This was the long awaited Japan Lotus Day 2011. Long awaited because this big Lotus festival had twice been called off due to the wrath of nature. First, a typhoon wreaked havoc at Fuji and its surroundings, then the March 11 earthquake this year brought about another cancellation. 

Finally, the day came together and the paddock at Fuji was turned into a bright and alluring mini Hethel, with row upon row of Lotus models, both classic and modern, to  stir the soul. On the track, the day saw demonstrations of classic Lotus F1 cars and lots of Elise, Exige and Caterham racing too.

Lotus has long been Big in Japan and the cult following for models like the Europa is just phenomenal. Esprits, Elans and Evoras also turned out in force, to keep the rows upon rows of Elises company. Caterhams in turn have their own fraternity and form another big  part of this Fuji fest.

Meantime, inside the garages at Fuji, a fantastic 'historic museum' of classic Lotus models had been set up. The cars, all pristine and privately-owned, included some lovely Formula Junior and F3 cars from the early '60s, several 23Bs plus  other gems from the ACBC back catalogue, to wit a 1960 Lotus 7 on wire wheels and raucous  Lotus 30.

In the next garage, a group of Lotus 2 Elevens awaited their turn on the track, as did a couple of Lotus F1 cars, an Essex-sponsored Lotus 88B from 1981, a car that controversially never raced and later era Lotus 101 in yellow Camel livery.

Parked up in the paddock as part of a huge Colin Chapman tribute were two of Lotus' more successful JPS F1 cars, an ex Gunnar Nilsson Lotus 78 and a sublime 97T that Ayrton Senna drove during his debut 1985 season with Team Lotus.

In a previous incarnation, Japan Lotus Day brought out a record 700 cars. This year, we had 550 so not quite to the same level. Even so, it was still a day that no Lotus fan could fail to enjoy and a wonderful platform for those alluring sports cars from Norfolk.

Yes, Japan did Chunky proud.