Mine Circuit

Mine Circuit (みねサーキット) was a 3.331 km (2.070 mi) motor racing circuit in Nagao, Nishiatsu-cho, Mine, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan. It used to be known as Nishinihon. The track closed in February 2006 as it was sold to Mazda for development purposes.[1]

Mine Circuit
Central Park Mine Circuit (1991–2006)
LocationMine, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan
Time zoneUTC+09:00
Coordinates34°08′35″N 131°06′12″E
OwnerMazda (January 2006–February 2006)
CQ Motors (2002–January 2006)
OpenedNovember 1972 (1972-11)
Closed28 February 2006 (2006-02-28)
Former namesNishi-Nihon Circuit (1976–1990)
Atsu Circuit (1972–1975)
Major eventsFormula Nippon (1977–1980, 1983–2005)
Japanese F3 (1994–2005)
JGTC (1994–2002)
JTCC (1985–1990, 1992–1997)
All-Japan Sports Prototype Championship (1992)
Central Park Mine Circuit (1991–2006)
Length3.331 km (2.070 miles)
Turns16
Race lap record1:14.618 (Japan Katsumi Yamamoto, Reynard 97D, 1997, Formula Nippon)
Nishi-Nihon Circuit (1976–1990)
Length2.830 km (1.758 miles)
Turns13
Race lap record1:01.447 (Japan Hitoshi Ogawa, Lola T90/50, 1990, F3000)
Atsu Circuit (1972–1975)
Length1.300 km (0.808 miles)
Turns7

It was one of the main circuits in Japanese motorsport; until 2005, every year, one or more races of the most important national categories, (the Japan GT Championship and Formula Nippon series) were held at this circuit.

Lap records

The fastest official race lap records at the Mine Circuit are listed as:

CategoryTimeDriverVehicleEvent
Central Park Mine Circuit: 3.331 km (1991–2006)[2]
Formula Nippon1:14.618[3]Katsumi YamamotoReynard 97D1997 Mine Formula Nippon round
Formula 30001:14.669[4]Jeff KrosnoffLola T94/501995 F3000 Mine All Star
Group C1:17.615[5]Geoff LeesToyota TS0101992 Inter-Challenge Cup Mine 500 km
Formula Three1:22.842[6]Fábio CarboneDallara F3042004 Mine Japanese F3 round
JGTC (GT500)1:23.186[7]Ryou MichigamiHonda NSX (LA-NA2)2002 CP Mine GT Race
GT11:23.940[8]André CoutoMcLaren F1 GTR2001 CP Mine GT Race
Formula Toyota1:27.933[9]Kohei HirateTom's FT302002 Mine Formula Toyota round
Group A1:29.259[10]Kazuyoshi HoshinoNissan Skyline GT-R BNR321993 Mine JTCC round
JGTC (GT300)1:29.507[7]Masaoki NagashimaToyota MR-S (ZZW30)2002 CP Mine GT Race
GT21:29.948[11]Eiichi TajimaPorsche 911 GT21995 CP Mine GT Race
GT1:32.418[12]Shinsuke ShibaharaPorsche 911 (996) GT3-R2000 CP Mine GT Race
Nishi-Nihon Circuit: 2.830 km (1976–1990)[2]
Formula 30001:01.447[13]Hitoshi OgawaLola T90/501990 Mine Japanese F3000 round
Group C1:07.920[14]Kunimitsu TakahashiPorsche 962C1985 Mine Super Cup
Group A1:13.377[15]Kazuyoshi HoshinoNissan Skyline GT-R BNR321990 Mine JTCC round

See also
  • Mazda Proving Grounds

References
  1. "Motor Racing Japan – Mine Circuit". motoracing-japan.com. 1996. Retrieved 6 June 2011.
  2. "Mine Circuit - Racing Circuits". RacingCircuits.info. Retrieved 11 January 2023.
  3. "1997 Mine Formula Nippon". Motor Sport Magazine. 18 May 1997. Retrieved 11 January 2023.
  4. "1995 Mine Japanese F3000 - Round 3". Motor Sport Magazine. 7 May 1995. Retrieved 11 January 2023.
  5. "Mine 500 Kilometres 1992". 1 November 1992. Retrieved 11 January 2023.
  6. "2004 Mine Japanese F3". Motor Sport Magazine. 3 October 2004. Retrieved 11 January 2023.
  7. "Mine 250 Kilometres 2002". 27 October 2002. Retrieved 11 January 2023.
  8. "Mine 250 Kilometres 2001". 11 November 2001. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
  9. "2002 Esso Formura Toyota Series Round 7 Race 2". 21 September 2002. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
  10. "93 All-Japan Touring Car Championship 1st round - Mine". 14 March 1993. Retrieved 11 January 2023.
  11. "Mine 250 Kilometres 1995". 1 October 1995. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
  12. "Mine 250 Kilometres 2000". 1 October 2000. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
  13. "1990 Mine Japanese F3000". Motor Sport Magazine. 14 May 1990. Retrieved 11 January 2023.
  14. "Super Cup Mine 1985". 27 October 1985. Retrieved 11 January 2023.
  15. "1990 All-Japan Touring Car 300 Km Race - Nishi Nippon West Circuit". 18 March 1990. Retrieved 11 January 2023.
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