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Soichiro Honda decided to develop new permanent circuit in Mie prefecture on late 1950s. Designed as a Honda test track in 1962 by Dutchman John Hans Hugenholtz, Suzuka is one of few circuits in the world to have a figure-8 layout, with the 1.2 km back straight passing over the front section by means of an overpass. The circuit can be used in five configurations; the car full circuit, the motorcycle full circuit, the Suzuka east, Suzuka west car and Suzuka west motorcycle configurations. The east portion of the course consists of the pit straight to the first half of the Dunlop curve (turn seven), before leading back to the pit straight via a tight right-hander. The west course is made up of the other part of the full circuit, including the crossover bridge; the straight leading to the overpass is used for the start/finish line and the grid. The chicane between the hairpin and 200R separates the west and full course sections between cars and motorcycles. The Degner curve was named in honour of Ernst Degner after he crashed his factory Suzuki 50 there during Suzuka`s inaugural All Japan Championship Road Race meeting on 3 November 1962. |
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