【Round 4 Fuji: Race day】President & CEO Bandoh outlines the 2027 season schedule and confirms a two-race event at the season finale Motegi round at the GTA regular press conference.

　GTA Co., Ltd. held its regular press conference on the morning of August 2, race day of Round 4 at Fuji Speedway. At the beginning of the session, following the announcement of the official tire suppliers from next season*, details of the 2027 series calendar were presented. Bandoh explained that an approximately three-week “summer break” will be introduced in August across Japan’s major domestic motorsport categories. He also confirmed that a new GT300 class race will be held during the Suzuka 1000km event.

　Bandoh explained that the introduction of the summer break was coordinated through the Motorsports Committee of the Automobile Business & Culture Association of Japan (General Incorporated Association), with cooperation from major racing categories of Japan, such as GTA, Japan Race Promotion (JRP: the operator of SUPER FORMULA), Super Taikyu MIRAI Organization (STMO: the operator of Super Taikyu), and Motorcycle Federation of Japan (MFJ: the sanctioning body of motorcycle races), as well as the Japan Automobile Federation (JAF) and other related organizations. As a result of those discussions, the Japanese motorsport industry as a whole will have a common mid-season break period. “SUPER GT has a Motegi round in November. If we were to hold the second Fuji race in November, Fuji would become the final round. Therefore, we moved Motegi to the third weekend of November and made it the season finale.” He continued, “This will become the starting point for adjusting the motorsport calendar as a whole. Various issues will inevitably arise, including defining exactly what a ‘summer holiday’ should mean. However, we would like to move forward toward next year while addressing those challenges together as an industry.” Bandoh emphasized the significance of launching this new initiative.

　According to the current plan, Round 4 at Suzuka will be held on July 31-August 1, Round 5 at Sportsland SUGO on September 18-19, and the IGTC Suzuka 1000km, newly opened to GT300 competitors, is scheduled for September 4-5.

　Bandoh also announced that the GT300 class will contest a total of nine rounds in 2027. While the GT500 class will continue to compete over the traditional eight-round schedule, the International GT Challenge Suzuka 1000km at Suzuka Circuit in Mie Prefecture will be incorporated into the GT300 championship. Because entry numbers will be limited, the GT300 class will adopt a dropped-points system. “We will continue discussions with SRO (the operator and sanctioning body of International GT3 series) regarding the details. It is not simply a case of GT300 being allowed to participate. GTA and SRO will each hold half of the rights, making it a jointly organized event. Through GT300 participation, we hope to attract even more spectators to the Suzuka 1000km.” Bandoh added that work will continue on establishing the event framework.

　Toward the end of the press conference, Bandoh also addressed plans for the remainder of the 2026 season. He announced that the final event of the season, to be held at Mobility Resort Motegi in Tochigi Prefecture on November 7-8, will be run as a two-race event. Following the postponement of the scheduled Round 3 Malaysia event (Sepang International Circuit) due to the situation in the Middle East, GTA had initially planned to conclude the season with a total of seven rounds instead of rescheduling the event within the year. However, after discussions with stakeholders including the GT Entrant Association, it was decided to revise the Motegi event format and hold two races instead.

　Under the current plan, official practice will take place on Friday, while qualifying and a race will be held on both Saturday and Sunday as separate one-day events. As for Success Weight, the current direction is to run Saturday’s race with points × 1 kg coefficient and Sunday’s season finale with no Success Weight. However, he added that there are still a number of matters to be considered, including the race distance, and that further adjustments will continue.

　Bandoh also commented on Round 7 at Autopolis, scheduled for October 17-18. Although the circuit is located in Hita City, Oita Prefecture, it is reported that no major damage had been sustained within the facility itself, and the GTA intends to proceed with the event as planned. As many participants make use of Kumamoto Airport and accommodations within Kumamoto Prefecture during the race weekend, this year’s event will be designated as a 2026 Kumamoto earthquake recovery support event. While noting that the situation in the affected region remains fluid, Bandoh emphasized his desire to support local communities. “We want to help energize the region.” Donation boxes supporting the 2026 Kumamoto Recovery Effort have been installed beginning with this Fuji event, and fundraising activities will continue at the remaining circuits during the season.