Well I unlocked the challenge a few days ago. Sounds like you got it recently too. All you need to do is practice. I have bronze in the first too and will have done suzuka soon too (maybe today). I'm using a dualshock 3 also. Since you've decided to ask though the only things I can think of are to push the car as much as you can(so you know the limits) and then just drive as much as possible. Don't try beating the time just focus on staying on the track otherwise all the restarting will hinder your progress. As for setup I have ABS on 1 everything else off. Suzuka is definitely the hardest (so many bends) so it will take the most practice. You should be aiming for a first lap time off less than or about 1:09.5. Take a few seconds off and you should have bronze. The hardest thing is just completing two laps in a row.
My first sector for suzuka (on time for a bronze) is around 30 seconds ( /- 0.5 s) and the sector that ends before the 180R is about 55 seconds (< 55s is pretty good).
For the first corner you'll want to keep accelerating until you get just before the entrance to the second (the 2 corners before the S bends). For the S bends the key is flowing through them and with the controller you'll need to turn earlier then you think becuase of the high speed. I try to take them in 4th gear but I use 3rd alot too. The corner that goes under the bridge is pretty tricky since you can take the corner before at full speed so it is difficult to control, I suggest driving cautiosly through there until you feel familiar enough with the road. Then you have the hairpin, just make sure you brake early and it should be smooth sailing from there as long as you brake in time for the last chicane.
Your next challenge is then taking the first and second corners from a much high speed ( i think ~ 260mph!), again you don't need to brake too early, I brake as i'm exiting the first corner but not before.
Nurburgring GP is alot easier just keep at it, suzuka is more of a challenge so hope that helps. Good luck!
