INQUIRER Sports

SUZUKA - Britain's Lewis Hamilton ventures into the unknown this week at the Japanese Grand Prix, fulfilling a lifelong ambition to race the challenging Suzuka circuit.

Suzuka returns to the Formula One calendar having been absent since the 2006 season, with Fuji Speedway preferred over the past few years.

Hamilton, who made his debut in 2007, has yet to test his skills on a track many drivers consider the best in the world, and he can hardly wait after his commanding victory at the Singapore Grand Prix on Sunday.

"It feels like I’ve been waiting my whole life to race at Suzuka -- so, as you can imagine, I’ll be really excited when practice starts there on Friday morning," the defending world champion said.

"Ever since I was a kid, I’ve raced Suzuka on computer games, and while it kind of gives you an idea of how the circuit goes, nothing can beat the real thing.

"It looks like a real driver’s circuit. The first sector look very demanding and the higher speed corners towards the end of the lap will probably require real precision and a good car set-up."

The McLaren driver led from start to finish in Singapore's night race for his second victory of the season.

Although he was challenged by Sebastian Vettel, Hamilton eventually won by nearly 10 seconds ahead of Toyota's Timo Glock.

"To be number one and to finish number one is the best thing that can ever really happen. I was so happy because I just love winning," he said of the Singapore victory.

"Now I really hope to be able to challenge for more wins in the next three races."

Hamilton has no chance of hanging onto his world title, with Brawn GP's Jenson Button favourite to take it from him. But he is taking a lot positives from the second half of the season after a first half to forget, when the McLaren team was not competitive.

"I'm very satisfied because we could easily have had a year where we'd been at the back the whole time," he said.

"For me, that wouldn't have felt great at all because I was world champion last year and I know I'm good enough to be at the front.

"So, to go straight to the back would have difficult for a lot of people to understand and my achievements would have been under question.
"I'm glad I'm back at the front now, and that people can see that the number one on my car was well earned. It's on our car for a reason."

McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh said a victory in Japan would not be easy, but
improvements to the car gave them a shot at the podium.

"Along with Spa-Francorchamps, Suzuka is one of Formula One’s greatest circuits, and one that every driver relishes," he said.

"For 2009, we go to Japan knowing that overall victory will not be easy to achieve.But the improvements we evaluated in Singapore, particularly some useful changes to the floor, should give us a competitive boost and it will be interesting to see how our pace translates against that of our rivals."