The Japanese Grand Prix has moved back from Fuji to Suzuka this year. Although Fuji will always be remembered for the downpours that greeted the 1976 and 2007 F1 races, Suzuka has had its share of wet weather as well.
Very heavy rain fell in 1994, almost causing the race to be abandoned. And showers hit the races in 1988, 1995 and 2000. In 2004 qualifying had to be moved after typhoon Ma-on hit the circuit on Saturday.
There is rain in the area at the moment and it is expected to remain until Friday at least. There is a reduced chance that further rain could liven up qualifying on Saturday, but early indications are that race day will remain dry. We’ll know more as we get closer to the day.
In the run-up to the sessions, keep an eye on this satellite graphic to see how rain could affect the race. See below for the location of Suzuka:
If you’re in the area this weekend, please let us know what the weather is like in the comments.
Update: Heavy rain falling at the track two hours before the start of first practice.
Red Andy
1st October 2009, 8:08
Some unfortunate seismic activity going on in the Pacific at the moment too. Jon Noble said there were tsunami warnings along the eastern coast of Japan yesterday.
steph90
1st October 2009, 10:44
Awful what’s happened in the pacific so far this week.
It does always seem that when rain is precidted it happens the Friday and Saturday and we get a dry race now. We haven’t seen a wet race since the beginning of the year I think.
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
1st October 2009, 23:54
Two hours before the start of first practice and there is heavy rain at the track.