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Irvine: "Fuji is crap, worst possible place for a GP"

Discussion in 'F1' started by maxorido, Oct 10, 2008.

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  1. maxorido

    maxorido Formula 3

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    #1 maxorido, Oct 10, 2008
    Former Formula 1 star Eddie Irvine has branded Fuji Speedway – home to this weekend's Japanese Grand Prix – ‘a crap circuit' and ‘the worst place possible to have a grand prix', as he insisted the race should never have been taken away from Suzuka.

    Irvine – who competed in 147 races in the top flight from 1993 until 2002, finishing runner-up in the F1 World Championship with Ferrari to McLaren-Mercedes' Mika Hakkinen in 1999 – spent much of his formative career in Japan, and as such knows the circuits well.

    Whilst Suzuka – a perennial favourite amongst drivers for its challenging nature – welcomed the sport from 1987 until 2006 without exception, Fuji regained the race last year, and from 2009 will alternate with Suzuka every season.


    The 2007 Japanese Grand Prix was notable for a heavy deluge that saw the field spend the first 19 laps behind the safety car – during which Red Bull Racing's Mark Webber and Scuderia Toro Rosso's Sebastian Vettel collided with each other – as well as an earthquake not long after the chequered flag had fallen.

    Irvine claims the return to Fuji – which was originally designated the home of the Japanese Grand Prix back in 1976, only for the venue to be stripped of that privilege just over a year later following a fatal accident that killed two spectators, and was subsequently re-designed by Hermann Tilke and bought by Japanese car giant Toyota – was motivated by solely monetary reasons, and that the switch had been a big mistake.

    “To move it because of money to a very average circuit like Fuji is very disappointing,” the famously outspoken Ulsterman told Virgin Media.

    “To me, Fuji is a crap circuit. It's a horrible, boring place in the middle of nowhere. The weather is usually horrible and it's just the worst possible place to have a grand prix.

    “You have to say that Fuji does not add to Formula 1.”

    http://www.crash.net/motorsport/f1/news/170242-0/irvine__%27cr*p%27_fuji_%27worst_place_to_have_a_gp%27.html

    Bravo Eddie! I agree completely. The one and only reason why it was interesting last year was because of the immense rain. The track is boring, awkward and doesn't flow very well at all.
     
  2. tactical

    tactical Guest

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    #2 tactical, Oct 11, 2008
    Always loved the guys style, says whats on his mind. Fantastic!
     
  3. Roberto Japanini

    Roberto Japanini Rookie

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    #3 Roberto Japanini, Oct 11, 2008
    Yeah, but it's kicks ass as a place to go for cheap, safe track days!
     
  4. Anthony_Ferrari

    Anthony_Ferrari Formula 3

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    #4 Anthony_Ferrari, Oct 11, 2008
    To be fair most circuits are crap when compared to Suzuka. There are circuits worse than Fuji, but Suzuka is definately in a different class.
     
  5. RP

    RP F1 World Champ

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    #5 RP, Oct 11, 2008
    At least there is the possibility of on track passing at Fuji compared to Valencia and Singapore. I always thought that was the nature of racing.

    And I like Eddie, but I would not go so far as to call him a "star".
     
  6. tifosi12

    tifosi12 Four Time F1 World Champ
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    #6 tifosi12, Oct 11, 2008
    Last edited: Oct 11, 2008
    Right, that honor is reserved for your ace Massa...

    +1

    And Eddie is right of course, Fuji is a boring track and it is in the middle of nowhere. However I do like the bad weather as it is another monkey wrench in the equation, mount Fuji looks spectacular and Suzuka is also hard to get to (not as hard as Fuji, but still no walk in the park).
     
  7. GTE

    GTE F1 World Champ

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    #7 GTE, Oct 11, 2008
    It was utter nonsense to scrap Suzuka in favor of Fuji (allthough we return next year and swap tracks from then on). But then again, it is utter nonsense to scrap Montreal, and to butcher the old Hockenheimring in another Tilke-grandstand fest.
     
  8. tifosi12

    tifosi12 Four Time F1 World Champ
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    #8 tifosi12, Oct 11, 2008
    +1

    However this isn't really a new trend:

    It was utter nonsense to scrap Brands Hatch in favor of Silverstone, Dijon in favor of Paul Ricard, Paul Ricard in favor of Magny Cours and to butcher the old Zeltweg track into the A1.

    "Progress" happens.

