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An ode to Suzuka

March 28th, 2006

It is now official that Suzuka, voted the second most favorite track by fans all over the world is out of F1. Hearing the news, I couldn’t help but think of some of the fine moments of racing that Suzuka has given us.

With Honda signing on a deal to supply engines to Sir Frank, the Japanese Grand Prix was reinstated to Suzuka in 1987. Shaped like an eight, she is an interesting track, with some very fast corners, and some extremely slow ones. The most exciting of them is the 130R, a 130-meter radius turn starting past the Crossover.A turn often compared to Spa’s famed Eau Rouge turn, the fine-sweeping left-handed curve used to literally slingshot F1 cars into the last corner. But dramatic accidents and an increasing concern for safety would mean that the 130-R would be disrupted by a tight chicane.

Suzuka first hosted the Japanese GP in the year 1987. The event started off with a bang, literally! Nigel Mansell, the title hopeful crashed his machine, and thus handed over the crown to Piquet. It was Piquet’s third and final World Championship.

The word “Suzuka” also brings to mind the legendary battles between two of the greatest doyens of the sport, namely Alain Prost and the late great Ayrton Senna. In 1989, the McLaren team mates came into Suzuka, knowing very well that post-Suzuka, one of them would be World Champion at the cost of the other. In a dramatic incident, Prost collided with Senna, and amid heavy controversy, took the title. An angered Ayrton would then wait until the 1990 edition of the event, where he would crash into Prost and take the title, thereby evening out his score with the Frenchman.

In 1992, Partese took his final victory in a career that spanned no fewer than two hundred and fifty six races. In 1993, Ayrton Senna would score his penultimate victory, after a fracas with rookie Eddie Irvine who overtook the legend even after being lapped. In 1994, a rain-marred event, Damon Hill took what would have to be rated as his toughest victory ever.

In the late 1990’s, Mika Hakkinen and Michael Schumacher had their share of battles at this track. Hakkinen won at Suzuka in 1998 and 1999 although Michael Schumacher has a much better record at the venue. Schumacher won in 1995, 1997, 2000,2001,2002 and 2004, thus becoming the most successful driver at Suzuka.

The beggining of this century was a Scuderia style blood-bath. But the race in 2005 was a pleasant change, with Raikkonen rocketing from the back of the pack to emerge the winner. But then, the race would be remembered best for the 2005 champion Fernando Alonso’s superb move on Michael Schumacher at 130-R, in what would have to be termed as “ba*ls out racing”.Clearly, the Spaniard is all set to stamp his authority on F1.

I put down my pen, hoping that one day this amazing track would return to the Formula One calendar, for without a glimpse of this beautiful track, one does not get the feeling that the season has finally ended!

May Suzuka not rest in peace, and may Formula One cars thunder over her in the near future, and may fans flock to her glorious stands by the hundreds of thousands.

Entry Filed under: Formula 1