Pacific Grand Prix

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This article is about the Formula One race. For other uses, see Pacific Grand Prix (disambiguation).

Pacific Grand Prix
Laguna Seca Raceway (1960–1963)
TI Circuit (1994–1995)
Race information
Number of times held6
First held1960
Last held1995
Most wins (drivers)Germany Michael Schumacher (2)
United Kingdom Stirling Moss (2)
Most wins (constructors)United Kingdom Benetton (2)
United Kingdom Lotus (2)
Circuit length3.703 km (2.300 miles)
Race length307.349 km (192.093 miles)
Laps83
Last race (1995)
Pole position
  • 1:14.013
    • Podium
    Fastest lap

    The Pacific Grand Prix (

    Laguna Seca in the United States from 1960 through 1963. The two championship races in 1994 and 1995 were held at the Tanaka International Aida circuit (now Okayama International Circuit), a slow and twisty 3.7-kilometre (2.3-mile) track in the countryside of Aida, Japan, under the title Pacific Grand Prix as the title of Japanese Grand Prix was held by a race held at the Suzuka circuit
    which was also located in Japan.

    Championship races

    The inaugural Championship race in 1994 saw Michael Schumacher take an easy victory after Ayrton Senna was involved in a first corner accident with Mika Häkkinen and Nicola Larini. Schumacher overtook Senna into the first corner and was never threatened for the lead from that point onward. Schumacher could have lapped second placed Gerhard Berger in the last third of the race, but chose not to. The fastest lap was set on lap 3. The race was notable for the Jordan team and Rubens Barrichello's first podium finishes in F1 with third place. The more recent Pacific Grand Prix in 1995 was a more eventful affair, with some close racing throughout the field. Following the 1995 Kobe earthquake, the Pacific Grand Prix was moved from early in the calendar to the end of the calendar. The race culminated in a tactical victory for Michael Schumacher, securing his second World Championship, and making him the youngest double World Champion at the time (later surpassed by Fernando Alonso and Sebastian Vettel).

    This race made Japan one of only nine countries (the others being Great Britain, Spain, Germany, Italy, France, the United States, and, as a result of emergency schedule realignment for the 2020 season due to COVID-19 pandemic, Austria and Bahrain) to host multiple Grands Prix in the same year. It was discontinued primarily due to the TI Circuit's location in a remote area of Japan; a similar criticism precluded Autopolis' plans (under "Asian Grand Prix" name) to host a second Japanese race in 1993.[1] A proposed attempt to continue the event's name with a race in Sentul International Circuit in Indonesia was considered for 1996 (with date scheduled for 13 October), but it was cancelled as the corners were deemed too tight and unsuitable for Formula 1.[2]

    With the announcement that the

    Suzuka Circuit to the Fuji Speedway from 2007, there had been media speculation that Suzuka may retain a race under a resurrection of the Pacific Grand Prix title.[3] However, it was later announced that the Japanese Grand Prix would alternate between Fuji and Suzuka from 2009 onward[4] although the alternation was cancelled as Toyota, the current Fuji Speedway owner discontinued further F1 races at Fuji, having pulled out of F1 at the end of 2009.[5]

    Winners of the Pacific Grand Prix

    Repeat winners (drivers)

    A pink background indicates an event which was not part of the Formula One World Championship.

    Wins Driver Years won
    2 United Kingdom Stirling Moss 1960, 1961
    Germany Michael Schumacher 1994, 1995
    Sources:[6][7]

    Repeat winners (constructors)

    A pink background indicates an event which was not part of the Formula One World Championship.

    Wins Constructor Years won
    2 United Kingdom Lotus 1960, 1961
    United Kingdom Benetton 1994, 1995
    Sources:[6][7]

    Repeat winners (engine manufacturers)

    A pink background indicates an event which was not part of the Formula One World Championship.

    Wins Manufacturer Years won
    3 United Kingdom Climax 1960, 1961, 1962
    2 United States Ford * 1963, 1994
    Sources:[6][7]

    * Built by Cosworth

    By year

    Layout of Laguna Seca at the time the event was held there as a non-championship event.

    A pink background indicates an event which was not part of the Formula One World Championship.

    Year Driver Constructor Location Report
    1960 United Kingdom Stirling Moss Lotus-Climax
    Laguna Seca
    		 Report
    1961 United Kingdom Stirling Moss Lotus-Climax Report
    1962 United States Roger Penske Zerex Special–Climax Report
    1963 United States Dave MacDonald Cooper-Ford Report
    1964
    –
    1993     		Not held
    1994 Germany Michael Schumacher Benetton-Ford
    TI Circuit
    		 Report
    1995 Germany Michael Schumacher Benetton-Renault Report
    Sources:[6][7]

    References

    1. ^ Cooper, Adam (17 April 2020). "Why Japan's second F1 race didn't take off". Motorsport.com. Retrieved 28 October 2020.
    2. ^ David Hayhoe, Formula 1: The Knowledge – 2nd Edition, 2021, page 36
    3. ^ "Fuji signs deal for 2007". grandprix.com. 14 March 2006. Retrieved 18 September 2007.
    4. ^ "Japanese Grand Prix to alternate between Fuji and Suzuka". formula1.com. 8 September 2007. Retrieved 9 September 2007.
    5. ^ Toyota's Fuji Speedway Cancels Formula One Grand Prix From 2010 Bloomberg.com, Retrieved 6 December 2012
    6. ^ a b c d "Pacific GP". ChicaneF1. Retrieved 10 December 2021.
    7. ^ a b c d "USAC Road Racing Championship Laguna Seca 1960". Racing Sports Cars. Retrieved 10 December 2021.
      "USAC Road Racing Championship Laguna Seca 1961". Racing Sports Cars. Retrieved 10 December 2021.
      "USAC Road Racing Championship Laguna Seca 1962". Racing Sports Cars. Retrieved 10 December 2021.
      "Laguna Seca 200 Miles 1963". Racing Sports Cars. Retrieved 10 December 2021.
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