By BMW Sauber F1 Team
October 5 2006

Though the 2007 Formula One calendar has not yet been officially announced by the FIA, it is almost certain that Japan's Fuji circuit will make its comeback. The organisers expect the race to be a true highlight. Though the 2007 Formula One calendar has not yet been officially announced by the FIA, it is almost certain that Japan's Fuji circuit will make its comeback. The organisers expect the race to be a true highlight.

According to Hiroaki Kato, President of the "Fuji International Speedway", some 300,000 spectators are expected to attend the race weekend at the circuit, located at the foot of Mount Fuji. On Sunday alone, Kato expects 140,000 visitors to come to witness the race.

Under the guidance of German circuit architect Hermann Tilke, the circuit was massively revamped between 2002 and 2005. Now, the track provides one of the longest straights on the Formula One calendar (1.475 kilometres) and the cars are expected to accelerate to a top speed of 330 km/h.

Fuji will probably replace Suzuka as Japanese Grand Prix venue. The track hosted its last Grand Prix back in 1976 when a crash involving Ronnie Peterson and Gilles Villeneuve resulted in the death of two spectators, which in turn meant the end for Fuji as the GP venue - and the Japanese Grand Prix. Eleven years passed before Japan returned to the calendar, in 1987, with Suzuka being the new venue for the race.