Photo/Illutration A letter addressed to John Hugenholtz and kept by his eldest son, Hans, who donated it to a Dutch museum. The letter bears the signature of Soichiro Honda written in English cursive script at the bottom right. (Provided by Hans Hugenholtz)

Design was the forte of Soichiro Honda, the founder of Honda Motor Co., so it’s hardly surprising that a letter bearing his handwritten signature has turned up that expresses his deep appreciation to a Dutch automotive journalist for his help in developing the famed Suzuka Circuit in Suzuka, Mie Prefecture.

The race track, often described as the “holy land” for Japan’s motor sports, will mark its 60th anniversary in September. Its construction was famously suggested by Honda, who died in 1991 aged 84.

The missive was sent to John Hugenholtz (1914-1995) and kept by his eldest son, Hans, 71, a businessman based in Europe.

During the 1950s, before the automaker started commercial auto production, Honda firmly believed that “automobiles will never improve unless they take part in competitive racing.”

He proposed setting up a permanent racing facility, and Suzuka was selected as the construction site in 1960.

As Japan knew next to nothing about race track construction at the time, members of the circuit installation project visited Europe on a fact-finding mission. That led to Hugenholtz being invited to Japan.

According to Hans, his father authored automobile-themed publications as a journalist and took part in competitive motor racing.

Construction of the Suzuka Circuit was initially planned in an area filled with rice paddies, according to Honda representatives. But Honda decreed that the rice paddies should not be destroyed to satisfy his own ambitions. This resulted in using a mountainous area filled with forests to develop instead.

The Suzuka Circuit, completed in September 1962, covers 6 kilometers. The most iconic feature of the track is its “figure eight” layout.

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John Hugenholtz, third from right, Soichiro Honda, second from right, and other officials pose for a photo with the design drawing of the Suzuka Circuit in the foreground. (Provided by Suzuka Circuit)

The letter, dated Feb. 20, 1961, before construction finished, is marked by a printed English message expressing appreciation for “your great help” that allowed the race track to take on “many wonderful aspects.”

A telegram was also sent in 1962 to coincide with Suzuka Circuit’s completion to once again acknowledge Hugenholtz’s contribution to the project.

Both the materials bear Honda’s name written in English in cursive script at the end. The English signature was authenticated by the automaker.

“He (my father) was responsible for every part of the design such as the shape, uphill and downhills corners and spectator seats,” said Hans. “He came up with the ideal design that took account of spectators’ safety while giving drivers a challenging course.”

Suzuka Circuit has since undergone major upgrades, such as having its run-off area expanded and repaving the track.

It became a venue for Formula One, the most prestigious form of automobile competition, in 1987.

Affectionately known as “Suzuka” among F1 fans outside Japan, the unique layout of the course attracts many top-notch racing drivers who cite the facility as their “favorite” circuit.

Hans expressed delight that the Suzuka Circuit is still deemed by F1 drivers to be one of the world’s best race venues even 60 years later.

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