Suzuka a circuit with fond memories for Schumacher By Jens Marx

dpa German Press Agency
Published: Wednesday October 4, 2006

By Jens Marx, Suzuka, Japan- Michael Schumacher continues his battle with Renault's Fernando Alonso for the 2006 Formula One drivers' crown this weekend at the Japanese Grand Prix in Suzuka, a circuit that has fond memories for the Ferrari driver. The pair are tied on 116 points apiece with just two races remaining, Japan and Brazil, but Schumacher's seventh race win of the season in Shanghai last Sunday means the German has one GP victory more this season and is positioned ahead of Alonso as a result.

Schumacher was most concerned about the Chinese Grand Prix as until last weekend, he had never won there and it was felt the circuit was better suited to Renault on Michelin tyres.

Suzuka is a different story. He has taken the chequered flag there six times in total; in 1995, 1997, 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2004. Meanwhile, Alonso has yet to celebrate a single F1 win in Japan.

It was also in Suzuka six years ago that Schumacher won his first world championship with Ferrari, to go with the two titles he had already secured with Benetton in 1994 and 1995.

In 2000, Schumacher took pole at Suzuka, which, just like this year, was the penultimate race of the season. The German went on to clinch the race and take the title from defending champion Mika Hakkinen and end a 21-year drought for Ferrari.

Three years later at the same circuit, Schumacher re-wrote F1 history when in the last race of the season, an eighth-place finish was enough to secure a record-breaking sixth drivers' crown, eclipsing the legendary Juan Manuel Fangio's five titles.

Schumacher retires at the end of the season so Sunday will be his final F1 race at the 5.807-kilometre long circuit and a win coupled with Alonso failing to finish will see the 37-year-old secure his eighth championship.

However, he hasn't always had his own way here. In 1998, a puncture saw his dreams of a title evaporate, handing the glory to Hakkinen.

© 2006 dpa German Press Agency