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| Suzuka
- Japan |
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| Japanese
Grand Prix - 12 October 2003 |
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| Race
Distance : |
310.596km
/ 192.995m |
| Number
of Laps : |
53 |
| Lap
Distance : |
5.864km
/ 3.644m |
| Lap
Record : |
R.
Schumacher 1.36.944 |
| Qualifying
: |
13:00
- Oct 12/2002 |
| Race
: |
14:00
- Oct 13/2002 |
|
| The
start is downhill and this can help
cars get away. Indeed, in 1988, it
helped Ayrton Senna get away after
he stalled just before the go
signal. Once away, the cars approach
First Curve flat out in top gear at
speeds of up to 190 mph with a
change down to 5th and 150 mph into
the bend and into a second curve
that is much tighter than the first
and can only be negotiated in 3rd
with speed dropping to 95 mph. |
| The
S Curve is a left-right-left-right
combination that severely taxes any
car that is not well balanced. It
can usually be taken all the way
through in 4th. The sequence is
entered at 135 mph, dropping to 85
mph on exit of the final curve. On
exiting, the S Curve's 4th gear is
maintained for the approach to the
Dunlop Curve. This long left-hander
is extremely bumpy with plenty of
understeer at 135 mph. |
| Accelerating
to 160 mph, the Degner Curve is a
tight right-hander that is taken in
4th gear at 120 mph, down to 3rd as
the second part of the corner
becomes tighter still, and then
generally exited with the use of the
kerb. Then it is up to top gear at
170 mph to go under the bridge where
the course crosses itself to the
Hairpin Curve. This is guarded by a
short right-hander which slows the
cars, but then they have to get down
very quickly to 2nd gear for the 45
mph hairpin. Out of the hairpin the
circuit curves to the right and on
completion of the curve the majority
of cars will be in top gear at 170
mph. |
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