35 replies to this topic

[Ali_G]

An article in autopsort a few weeks ago got me thinking. Its just the what happen 10 , 20 years ago article. It went on aobut how Schumacher won for Sauber at Autopolis in the WSCC.

But here's my question. If I remember gihtly back about 10 years ago wasn't Autopolis supposed to be the next big track. Wasn't F1 supposed to have a race their. To be honest I have heard nothing about it sense. Even when I watch F NIPPON they never seem to be racing there.

Any info about the place.

I can't find any track website.

Niall

[mhferrari]

They even advertised on the Benettons. I believe it was a candidate for being a Grand Prix track, however it never became one and I think it is used for sports car races and I thought they might race on it for Formula Nippon, but I guess they do not.

[Ali_G]

I remember this track being a big big contender for a GP.

But I also remember teh same of Zughai a few years. And look what happened to that place.

Niall

[mhferrari]

You mean Zhuhai?
Yes, in fact, I think one year, Road & Track had it on the schedule for the Chinese GP.

[ehagar]

The developer, industrialist Tomonori Tsuruaki intended it to be a grand prix circuit... it was a place of excesses... 46 garages, spectator enclosures for 100,000 people, luxury hotel, expensive restaurants, an art gallery, two olympic flames, a revolving mirror tower that reflected sunlight on the craters....

It was all built upon an extinct volcano, in the middle of nowhere. It was as though it were out of a James Bond movie....

But Tsuruaki owed contractors a lot of money, and the road going into the place was never completed.... the place still exits, but only holds a few national races.

I've seen a few pictures on the web, alll Japanese websites mind you. Here is one:

http://www.coara.or.jp/~auto

[911]

My goodness, I just had a major flashback! I had forgotten about that track, Ali G. I remember they made a big deal about Autopolis in the early '90s. There was a big Autopolis logo on the sidepods of Benetton.

911

[Rob29]

Just shows how stupid it is to build circuits in the middle of nowhere.There was also the TI Aida circuit,another Japanese industrialists dream which only managed 2 Asian GPs. No one goes to Zuhai either as the average Chinese is lucky to own a bke.

[Ali_G]

Trackwize it didn't look that bad. I've never seen a race there at all though. Just the track configuration.

But how come it never got a GP. You'd think someone else would have taken it over by now.

BTW the TI circuit isn't that much of a failure. I think its a very old circuit and is still used by the F NIPPON and Japaneese GT Championships.

Niall

[clickhappy]

His name is actually Tomonori Tsurumaki.

He was robbed of $250,000 US in cash and jewels at the Portugese Grand Prix in 1992.

He eventually went to jail for some sort of securities fraud.

[FEV]

Don't have the details under my eyes but I seem to remember that there was a mafia story behind Autopolis' desmise...
Ehagar, are you sure some races are still held there ? I'm quite sure it is totally abandonned. JGTCC, F3 and F.Nippon don't go there so how do could the current owners find money to run such a modern complex with only club racing ?

Tanaka International at Aida didn't have the same ambitions. It was just Mr Takagi's private circuit and he was just rich enough to buy a couple of races to BE.

[Ali_G]

I heard that hte TI circuit was generally just used for Club Racing anyways.

Often heard that for most of the time it was just very wealthy people testing out their new racing cars there.

Shocking to hear that Autopolis isn't used anymore.

Niall

[Slyder]

I remember well that the tentative schedule in 1993 had a GP of Asia, in Autopolis, but the plans never materialized.

Japanese are weird, they built their circuits in the middle of nowhere, it still bothers me.

Autopolis
Aida
Twing Ring Motegi

I don't know if Suzuka is in a town

[Dudley]

Isn't this the only time a track has sponsered a GP car? (I don't believe Minardi's sponsers "Sebring", have anything to do with the track)

[Indian Chief]

Originally posted by Ali_G
the TI circuit isn't that much of a failure. I think its a very old circuit and is still used by the F NIPPON and Japaneese GT Championships.

I am sure that Aida isn't used for Formula Nippon. Can someone explain why? It was too similar to Hungary but atleast the track had one long straight and a tight hairpin at the end, allowing some good overtaking.

[clickhappy]

Sebring makes exhaust systems for higher end and sports cars.

And Hondas

[lulup]

Autopolis circuit still exist.
What I know is the own company was bankruptcy a couple year ago(about 92).
Currently,the track and the facility are own by a private "country-club".

The last time I heard it hosted a big race is the opening round of JTCC 94.

