Last chance to score for McNish

The Scot and his team-mate Mika Salo have not been retained by Toyota for next season and neither have announced their future plans.

McNish is heading to Suzuka in a typically positive frame of mind. "Along with Monaco and Spa, Suzuka is one of the most challenging tracks on the F1 calendar," he said. "After a slightly disappointing Indy, I am hoping to redress the balance and end the season on a high in Japan.

"It is Toyota's home grand prix and my last for the team, so it will for sure be a special one."

The team has experience of the circuit from testing last year with its prototype F1 car, the TF101.

McNish and Salo have been on Japanese public relations duty already this week. The pair performed straightline demonstrations of this year's TF102 at Megaweb, the largest Toyota showroom in the world, in front of a 2000-strong crowd at the weekend.