    What gets me really ticked off are journos who applaud this charlatan Tilke. He did one good job in Turkey, but everything else is total crap. The man has no clue what makes an race track interesting, allows passing etc. He does spectacular grandstands and pits, but he should leave the track layout to somebody else (I'm raising my hand).
     
  9. GTE

    GTE F1 World Champ

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    #9 GTE, Oct 11, 2008

    mother nature would get my vote ;)
     
  10. Remy Zero

    Remy Zero Two Time F1 World Champ

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    #10 Remy Zero, Oct 11, 2008
    why the hell did they even move it from Suzuka the 1st place? i find Fuji just weird. no sequence in corners, a long useless straight, and a really silly last corner.
     
  11. tifosi12

    tifosi12 Four Time F1 World Champ
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    #11 tifosi12, Oct 11, 2008
    Honda vs Suzuki

    I forgot which track is owned by what Japanese car manufacturer, but that's basically the reason: The other company wanted to have their own home turf and bought Fuji and brought it up to F1 specs.

    PS: I believe Suzuka belongs to Honda and Fuji to Toyota, but I really don't care. They both make only boring vehicles.
     
  12. Remy Zero

    Remy Zero Two Time F1 World Champ

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    #12 Remy Zero, Oct 11, 2008
    oh yea..i forgot. another case of $$$ wins.

    but seriously, Suzuka is a legendary circuit. but then again, if Bernie can scrap interesting venues like Spa and Montreal, what is Suzuka for him?
     
  13. tifosi12

    tifosi12 Four Time F1 World Champ
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    #13 tifosi12, Oct 11, 2008
    Hmm, careful with the legendary circuit argument. Fuji is a legend in its own right. Not sure on this, but it might have been around longer than Suzuka. Remember the title clincher 1976 Hunt vs Lauda?
     
  14. racerx3317

    racerx3317 F1 Veteran

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    #14 racerx3317, Oct 12, 2008
    Eddie is right. I'm not a big fan of Fuji. I understand the drivers don't like it much either, except maybe Hamilton. I tried it on a playstation game and I hated it.
     
  15. Az330im

    Az330im Karting

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    #15 Az330im, Oct 12, 2008
    Fuji is such a boring circuit, even while watching the race I was wishing for Suzuka to be brought back...
     
  16. ItaliaF1

    ItaliaF1 F1 Veteran

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    #16 ItaliaF1, Oct 12, 2008
    +1

    I can't wait to see Suzuka back next year.
     
  17. maxorido

    maxorido Formula 3

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    #17 maxorido, Oct 12, 2008
    You guys remember Aida circuit? That was an interesting one, more naturally flowing than the artificial and abrupt Fuji.
     
  18. Remy Zero

    Remy Zero Two Time F1 World Champ

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    #18 Remy Zero, Oct 13, 2008
    yea..it was raining. but that was the old Fuji. the last corner was pretty similiar to the Parabolica.

    but this current one is pure nonsense.
     
  19. smart_alek

    smart_alek Formula Junior

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    #19 smart_alek, Oct 13, 2008
    I believe they are switching year to year, aren't they?
     
  20. rmani

    rmani F1 Veteran
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    #20 rmani, Oct 13, 2008
    +1

    i love the scenery at fuji and we saw some decent action this last race so you'll hear no complaints from me. the two best tracks are probably spa and suzuka though.
     
  21. James_Woods

    James_Woods F1 World Champ

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    #21 James_Woods, Oct 13, 2008
    Wonder what he thought of Singapore?

    I heard the boys on Speed GP praising Singapore as one of the seven wonders of the modern world, though - David Hobbs actually said "well, the drivers dont like it because it hard to pass there, but everybody else thinks it was wonderful."

    Go figure.
     
  22. Jay GT4

    Jay GT4 F1 Rookie

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    #22 Jay GT4, Oct 13, 2008
    Really, how would David Hobbs know? He's sitting in the US watching the race on TV and commentating on the same feed as us! That's why I love watching the ITV feed or if I'm lucky the Italian feed, so much more informative and with people who are actually at the track!

    PS bring back Montreal!
     
  23. starboy444

    starboy444 F1 Veteran

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    #23 starboy444, Oct 13, 2008
    What about San Marino?

    The Imola circuit is loved by F1 and Motorcycle racers alike.

    Its a shame that it has been removed.

    PS. Bring back Montreal! ......Canada seems to be the only Country with a steady economy these days!
     
  24. Mr Payne

    Mr Payne F1 Rookie

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    #24 Mr Payne, Oct 13, 2008
    Obviously not as good as Suzuka, but still quite entertaining.
     

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