hakkinen stated: "Following the fantastic result at Indianapolis, I am very much looking forward to the Japanese Grand Prix, which has been a special event for me since I claimed my two Drivers' World Championship titles there. As the last race before I take my sabbatical year, I will be going flat out to try and secure a hat-trick of victories for 2001 and hopefully put on an exciting race for my loyal fans."

Hakkinen won the Japanese Grand Prix in 1998 and 1999 for McLaren and has been consistent in his 10 Japanese Grand Prix starts. He has finished 2nd in 1995 and 2000, 3rd in 1993 and 1996 and 4th in 1997. However, Hakkinen has yet to set pole position at this circuit, qualifying 2nd for the past three years and setting fastest race lap last year.

David Coulthard is still 2nd in the Drivers' Championship. Coulthard commented: "Suzuka is one of my favourite tracks as it's a classic and challenging Formula One circuit. I am arriving in Japan with the aim of winning the race and securing second position in the Drivers' Championship. The team is introducing some new developments at the race, so hopefully we will be strong."

Suzuka is not a circuit where Coulthard has excelled. From six Japanese Grand Prix starts, Coulthard finished 3rd in 1998 and 2000 for McLaren, and he has qualified 3rd in the last three Japanese Grands Prix. Nevertheless, Coulthard only needs to finish 4th to secure seconnd place in the Championship.

Williams are still 3rd in the Constructors' Championship and set competitive times at the Catalunya tests. BMW Motorsport Director, Dr Mario Theissen, stated: "We are already looking back at a very successful season. Four wins, four pole positions and seven fastest race laps is much more than we could have expected for only the second year of our Formula One project. Now we hope for a good race result to round off the season. In terms of engine power, we are well prepared for the Suzuka circuit."

Williams have been a successful team in Japan, winning in 1992, 1994 and 1996, and have scored a total of 64 points at Suzuka during 1990-2000.

Ralf Schumacher is still 4th in the Drivers' Championship. "Suzuka is my favourite circuit on the race calendar and it is one of the most difficult," Ralf commented. "It is not easy to be quick here, as you have to know the track very well. It is also very positive that the safety has improved for this year. The only downside is it is very difficult to overtake here, and there is only one place where it is possible. For me it is nice to go back to Japan where I won the Formula Nippon Championship in 1996 and I am hoping for a better result for us than in the US."

In 1996, Ralf set one pole position and finished three Formula Nippon races in the points at Suzuka, with his highest finish being 3rd. In Formula One, Ralf finished 5th in 1999 for Jordan and his highest grid position was 6th in 2000.

Juan Pablo Montoya has slipped to 6th place in the Drivers' Championship due to a DNF, after another impressive but fruitless performance at Indianapolis. Montoya revealed: "I have raced twice in Japan in CART, although it was at Motegi and not Suzuka, and nearly won both races. I thoroughly enjoyed myself there, as I think it is an interesting place. Suzuka is somewhere I am really looking forward to going, as I have been told it is a proper racing circuit - a great track with great corners. I am just hoping we can get a good result there."

Sauber are still 4th in the Constructors' Championship - the team have scored 4 points at Suzuka, with 6th positions in 1994, 1996, 1997 and 1999.

Nick Heidfeld has climbed to 7th in the Drivers' Championship. "I was really pleased with the way that the Sauber Petronas C20 performed at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway," Heidfeld stated, "and I think that bodes well too for its performance in Japan. The car suits fast circuits. Suzuka is one of my favourite tracks, so I am going there intent of finishing strongly to end a great season on a high note." In last year's race, Heidfeld did not finish after qualifying 16th for Prost.

Kimi Raikkonen is still 9th equal in the Drivers' Championship. This will be Raikkonen's last race for Sauber as he will be racing for McLaren in 2002. Raikkonen commented, "I've heard so much about the Suzuka circuit that I am really looking forward to racing there, and to ending my time with Sauber by scoring more World Championship points." Raikkonen hasn't scored a Championship point since the British Grand Prix.

Jordan are now 5th equal in the Constructors' Championship. Team Principal Eddie Jordan stated: "We were really unlucky at Indianapolis with the decision to exclude Jarno's car. It must be our turn for some good luck soon and I'm hoping it will have an impression in Japan. This final Grand Prix is vital for Jordan as we want to score sufficient points to win fourth place regardless of the outcome of our appeal against the disqualification. I'm convinced fourth place is still within reach, although for sure it will be a tough fight for the last points."

Jarno Trulli is 9th equal in the Drivers' Championship after his disqualification from the US Grand Prix. This will be Trulli's last race with Jordan, as he will move to Renault in 2002. Trulli commented: "Suzuka is a very technical circuit so it can be hard to get the best car set-up at this track. It's also one of most challenging circuits, together with Spa and Monaco. I have a lot of supporters in Japan and it's Honda's home race, so this race is very important to me." Trulli finished 13th in last year's race and he was classified 12th in 1998, while his highest grid position was 7th in 1999.

Jean Alesi has climbed to 13th equal in the Drivers' Championship. Alesi confessed: "I love going to Suzuka. Japan is my second home as my wife is Japanese and I have a lot of friends and sponsors there. The circuit is challenging as it is quite technical, which makes it an interesting race for a driver. I have some very good memories from the 1994 race at Japan, when I had a race-long dual in the rain with Nigel Mansell. I finished third with Mansell in fourth."

Alesi has competed in 11 of the 14 Japanese Grands Prix held at Suzuka, missing the 1990 race due to a neck injury. He finished 3rd in 1994 and 5th in 1992 for Ferrari, 5th in 1997 for Benetton and 6th in 1999 for Sauber. His highest grid position was 2nd, in 1995 for Ferrari.

