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On October 24, 1976 Fuji hosted the first Grand Prix of Japan. The race became a legend through the conclusion of the fabulous duel that year between Niki Lauda (Ferrari) and James Hunt (McLaren). In the rain, Niki Lauda, the  leader in the championship, decided to voluntarily withdraw on the second lap. Mario Andretti (Lotus) won the race and James Hunt finished third, winning the title with a one point lead. Subsequently, three other runnings of the Japanese Grand Prix were held at Fuji in 1977, 2007 and 2008, respectively won by James Hunt (McLaren), Lewis Hamilton (McLaren) and Fernando Alonso (Renault).

Meanwhile, on 7 November 1999, the Fuji International Speedway hosted the first endurance race held in Asia by the Automobile Club de l'Ouest. Run over 1000 kilometres, it was won by the Nissan R391 of Erik Comas, Satoshi Motoyama and Masami Kageyama from the Toyota GT-One of Ukyo Katayama, Keiichi Tsuchiya and Toshio Suzuki, who finished second in the 24 Hours of Le Mans that year. Winner in the Sarthe in 1998, Stéphane Ortelli originally led the 1000 km of Fuji in a Porsche 911 GT2, but was forced to retire. Fourth driving a Viper GTS-R, Seiji Ara won the 24 Hours in 2004 in an Audi R8, with Dindo Capello and Tom Kristensen.

Among the drivers entered in the 6 Hours of Fuji this year, three have raced on the circuit in  Formula 1 in 2007: Giancarlo Fisichella was fifth for Renault and Vitantonio Liuzzi in a Toro Rosso came ninth, while Anthony Davidson (Super Aguri) and Alexander Wurz (Williams) had been forced to retire.

Click HERE to learn more about the 6 Hours of Fuji, the sixth round of the FIA World Endurance Championship in  2013.

Jean-Philippe Doret / ACO - Translated by Tony Light/ACO

Photo: Oyama, Prefecture of SHINOZUKA (JAPAN), FUJI INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY, 1000 KM OF FUJI, November 7, 1999. The 1,000 km of Fuji in 1999 was run in very wet conditions. At the right of the picture, the Nissan R391 was victorious.