The envirnment makes the track very special - Sutil
In advance of this week’s Japanese Grand Prix, the Etihad Aldar Spyker Formula One Team driver Adrian Sutil previews the race at Fuji Speedway. Sutil is one of the few F1 drivers that has driven at Fuji, so this might turn out in his advantage.
"I think it’s very good that F1 is going there. The area surrounding the circuit is very nice, and the circuit is also a special track. It has a long straight, and also very tricky middle and last sectors. It’s hard to find the right balance, because you need to be quick on the straights, but you need downforce for the last corners. In general I really like it. The last corner is really good, as you go straight towards Mount Fuji, and you see it right in front of you. The environment around it makes the track very special."
Fuji has the longest straight on the calendar at 1.5km. Is there any way you can you compare the straight with Barcelona or Monza?"It’s like in Monza, I would say. Normally Fuji is a low downforce track, but for sure we’ll see some cars running higher levels just trying to gain some time in the middle and last sector, but in general it’ll be a low downforce set-up similar to Spa."
How many races did you do there in 2006?"I had many F3 races and many tests there, so it’s like my second home track! The experience will help as I know which parts are important and how you set up the car there, what the benefits are and so on. I think it’s very good to know about driving this circuit because it’s not easy, and there are some special corners where you really have to be very smooth and not push, because otherwise you will be slow. I hope it will be an advantage."
Last year you lived in nearby Gotemba, the town closest to the track. Do you really know your way around?"I know the area, and I know some friends there, so it will be nice to come back. I won’t be staying in my old apartment though – I’ll be in a hotel this time, I think it’s probably more safe with the traffic! There’s only way from Tokyo to Gotemba, so it’s quite hard with the traffic. But we have many tracks where the traffic is bad, so it shouldn’t be anything out of the ordinary."
And you still have some friends there?"Yes, I have many fans there, so I will see them again and I still get letters and presents from them most weeks. They were very friendly and I really enjoyed meeting them last year at the Japanese Grand Prix as well. I always make some time for them."
