Honda Racing F1 Team's Welcome Return in Japan

The Honda Racing F1 Team is looking forward toFriday and Saturday even more important." While
their second home race of the season with theBarrichello said, "This year Formula One is
2007 Japanese Grand Prix at the Fuji Internationalreturning to the Fuji International Speedyway for
Speedway, Round 15 of the FIA Formula Onethe first time since 1977. I last raced at Fuji in
World Championship. The event will mark the1991 in Formula 3 but the circuit has been totally
team's welcome return to Japan next week.modernized since those days. It will be very
The Honda team has always managed toexciting to race on the new layout and I am sure
perform well in every Japanese Grand Prix. Buttonthat the organizers will have done an excellent job
said, "The Japanese Grand Prix is always a verywith improving the existing circuit."
special weekend for the whole Honda Racing F1Nakamoto also said, "The downforce levels
Team as it is one of our two home races of therequired will be very similar to the last race at
year. I have had fantastic support as a HondaSpa-Francorchamps so we are prepared for a
driver at the Honda-owned Suzuka circuit in thechallenging weekend. Following the three-day test
past few years and the Japanese fans alwaysin Jerez this week, we have confirmed our car
create such a special atmosphere over the raceset-up and earo package for the race. We would
weekend."like to put on the best possible performance for
However, this year would be more challenging asthe Honda fans at our home race in Japan and
the race moved from its traditional Honda-ownedachieve a satisfactory result," holding on with the
home of Suzuka towards the newly re-openedbelief that their team have enough experience
Fuji International Speedway. Button said, "Thisand preparation to get their race car, with
year will be a new challenge for both myself andsophisticated Honda spoiler, through the
the team as the race returns to the Fujiredesigned Fuji International Speedway circuit and
International Speedway."obtain good results.
While Barrichello said, "I am really looking forward"The Fuji circuit is an unknown quantity so I will be
to returning to Japan in my second year withstudying the circuit layout with our engineers in
Honda for our home race. The Japanese Grandadvance of the race but we will only find out its
Prix has always been a favourite of mine and thetrue characteristics during our track walk on
Suzuka circuit holds some very special memoriesThursday and the first few laps of practice on
as I won there from pole position in 2003. MyFriday. The re-designed circuit is another Herman
experience last year driving with Honda for theTilke special, and after the fantastic job that he
first time was fantastic. The fans are sodid with Istanbul Park, it will be interesting to see
enthusiastic and really supported us throughouthow this circuit matches up. There is a long 1.5km
the weekend."start-finish straight which should allow for some
Before moving to Fuji, the Honda Racing F1 Teamovertaking combined with some exciting looking
is planning to stop in Odaiba. They would betwists and turns," Button said.
attending to the annual Tokyo MotorsportsButton, together with Barrichello, is expected to
Festival. In the event, Jenson Button and Jamesgive the best performance in the race despite
Rossiter will demonstrate the thrills of Formulahaving a quite crucial race this year. He said, "We
One to a crowd of fans through running theare the first to admit that Honda have had a
RA107 car in the streets of the city. Button said,tough season this year, however we approach
"On the Monday before the race, I will be takingthe final races of the season with continued
part in the Tokyo Motorsports Festival once again.motivation and will not stop pushing to take the
This is a fantastic event and I had a great timemaximum possible performance for the thousands
last year driving our F1 car right in the heart ofof Honda fans who will be cheering us on from
Tokyo in front of all the Honda fans so I amthe stands." And, Barrichello said, "Our car and
really looking forward to arriving in Japan thisperformance this year has not been at the level
weekend and getting the fun started."we hoped for at the beginning of the season,
According to Senior Technical Director Shuheihowever a lot of hard work is still going on back
Nakamoto, "This will be the first time that Formulaat the factory to improve our situation. We will all
One has visited the new Fuji Internationalkeep working very hard right to the end of the
Speedway." In relation to that, they opt to giveseason and I hope to see further small
importance with the little time left for them toimprovements in our performance which will help
practice, as he added, "We have limited date onus this season and in 2008.
the circuit which makes the practice sessions on