In Namco’s 1982 arcade game Pole Position, the main track is modeled on Fuji Speedway.
Pole Position is a Formula One-style racing game in which the player must qualify before competing in a full race. Its course includes a long straight and a distinctive final bend, reflecting the layout of Fuji Speedway in Japan. The game’s use of a recognizable real circuit was unusual for an early arcade racer and gave the fictional competition a concrete setting.
Namco released Pole Position in 1982 after developing it with designer Sho Osugi. Atari distributed the game in North America. The title became especially influential because it used a behind-the-car viewpoint, sprite scaling, qualifying laps, and roadside advertising to create a convincing sense of speed. Players sometimes confuse the track with Suzuka Circuit, another famous Japanese racing venue, but the original Pole Position course is based on Fuji Speedway. Its sequel, Pole Position II, added more track layouts.