The best viewpoints at Fuji Speedway

Join the World Endurance Championship (WEC) as the calendar heads to Japan’s iconic Fuji Speedway.

A paradise for motorsport enthusiasts, the Speedway sits at the base of Mount Fuji – an active volcano. The sweeping circuit has many twists, turns, and exciting corners – providing plenty of exhilarating, adrenaline-fuelled action.

You might find yourself enthralled by the various viewpoints this track offers, as well as the picturesque natural surroundings of Oyama. A hotspot for those who love nature, your senses can’t help but fall captive to the beauty all around you.

One of the best viewing options includes the Grandstand – a spectator area that holds over 22,000 visitors. The Grandstand lines up along the middle of one of the longest start/finish straights in the world at just under 1.5 miles – where cars can get up to 180 mph or more.

You also have 10 platinum rooms – a space for yourself and up to 30 guests. Or get the all-star treatment at one of the circuit’s VIP boxes.

Jump straight to a section:

• Where is Fuji Speedway?
• What races are Fuji Speedway used in?
• Where are the best places to watch the action at Fuji?
• How do I get to Fuji Speedway? 

Where is Fuji Speedway?

The Fuji Speedway track is in Oyama, Japan – sitting within the Sunto District in the Shizuoka Prefecture. It’s not too far from the capital,
Tokyo. It takes around one hour and 15 mins to drive your Hertz car rental there from Japan’s capital city.

The circuit sits at the base of the spellbinding Mount Fuji. It has an absorbing natural beauty and is a cultural site on the World Heritage list.  The speedway is surrounded by welcoming cities like Gotemba, Fujiyoshida, Fujinomiya and of course Fuji, offering travelers a mix of ancient and modern Japanese culture. It also has five beautiful surrounding lakes - Lake Kawaguchi, Lake Yamanaka, Lake Sai, Lake Motosu and Lake Shōji.

Let’s buckle up and speed ahead to find out more about this legendary circuit.

What races happen at Fuji Speedway?

It’s not just the WEC that takes place at the track. You can also watch Super GT, Super Formula, and FRJC cars hitting the pedal to the metal here too. Formula One also had a short stint at the Fuji Speedway while its regular home at the south-island Suzuka Raceway underwent work.

The old Fuji Speedway layout, used from 1974 to 1983, is a little different to how the track is today. The track has been revamped several times, most recently in 2005, to make it safer - with a slower third sector featuring more corners.

Where are the best places to watch the action at Fuji? 

Fuji Speedway consists of several key turns and some longer, high-speed sections. The designated general spectator area allows you to explore various sections of the whole circuit, so you should be able to pick your spot and get a great view of the action. Let’s look at each one in order:

Start/Finish

Located right by the Grandstand, spectators can see the cars get off to a roaring start. At the start of the race space will be tight here, so don’t expect to see tons of overtaking just yet. However, starting at lap two, there should be plenty of high-speed jostling for position in the run-up to the first corner. This is one of the longest straights in motorsport, but the start/finish line is three-quarters of the way along. If you’re into high-speed straights, a similar part of the track is the slight right-hand straight of 300R (more on this later).

First Corner

See cars under heavy braking as they enter this first turn, coming at the end of the long straight. It’s a sharp hairpin turn so expect to see lots of heavy decelerations here. It’s a common overtaking spot as cars can streamline behind those in front and then pull out to out-brake the opponent around the outside of the corner. From here you’ll be able to see the upcoming bend that leads into the next hairpin. A similar part of the track is the Netz Corner, a sharp right-hander after an extended period of high speed.

Coca-Cola Corner

Next up is Coca-Cola – the third turn of the circuit. It’s a moderately difficult left-hander that still requires some braking as the cars will have accelerated hard out of turn one. Don’t expect to see maximum speed here as drivers will need to slow down slightly before the next turn.

100R

This comes after the Coca-Cola corner. The 100R is a famous and beloved corner in the world of motorsport. A sweeping right-hander taken at speed as cars try to outrun one another and test the limits of grip and downforce.

Brave drivers might try to pass by drifting off the racing line, but this dirtier part of the track can cause racers to spin out. It’s a golden overtaking
opportunity, as the curve is long and fast. The upcoming hairpin then becomes visible as the right turn enters its completion.

Hairpin

A sharp left turn located between 100R and 300R. Cars will be braking hard at this point as they aim to navigate smoothly around the corner. Overtaking might be rare as it’s quite risky, but not impossible as cars brake from the high speeds of 100R into a tight, jinking left-hand hairpin.

Watching the action here might offer similar views to First Corner, in that cars are coming in at high speed into a slow, tight bend. From here you’ll also be able to see the famous 300R bending off into the distance.

300R

This stretched-out, gradual right turn is between the hairpin and Dunlop Corner. The cars will be going at high speed as they sweep through 300R, hugging the outside for the racing line – and then wanting to swing in wide right into the tight, tricky Dunlop corner. Expect to see lots of cars trying to overtake each other here.

Dunlop Corner

We’re entering the slower, uphill part of the circuit here as we approach the stadium section. Quick reactions are needed as drivers slalom right, left and then right again. Racers will be attempting to stay with the driver in front to ensure they’ve got a good run-up into turn 13.

Netz

Towards the end of the track is Netz. This is a tightening left-hander that comes immediately after a previous right turn of Corner 13 turn. Expect patient and steady driving here, with drivers looking to maintain speed in the run-up to the final corner and the start/finish straight.

Clearly visible from this viewpoint is the upcoming Panasonic Corner, as well as the previous Corner 13, so you’ll get a good shot of the racing.

Panasonic Corner

Panasonic Corner is part of the old, banked turn designed to be akin to the oval circuits popular in North America. The cars sweep through at moderate speed, drifting to the outside of the track to get a good run out of the corner and onto the start/finish straight.

Drivers will want to be staying close to the car in front to get a good tow and try and catapult themselves around the driver in front.

How do I get to Fuji Speedway?

The nearest major city is the capital, Tokyo, which you can reach in just 90 minutes. The transport infrastructure in Japan is very good, although can be quite busy during peak times. The nearest major airport is Shizuoka Airport, also only an hour and a half away.

Trains usually take 2-3 hours from central Tokyo. It’s roughly a 65-mile trip from central Tokyo to the Fuji Speedway. You’ll be there in no time with your Hertz rental.

Summary

Mountainous views, close-up stands, and bendy twists and turns await you at the Fuji Speedway Track. This is a must-visit for motorsport enthusiasts, and fans of the WEC. With plenty of spots to pick from, from the sharp hairpin to the almost endlessly long straight, expect to see a wide range of endurance racing thrills and spills at Fuji.