TORONTO – A typhoon has formed and is making its way towards Japan, but it doesn’t look like it will interfere with the 2014 Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix.
Fortunately for drivers, the storm is still about 1,350 km south-southwest of Yokosuka, Japan. The race is taking place in Suzuka, just south of Nagoya.
The storm is powerful: it’s already a Category 4 on the Saffir-Simpson scale. However, current forecasts don’t take the storm inland. It is more likely that Phanfone will skirt central Japan and affect Nagoya on Sunday afternoon — when the race is set to begin.
The Japan Meteorological Agency is calling for 12 to 41 mm of rain for the area from Saturday to Sunday, which could make things slick on the racetrack.
“Qualifying is going to be very important as it’s quite difficult to overtake here,” British driver Lewis Hamilton told The Associated Press. “We don’t know what’s going to happen with the weather; it’s such a challenging circuit but we always come to the weekend prepared for everything.”
High wave advisories have already been issued for coastal areas to the south and west of Suzuka. High wave warnings have arleady been issued for parts of southern Japan.
–with files from The Associated Press
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