Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[REPORT: Suzuka secures future of Japanese Grand Prix for three years]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/08/24/report-suzuka-secures-future-of-japanese-grand-prix-for-three-y/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/08/24/report-suzuka-secures-future-of-japanese-grand-prix-for-three-y/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/08/24/report-suzuka-secures-future-of-japanese-grand-prix-for-three-y/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



At the risk of sounding like the end of a cheesy kung-fu movie, the future of the Japanese Grand Prix is safe...for now. After Toyota confirmed it could no longer host the race at its Fuji Speedway, Honda has reportedly stepped up to secure a new deal with Bernie Ecclestone to hold the race at its Suzuka circuit for the next three years. Hiroshi Oshima, president of Honda's Mobilityland division met with Ecclestone in Valencia at the European Grand Prix this past weekend to sign the contract.

The Suzuka International Racing Course hosted the event twice in the early Sixties before the Japanese Grand Prix switched to Fuji. Suzuka hosted again from 1987 through 2006, after which an alternating agreement was signed between the two tracks. With Suzuka now set to host until 2011, Honda will hold the race but field no team, while Toyota continues to compete but host no race...for now.

[Source: Autosport | Image: Clive Mason/Getty]

REPORT: Suzuka secures future of Japanese Grand Prix for three years originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 24 Aug 2009 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bernie ecclestoneBernieEcclestoneecclestonef1formula 1formula oneFormula1FormulaOnefujifuji speedwayFujiSpeedwayhiroshi oshimaHiroshiOshimahonda suzukaHondaSuzukajapan gpjapanese gpjapanese grand prixJapaneseGpJapaneseGrandPrixJapanGpmobilitylandoshimasuzukasuzuka circuitSuzukaCircuittoyota fujiToyotaFujiMon, 24 Aug 2009 18:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Honda CEO reportedly rules out return to Formula One]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/16/honda-ceo-rules-out-return-to-formula-one/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/16/honda-ceo-rules-out-return-to-formula-one/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/16/honda-ceo-rules-out-return-to-formula-one/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Things could hardly have played out worse for Honda. It has poured what surely amounted to billions of dollars for years into its Formula One team with little effect. Then it brought in Ross Brawn, only to withdrew its support from the squad, then it sold the entire operation to Brawn while paying out big bucks to avoid an even bigger severance bill. And only then did Brawn turn the F1 team into a winner. That'd be enough to send some automakers scurrying to get back in the game, but not Honda.

The Japanese automaker's new CEO Tokanobu Ito has reportedly completely ruled out the possibility of a return to F1 "even if the economy improves," deriding the series as bereft of relevant development possibilities. Well, there you have it. No word, however, on whether Honda will support the 2010 Japanese Grand Prix at its Suzuka Circuit after Toyota withdrew its Fuji Speedway from the event.

[Source: Autosport | Image: Kazuhiro Nogi/AFP/Getty]

Honda CEO reportedly rules out return to Formula One originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 16 Jul 2009 17:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brawnbrawn gpBrawnGpceochief executivechief executive officerChiefExecutiveChiefExecutiveOfficerf1formula 1formula oneFormula1FormulaOnehondahonda ceohonda f1HondaCeoHondaF1itojapan f1japan gpjapanese gpjapanese grand prixJapaneseGpJapaneseGrandPrixJapanF1JapanGpsuzukasuzuka circuitSuzukaCircuittokanobutokanobu itoTokanobuItoThu, 16 Jul 2009 17:58:00 EST<![CDATA[REPORT: Toyota woes spell trouble for Fuji Speedway]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/04/toyota-woes-spell-trouble-for-fuji-speedway/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/04/toyota-woes-spell-trouble-for-fuji-speedway/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/04/toyota-woes-spell-trouble-for-fuji-speedway/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Toyota's Timo Glock at the 2008 Japanese Grand Prix at the Fuji Speedway

In any game of chicken, it's all about who flinches first. Ever since its first running in 1963, the Japanese Grand Prix has bounced between Fuji Speedway and Suzuka Circuit, the former dominating in the '60s and '70s before the latter got the exclusive in the late-'80s through 2006, at which point Fuji took over again. The rivalry is about more than just the tracks, though: With Toyota owning Fuji and arch-rival Honda owning Suzuka, the back-and-forth has become something of a turf war between the country's automotive powerhouses.

Two years ago, the two tracks worked out a deal that would have the race alternating year to year, sort of like Germany's arrangement between Hockenheim and the Nürburgring. However, emerging reports suggest that tightening belts at Toyota could spell trouble for Fuji Speedway. The costs of hosting a Formula 1 grand prix event continue to escalate, and those costs may be harder to justify for the cash-strapped auto giant - especially if ticket sales don't cover the budget. Honda is likely in no better a financial situation, as evidenced by their unfortunate withdrawal from the sport. But if Toyota flinches first, Honda might win the race... in one sense or another.

[Source: F1-Live | Image: Mark Thompson/Getty]

REPORT: Toyota woes spell trouble for Fuji Speedway originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 04 Jul 2009 15:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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