Fuji circuit expects to be a big draw in 2007

Japan's Fuji circuit expects to be one of the biggest draws of the 2007 season when it returns to F1 after a 30-year absence.

Management at the Toyota-owned circuit, with snow-capped Mount Fuji towering in the background, told reporters on a tour of the facilities this week that they expected a race day attendance of 140,000.

Fuji International Speedway president Hiroaki Kato said the total over three days was likely to be around 300,000.

The circuit, which hosted the 1976 title-deciding race that crowned Britain's James Hunt as champion by one point, has been absent from the calendar since 1977 when an accident involving Sweden's Ronnie Peterson and Canadian Gilles Villeneuve killed two spectators.

Toyota, who celebrate 50 years in motorsport next year, spent some 20 billion yen ($170 million) between September 2002 and 2005 on renovating the circuit with the help of German track designer Hermann Tilke.

With one of the longest straights in F1, at 1.475 km, cars are expected to reach top speeds of around 330kph before heavy braking into a tight first corner.