[Rob29]

Autopolis also sponsored Giovanna Amati in F3000.
Suzuka is not in a city but I believe a train goes there direct from Tokyo.

[schuy]

ciao,

Isn't this the only time a track has sponsered a GP car? (I don't believe Minardi's sponsers "Sebring", have anything to do with the track)

Sauber ran Malyasia logo's, in the debut season, for the sepang track.
if i am not mistaken, yeh?

ciao,
Liran Biderman.

[Dudley]

That was nothing to do with Sepang, the Malaysia tourist board sponsered Stewart in 1997 as well.

[Ali_G]

Could anyone get a few pictures of this track for me. I can't get any off of any search engine.

Ehagar: your website is bafelling to me. I can only find 1 pic there. Pitty I can't spead japaneese:)

Niall

[lustigson]

I found a track map at Google. Here it is.

[SB]

About Zhuhai circuit -

The circuit was "finished" in late 1995 -- which meant the track itself, a very simple pitlane and almost nothing else. The (over)optimistic Chinese offical and Ecclestone then said the Chinese GP would come "next one or two years". Of course the GP could not take place as the condition like that.

The facilities are built throughout these years and it becomes quite a proper race track now. I think there is a real chance to hold a GP 2 or 3 years later since I guess Ecclestone and other sponsors are very happy to show their logos in China.

SB

[ehagar]

Originally posted by Ali_G


Ehagar: your website is bafelling to me. I can only find 1 pic there. Pitty I can't spead japaneese:)

Niall

It used to have pictures of GT cars driving around the track.... might still be there somewhere, if you can understand the ??????????'s

[doohanOK]

JV went on a PR visit for sponsors (I think Rothmans) to Zhuhai three or four years back. From memory, he wasn't too impressed with the circuit.

regards,
doohanOK.

[armchair expert]

Suzuka is about 30 mins by train from Nagoya, which in turn is about 2 1/2 hrs by bullet train (Shinkasen) from Tokyo. As it is not on a frequently used line, they put on an extra service for the GP. Accommodation is relatively easy to find in Nagoya, there is a motel at the track, but not for mere minions such as myself. Tickets are a bit expensive but well worth it.

[Drinky]

Could anyone get a few pictures of this track for me.

There's a lovely pic of it here (from GEL World Track DB

[Witt]

Hmmm, looks like a magny cours clone (or should it be the other way around?). I'm very glad the Japanese GP never went there. There is already enough unchallenging tracks on the calendar, and to ditch Suzuka, one of the best challenges to the driver on the calendar, for Autopolis, would have been a most unforgiving thing to do.

[Ali_G]

My god that track is really in the middle of nowwhere.

[ehagar]

Originally posted by Witt
Hmmm, looks like a magny cours clone (or should it be the other way around?). I'm very glad the Japanese GP never went there. There is already enough unchallenging tracks on the calendar, and to ditch Suzuka, one of the best challenges to the driver on the calendar, for Autopolis, would have been a most unforgiving thing to do.

I disagree... fast and slow corners, real straights and 175 ft altitude variation.

Teo Fabi called it "a fantastic place, the best circuit in the world"

[Indian Chief]

Originally posted by Ali_G
My god that track is really in the middle of nowwhere.

Suzuka is in the middle of nowhere too. Its about 80 km from the nearest city, Nagoya.

[Ali_G]

Originally posted by Indian Chief


Suzuka is in the middle of nowhere too. Its about 80 km from the nearest city, Nagoya.

yeah but that looks like it was built up on a mountain top.

Niall

[Zeus]

Witt is right, it looks like the typical moden, turned-in-on-itself, anticeptic race track. In the mold of Sepang, Barcelona, Magny Cours. They make for good driving, but boring racing. It is quite a different animal from a proper road course. Think of the differance between Silverstone and Brands Hatch or the Indy F1 vs Watkins Glenn.

[William Hunt]

I think this Autopolis track is beautifull. It's a shame that it's almost never used. Does anyone know if there was competition on this track recently ?

[100cc]

looks like there were a lot of people going to see something when that picture was taken, all the parking lots are full?

[Hunt the Shunt Fan]

Originally posted by Ali_G
My god that track is really in the middle of nowwhere.

No it's not. It's right in the middle of the Himalayas

[Ali_G]

Originally posted by Hunt the Shunt Fan
No it's not. It's right in the middle of the Himalayas

I'm guessing drivers and cars have to supplied with O2 tanks to race there.

Niall