Formula 1 News

Japanese GP: Bridgestone confident over tyre choice 

Bridgestone is confident its drivers will have a trouble-free time with its tyres at this weekend’s Japanese Grand Prix, even though it has not been able to test its rubber at Fuji prior to the event. Formula One is returning to the circuit for the first time in 30 years, and the characteristics of the revised track, allied to its track surface, have left Bridgestone happy its tyres will work well.

Hirohide Hamashima, Director of Bridgestone Motorsport Tyre Development, said: “From a compound point of view, we do not expect problems with wear as the surface is relatively smooth. We could, however, see some graining on the front left tyres, especially from the 100R corner, but we don’t believe it will be severe.” Hamashima acknowledges that Bridgestone’s experience of the track in other racing categories has helped in its preparations. “We have learnt a lot from racing at Fuji over the years and by combining this knowledge with simulation data we have been able to predict the need for the medium and soft tyres from our 2007 range,” he said. “We are confident that these tyres will work well and should produce some good racing.”