This weekend, Formula One will make its first trip to the Fuji Speedway in Japan since 1977. Toyota purchased the circuit in 2000, and a significant upgrade of facilities has meant it has won the right to host the Japanese Grand Prix this year.
The 4.563km track, over-shadowed by Mount Fuji, takes over from the well-liked Suzuka circuit, although the two circuits will alternate hosting duties from 2009. Fuji Speedway will feature a 1.5km pit straight, the longest in F1, and a slightly altered layout from its previous incarnation.
The F1 fraternity will arrive in Japan on the back of controversy surrounding title contenders McLaren-Mercedes. The team was fined an astounding $US100 million ($A115.3 million) by the FIA, the governing body, and stripped of their 2007 constructors' points.
McLaren was found guilty for their part in the "spy saga" controversy, in which an employee was found to be in possession of Ferrari documents.
The team has decided not to appeal the decision, meaning Ferrari has won its 15th constructors' championship. On the track, McLaren scored a 1 2 finish at Monza in Italy on September 9. But the red team bounced back at the famous Spa-Francorchamps circuit in Belgium a week later with a 1 2 finish of their own. Kimi Raikkonen won that race at a canter ahead of team-mate Felipe Massa and McLaren's Fernando Alonso.
Raikkonen will need to repeat that feat in Japan if he is to further close the 13-point gap between him and championship leader Lewis Hamilton.
But the real battle is between the two McLaren drivers, Hamilton and Alonso, who are separated by just two points. Amid intense intra-team rivalry throughout the season, Alonso's relationship with team boss Ron Dennis has deteriorated dramatically in recent times, with the pair not on speaking terms.
The reigning world champion believes he deserves number one status over Hamilton, and is looking for a way out of his contract. It is possible that Alonso will move to Ferrari in exchange for a hefty sum of money which is one way McLaren can pay some of its fine.
The stage is set for some fireworks at Fuji, and although the constructors' title has been decided in Ferrari's favour in unfortunate circumstances, the drivers' crown is still well and truly up for grabs.
Stonor Takes Championship
In MotoGP, 21-year-old Australian Casey Stoner has become the second-youngest world champion in history after finishing sixth in the Japanese Grand Prix at Motegi last Sunday.
The Ducati rider needed only to finish ahead of title rival Valentino Rossi, from Yamaha, to secure his maiden world championship.
In damp conditions, Rossi struggled to 13th place, while Stoner's worst result of the season was still enough to make his points lead beyond reach of the Italian legend. The race itself was won by Stoner's team-mate, Loris Capirossi, with Kawasaki's Randy de Puniet and Honda's Toni Elias completing the podium.
Stoner will arrive at the next race at Phillip Island (October 12–14) as Australia's first world champion since Mick Doohan, who won an incredible five titles in a row from 1994 to 1998.
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