BAR are now 5th equal in the Constructors' Championship and the team has scored one point at Suzuka.

Jacques Villeneuve has slipped to 8th in the Drivers' Championship. Villeneuve finished 6th in the 1998 and 2000 Japanese Grands Prix. In 1997, Villeneuve set pole position and finished 5th but was disqualified for overtaking under a yellow flag during practice. In 1996, Villeneuve set pole position and fastest lap but retired after losing a wheel. Villeneuve also competed in All Japan F3 in 1992.

Olivier Panis has slipped to 15th in the Drivers' Championship. Panis finished 5th for Ligier-Mugen Honda in 1995 and his highest grid position was 6th, in 1999 for Prost. His race in 1999 was one of his most impressive performance, running in third position at the start.

Benetton are now 7th equal in the Constructors' Championship. This will be the 260th and last race for the Benetton team, which entered Formula One in 1986 after the Benetton family bought the Toleman team. Benetton will reappear as Renault in 2002.

Technical Director Mike Gascoyne admitted: "Given the car's recent improvements, we are disappointed not to have scored any points since Spa, but with the help of a new qualifying spec engine, we will look to transform this upturn in form into a points-scoring finish at the weekend. It has been a long and difficult season but in some respects, we are almost disappointed to see it end just as we are producing a competitive package."

Benetton won three of their 27 Grand Prix victories at Suzuka - in 1989, 1990 and 1995, and have scored 44 points at Suzuka in 1990-2000.

Giancarlo Fisichella is still 11th in the Drivers' Championship and has never scored a point at Suzuka. This will be Fisichella's last race with Benetton, as he will return to Jordan in 2002.

Jenson Button is still 17th in the Drivers' Championship. Button raced at Suzuka in 1996 and 1997 in the Super A karting Championship. In last year's Japanese Grand Prix, Button qualified and finished 5th - a remarkable debut at Suzuka.

Jaguar have climbed to 7th equal in the Constructors' Championship. In last year's race, both Jaguars finished outside the points, in 7th and 8th. The Jaguar drivers probably have the most combined experience of Suzuka of any Formula One team.

Eddie Irvine has climbed to 12th in the Drivers' Championship. He competed for three seasons in Japan in Sports cars and Formula F3000 before his Formula One debut in 1993, when he finished 6th for Jordan. Irvine also finished 5th in 1994 and 4th in 1995 for Jordan. He did not finish in 1996 but he finished 3rd in 1997 and 1999, and 2nd in 1998 for Ferrari. His highest grid position was 3rd in 1997.

Pedro de la Rosa is still 16th in the Drivers' Championship. De la Rosa raced in Japan from 1995 to 1997, winning the Japanese F3 title in 1995 and both the Formula Nippon and the All Japan GT Championships in 1997. In Formula Nippon, de la Rosa finished in the top five in five of his six races at the 5.864 km Suzuka circuit, winning twice and setting pole position once in 1997. In Formula One, de la Rosa finished 13th in 1999 and 12th in 2000 for Arrows. His highest grid position was 18th in 2000.

Prost are 9th in the Constructors' Championship. Team Principal Alain Prost never won at Suzuka and his team has yet to score a point at this circuit. For the past two years neither Prost-Peugeot finished. However, the Acer/Ferrari engine should be more reliable this year.

Heinz-Harald Frentzen has slipped to 13th equal in the Drivers' Championship. Frentzen holds the race lap record for Suzuka, of 1:38.942, which he set in 1997. In 1992, Frentzen raced in Japanese F3000 and the following year raced both Japanese Sports cars and F3000. Frentzen finished 4th for Jordan in 1999, 2nd in 1997 and 5th in 1998 for Williams, and 6th in 1996 and 1994 for Sauber. His highest grid position was 3rd in 1994. Tomas Enge has no experience at Suzuka.

Arrows are still 10th in the Constructors' Championship. Arrows have not scored a point at Suzuka since Derek Warwick's 6th position in 1989.

Jos Verstappen is still 19th in the Drivers' Championship. Verstappen stated: "I really like Suzuka. It's a great track and has some really good corners. 130R is a real challenge as you can take it almost flat out and the other quick corners like the 'S' curves are a lot of fun. It's a very challenging circuit for drivers so you need to make sure you're focused all the time as you can't aford to make a mistake anywhere. Last year was quite disappointing for me as I had to retire early on in the race. Hopefully I can get another good start and who knows where we will be!"

Verstappen has yet to score a point at Suzuka; his best finish was 11th in 1994 for Footwork and his highest grid position was also 11th in 2000.

Enrique Bernoldi confessed: "It will be my first time at Suzuka as I've never raced there before, but I know of the circuit and it looks quite challenging. There are some corners, like 130R, that look like they will be a real test of nerves, a bit like Eau Rouge at Spa, so I'm looking forward to getting in the car and learning the track. Obviously it's the last race of the season and will I do my best, so I hope I can finish the season on a positive note for the team."

Minardi look like they will receive the wooden spoon for the 2001 season and are bound for the 11th garage in the 2002 pitlane. Minardi haven't scored a point at Suzuka since Christian Fittipaldi's 6th place in 1992 and in last year's race Gaston Mazzacane was the last qualifier and finisher.

Fernando Alonso continues to make the Minardi PS1 do things it shouldn't be able to do, but the Japanese Grand Prix will be a first for the young Spaniard at Suzuka. Alex Yoong, on the other hand, has competed at Suzuka five times during the 2000 and 2001 Formula Nippon championship. Two of these races were on the short 2.78 km circuit and he has only completed one race on the 5.864 km Grand Prix circuit, finishing 11th after qualifying 10th in the season-opening Formula Nippon race of 2001.

The Japanese Grand Prix Preview in a Nutshell: