NAGOYA —

Toyota Motor Corp.‘s Fuji International Speedway Co. plans to no longer host the Formula One Japanese Grand Prix race at its circuit in Shizuoka Prefecture, sources familiar with the matter said Wednesday. Although Toyota plans to keep participating in the auto race, the Toyota unit will refrain from hosting the race in a bid to save costs, they said. Fuji International Speedway is expected to announce the plan within this month. The top Japanese automaker expects to post a large net loss for the second consecutive year in fiscal 2009 ending next March.

Fuji International Speedway and Honda Motor Co.‘s Suzuka Circuit in Mie Prefecture had agreed to alternately host the annual F1 Japanese Grand Prix. Suzuka Circuit is set to host this year’s race in October. After Fuji International Speedway’s withdrawal, Suzuka Circuit may sponsor the race every year, the sources said. Toyota acquired Fuji International Speedway close to Mt. Fuji in 2000 and invested some 20 billion yen in it before sponsoring the annual race in 2007 for the first time. It hosted the 2008 race as well.

Kyodo

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10 Comments

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  Sidwarwick at 07:54 AM JST - 2nd July

  Feels like one by one, the lights are going out in Japan.

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  JoeBigs at 08:35 AM JST - 2nd July

  It was a waste of money and a good business move at this time.

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  soldave at 08:41 AM JST - 2nd July

  Wonder how much they actually lose by hosting a race.

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  OneForAll at 08:42 AM JST - 2nd July

  Sidwarwick : Lights are going out all over the world. 6 Flags, Golf courses and who knows what else is disappearing or no being built during this recession.

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  societymike at 11:02 AM JST - 2nd July

  Actually, Toyota MAKES money by hosting an F1 race, but there is more to this then their PR announcement.

  Toyota let F1 race at the new "remodeled" Fuji Speedway a couple years ago. Their whole purpose was to entice F1 to add Fuji as a regular location for the F1 series Championship. F1, the teams, and drivers, loved the new Fuji Speedway however, they have stalled on adding it to the circuit. With Toyota no longer hosting it, will sort of force the hand of F1 to add Fuji as a regular stop in the series.

  There is more to it. If you follow F1, you have heard of how many teams are refusing to participate next year and start their own series due to retarded decisions in F1 leadership and new rules. This is also Toyota's way of protesting the new changes in F1. They will obviously bid to the NEW series to have Fuji added to it, thus getting what they want either way.

  Brilliant decision actually.

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  soldave at 12:48 PM JST - 2nd July

  societymike - Last news was that the breakway teams had reached agreement with the FIA and would be competing in Formula One next season.

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  Steve_O at 12:49 PM JST - 2nd July

  Incorrect. There is no break away series. Teams and FIA agreed to continue as is when Max Mosley stepped down. Fuji wont be bidding for the tier-2 championship as it does not exist.

  Toyota is not protesting it as there is nothing to protest.

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  societymike at 01:08 PM JST - 2nd July

  damn, i didn't know the teams changed their minds recently. So that still brings me back to my first comment, they still want F1 to use Fuji as a regular stop in the series, not just an "exibition" type of thing. It's the main reason they bought the track and rebuilt it in the first place.

  Such a beautiful track too, there is SOO much money in that place, the pits, grandstands, facilities, etc are top notch. Seating around the track is great too, relax on a grassy hill in high action areas, so good.

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  Steve_O at 01:45 PM JST - 2nd July

  Yeah a weird move for sure. Suppose when there is tradition involved such as Monaco, Suzuka etc then the want to keep them is higher. Weird move by Toyota for sure.

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  nandakandamanda at 01:55 PM JST - 2nd July

  Fuji Speedway is a beautiful location and a wonderful track.

  Unfortunately the area lacks convenient accommodations and access is terrible. Needs huge investment in infrastructure.

  The weather can be extreme there on the slopes of Mt Fuji.

  Still, this could be a political decision to force Honda's hand to carry some of the can.

  Or it could be an opportunity for Okayama International Circuit to host it again as in the early 90s.

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