Super Formula - Autopolis
Autopolis
Display & Timezone
Display & Timezone
Showing times for Asia/Bangkok
Timezone
Asia - Bangkok
25 - 26 Apr
Completed
Autopolis International Racing Course
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Upcoming in Super Formula
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Suzuka 1
22 - 24 May
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Fuji 1
17 - 19 Jul
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SUGO
8 - 9 Aug
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Upcoming at Autopolis International Racing Course
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AUTOPOLIS
Super GT
17 - 18 Oct
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Track Info
Autopolis International Racing Course - Kamitsue, Ōita, Japan
High-altitude mountain circuit in Aso Kujū National Park - clockwise - 4.673 km Grand Prix course with 19 turns, ~52 m elevation change and a 902 m main straight
When was the track built?
Autopolis was built by financier Tomonori Tsurumaki at a reported $500m, opening in November 1990 with state-of-the-art facilities and grand ambitions to host Formula 1. Designed by ex-Honda F1 engineer Yoshitoshi Sakurai, the layout rolls over more than 50 m of elevation in the Aso mountains. The planned F1 "Asian GP" never materialised after financial troubles, but the circuit survived and thrives today under Kawasaki ownership.
When was its first race?
The venue’s first race weekend accompanied the November 1990 grand opening. Its first major international was the 1991 430 km of Autopolis in the World Sportscar Championship, won by Michael Schumacher and Karl Wendlinger for Sauber-Mercedes. Domestic top tiers like All-Japan F3000 followed from 1991.
What’s the circuit like?
- Mountain-air rhythm: Thin air and elevation make power and downforce management a storyline, with a generally downhill opening sector and uphill run home.
- Linked braking tests: A long main straight into a heavy stop, then mid-lap sequences that reward rotation without cooking rear tyres.
- Old-school commitment: Blind crests and off-camber entries keep drivers honest; small mistakes snowball through the final sector.
- Benchmark pace: Super Formula’s 1:26.960 race-lap is the modern ceiling; GT500 race laps sit in the low 1:35s on long runs.
Lap records and benchmarks (by series)
- Super Formula - race lap: 1:26.960 - Naoki Yamamoto, Dallara SF19, 2020.
- Group C - race lap: 1:30.615 - Yannick Dalmas, Peugeot 905 Evo 1 Bis, 1991 WSC.
- Formula Nippon - race lap: 1:29.994 - Hironobu Yasuda, Swift FN09, 2012.
- Super GT GT500 - race lap: 1:34.829 - Kenta Yamashita, Toyota GR Supra GT500, 2021.
- All-Japan F3000 - race lap: 1:34.225 - Mauro Martini, Lola T92/50, 1992.
- Super Formula - recent qualifying: 1:26.757 - Tomoki Nojiri, 2025 pole. Quali, not an official race-lap record.
Why go?
Autopolis serves up pure driver’s-circuit theatre: huge braking after long builds, medium-high speed sequences that reward commitment, and big strategic swings as tyres fade uphill late in stints. Super GT’s autumn date and Super Formula’s spring round bring stacked grids to a dramatic mountain backdrop.
Where’s the best place to watch?
- Main straight - T1 braking: Starts, restarts and the heaviest stop of the lap set up classic divebombs with pit action opposite.
- Mid-lap switchbacks: Great view of who can rotate the car without torching the rears as the circuit rises and falls.
- Final sector: Mistakes here decide the launch to the line; perfect for late-race drama and photo finishes.
Not just one series - headline events at Autopolis
Super GT: Regular October stop, most recently a 3-hour race on the 4.674 km GP course.
Super Formula & Super Formula Lights: Japan’s fastest single-seaters set the modern pace each spring.
MFJ Superbike & Super Taikyu: National two-wheel and endurance headliners round out a busy calendar.
World Sportscar Championship history: 1991 430 km of Autopolis capped the Group C era here.
Hotels & Accommodation
Autopolis
25 - 26 Apr
Completed
Autopolis International Racing Course
Track Info
Autopolis International Racing Course - Kamitsue, Ōita, Japan
High-altitude mountain circuit in Aso Kujū National Park - clockwise - 4.673 km Grand Prix course with 19 turns, ~52 m elevation change and a 902 m main straight
When was the track built?
Autopolis was built by financier Tomonori Tsurumaki at a reported $500m, opening in November 1990 with state-of-the-art facilities and grand ambitions to host Formula 1. Designed by ex-Honda F1 engineer Yoshitoshi Sakurai, the layout rolls over more than 50 m of elevation in the Aso mountains. The planned F1 "Asian GP" never materialised after financial troubles, but the circuit survived and thrives today under Kawasaki ownership.
When was its first race?
The venue’s first race weekend accompanied the November 1990 grand opening. Its first major international was the 1991 430 km of Autopolis in the World Sportscar Championship, won by Michael Schumacher and Karl Wendlinger for Sauber-Mercedes. Domestic top tiers like All-Japan F3000 followed from 1991.
What’s the circuit like?
- Mountain-air rhythm: Thin air and elevation make power and downforce management a storyline, with a generally downhill opening sector and uphill run home.
- Linked braking tests: A long main straight into a heavy stop, then mid-lap sequences that reward rotation without cooking rear tyres.
- Old-school commitment: Blind crests and off-camber entries keep drivers honest; small mistakes snowball through the final sector.
- Benchmark pace: Super Formula’s 1:26.960 race-lap is the modern ceiling; GT500 race laps sit in the low 1:35s on long runs.
Lap records and benchmarks (by series)
- Super Formula - race lap: 1:26.960 - Naoki Yamamoto, Dallara SF19, 2020.
- Group C - race lap: 1:30.615 - Yannick Dalmas, Peugeot 905 Evo 1 Bis, 1991 WSC.
- Formula Nippon - race lap: 1:29.994 - Hironobu Yasuda, Swift FN09, 2012.
- Super GT GT500 - race lap: 1:34.829 - Kenta Yamashita, Toyota GR Supra GT500, 2021.
- All-Japan F3000 - race lap: 1:34.225 - Mauro Martini, Lola T92/50, 1992.
- Super Formula - recent qualifying: 1:26.757 - Tomoki Nojiri, 2025 pole. Quali, not an official race-lap record.
Why go?
Autopolis serves up pure driver’s-circuit theatre: huge braking after long builds, medium-high speed sequences that reward commitment, and big strategic swings as tyres fade uphill late in stints. Super GT’s autumn date and Super Formula’s spring round bring stacked grids to a dramatic mountain backdrop.
Where’s the best place to watch?
- Main straight - T1 braking: Starts, restarts and the heaviest stop of the lap set up classic divebombs with pit action opposite.
- Mid-lap switchbacks: Great view of who can rotate the car without torching the rears as the circuit rises and falls.
- Final sector: Mistakes here decide the launch to the line; perfect for late-race drama and photo finishes.
Not just one series - headline events at Autopolis
Super GT: Regular October stop, most recently a 3-hour race on the 4.674 km GP course.
Super Formula & Super Formula Lights: Japan’s fastest single-seaters set the modern pace each spring.
MFJ Superbike & Super Taikyu: National two-wheel and endurance headliners round out a busy calendar.
World Sportscar Championship history: 1991 430 km of Autopolis capped the Group C era here.
