Formula One Grand Prix Through Tokyo Streets?

[Mulboyne]

Sponichi (Japanese) carries a Kyodo article that F1 honcho Bernie Ecclestone said yesterday that he would like to hold an event in the centre of Tokyo. After many years at Suzuka, the Japanese Grand Prix was moved to Fuji Speedway for the 2007 season but Ecclestone indicated that a city centre project would be separate from the existing circuit event. He was on record last month saying that such races were likely to be the future of racing and this new report claims that Ecclestone would like to speak with Japanese organizers to discuss the feasability of such a plan. A similar idea was floated some years ago although the focus was mainly on slower Formula 3 cars.

[DrP]

Race around the palace. At least it would sound better than the black trucks that parade around there. In fact, they could just use the same circuit - the Japanese police already have all the roadblocks and monitoring processes in place.

[madfuku]

That would be neat, an F car smashing through some store in Shinjuku. But seriously, I'd love to see that in Tokyo, not my city

[IkemenTommy]

In Tokyo? Good luck.

[Kuang_Grade]

That would be neat, an F car smashing through some store in Shinjuku. But seriously, I'd love to see that in Tokyo, not my city

While not as quite as good as real life nor is it open wheel racing, but Project Gotham Racing 3 does a pretty good job on the Shinjuku track

[Kanchou]

The Gran Turismo series has the Tokyo Route 246 course, which I beleive actually contains Meiji Douri or whatever street goes past the palace (at least, I recognize the walls from the actual location), as well as a few branches of the Shutokou... it's one of my favorite tracks in the game.

Of course, traffic is bad in Tokyo on any normal day, much more so with 3-4 kilos of it's major streets cordoned off...

[Mulboyne]

This article suggests Odaiba as a possible urban location:

Night race and urban race in Asia are in focus

Toyota is almost certain to become the world largest car producer, surpassing GM in terms of the number cars produced. But its F1 team is not doing well. The company is certain to want to wipe off the bad reputation about its racing team. As far as Toyota is concerned, it has the right to be proud of protecting Japan's motor race tradition by reforming the Fuji Speedway, that would have been certain to be closed if nothing had been done. Also, it did a favor for Honda by saving the Suzuka Circuit from the pinch.

Initially, Toyota started to make efforts for supporting the F1 races to improve its brand image in Europe, where the F1 races are highly popular. But popularity for F1 races are also being heightening in Asia. Besides Japan, the races are hosted by Malaysia, China and Bahrain. Furthermore, F1 races are to be held in Singapore in 2008 and in South Korea in 2010. In the Middle East, United Arab Emirates is to host the race in 2009. Also, India is a candidate host country for the race.

The United States gave up hosting the race in 2008. But the hosting of F1 races keeps moving from the West European-centered to worldwide. The hosting places are expanding to countries providing main auto markets, including developing countries. For Toyota, which has attained the top places in the world in terms of car production and sales, holding of F1 races is becoming its big billboard. About the holding of F1 races, the FOA is pushing for night races and urban races in the Asian region.

The holding of night races is a solution to the problem of the time difference between Asia and Europe. The start of the F1 championship races in Asia in daytime would be early in the morning in Europe. This problems has to be solved in order to increase television viewers of the races in Europe. The conducting of the races in urban areas would not only help attracting more viewers to the courses but also it gives more thrill. A night race will be held for the first time in the F1 history in Singapore, and the FOA is interested in holding of a race in the central Tokyo area. In this case, it insists it is all right to count night races out of the "holding of race once by one country" rule.

Looking at Odaiba where Fuji Television is based

Hosting a F1 race twice a year, Japan will become a center for disseminating information concerning F1 Grands Prix. Time will come when Hyundai of South Korea and other automakers of China and India participate in F1 races. Toyota and Honda have the desire of winning the races as a matter of course. What they feel more strongly, however, is that they might lose the effectiveness of their brands unless Japan gains stronger position in Asia. As Toyota surpasses GM, day may come when Hyundai and Chinese carmakers beat Toyota. To continue to be the No. 1 brand in Asia, it is necessary to keep Japan's position at a high place in the motor sports world.

Against this background, Toyota has turned its attention to the Odaiba reclaimed land in the Tokyo subcenter off the Tokyo Bay coast. The main office of Fuji Television, which holds the right to televise the races in Japan, is located on Odaiba. Fuji Television is also interested in hosting F1 races on Odaiba. The city of Tokyo has also sought the possibility of hosting the Grand Prix at one time. By holding the Tokyo Marathon later, the city is beginning to acquire the know-how of controlling heavy traffic over a wide area.

To actually to host F1 Grands Prix, however, it is important to gain understanding from other F1 teams. For this, it is imperative to get cooperation from Honda, which has left strong marks in the world's F1 races. Even if F1 races are held on Odaiba, it would be difficult for Toyota to bear the responsibility for the needed funds and manpower by itself. Holding of F1 races on Odaiba will become possible by gaining cooperation from Honda. Toyota is aiming at appealing to the world the superior Toyota brand by having its F1 team standing on the daises at both the Fuji Speedway and the Odaiba course.

[Mulboyne]

BBC: F1 supremo plans Japan night race

Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone has revealed he hopes to turn the Japanese Grand Prix into a night race. Singapore will host the sport's first night race this weekend in a move made to satisfy European television viewers. And asked if more floodlit races were planned, Ecclestone told BBC Radio 5 Live: "If we have more races in this part of the world, yes. "We're going to try to get Japan to do it. I hope when people see Singapore they realise it wasn't a stupid idea"...more...