2017.03.04

Suzuka 1000km to become a new GT endurance race from next year. To be held separately from the SUPER GT Suzuka Round

On March 4, the Suzuka Circuit management company Mobilityland announced that Suzuka 1000km Race that has been a successful part of the annual SUPER GT series will be held as a new endurance race under the name “47th Summer Endurance ‘Suzuka 10 Hour Endurance Race’” (tentative name), while maintaining basically the same race concept. The new race will include a race category or the GT300 class machines now participating in the SUPER GT series GT300 class, and the SUPER GT organizing entity, GTA Co., Ltd. has announced that it will support the new race as a collaborating partner.
This means that the SUPER GT series race known until now as the Suzuka 1000km Race will be held or the last time later this season as the 6th round of the series. It was also announced that the SUPER GT series race at Suzuka will be held on different dates and with a different race distance being from 2018.

 

 

 

The Suzuka 1000km Race was first held in 1966, and this year it will be held for the 46th time as an endurance race with a long and proud tradition in Japanese motorsports. Over the years, the race has been held in different forms, as an independent Suzuka race, as an endurance series World Championship event and as a round of the All-Japan Championships, and also with different categories in accordance with the trends of the times; and from 2006, it has been held as a round of the annual SUPER GT series.

 

The new “47th Summer Endurance ‘Suzuka 10 Hour Endurance Race’” to be held from 2018 will be competed as an endurance race primarily for FIA GT3 GT cars, with SUPER GT GT300 class cars (including JAF-GT300 regulation cars) also qualified to compete. Of course, it is also expected that FIA GT3 cars now competing in GT races in Europe, North America, Asia and other parts of the world will also decide to compete and that it will become an exciting international GT race event run under unified regulations.

For this reason, in addition to GTA, the SRO Motorsports Group that promotes the Blancpain GT Series, which is a European GT endurance series, and partner GT3 series in countries around the world has also become a collaborative partner in the new Suzuka race. The photo above shows Mobilityland Co. Ltd. President Susumu Yamashita and the CEO of SRO Motorsports Group, Stephane Ratel, shaking hands at the ceremony announcing the new race.

Under its new name and organization, the Summer Endurance Suzuka race will be held for the first time over the four days from August 23 (Thur.) to 26 (Sun.), 2018, with the final race being run as a 10-hour endurance race starting from 10:30 and running until 20:30 on Sunday the 26th. Also. It was announced that the race will have prize money totaling 100 million yen.

 

Mobilityland Co. Ltd. President Susumu Yamashita addressing the announcement event audience

 

At the announcement event, Mobilityland Co. Ltd. President Susumu Yamashita said, “First and foremost, I would like to take this opportunity to express my deep appreciation and respect for both partners; the GTA and the SRO Motorsports Group, here today with us, for their collaboration in the realisation of this promising project. We are proud to announce that in August of 2018, the Suzuka Circuit will host as a new project the 47th end-of-summer Endurance Race in the new format of a 10-hour endurance race, as a new project. In collaboration, the Suzuka Circuit will provide the dream stage where worldwide GT series will gather in the prospect of future worldwide expansion. (…) By implementing this new project, we aim to create and nourish a brand new festive summer style which will certainly also promote new values. This summer Suzuka Circuit will host the last SUPER GT Series 1000km race at Suzuka. Hence, we will also be devoting ourselves to detailed preparations in order to assure the hosting of a further innovative and appealing 2018 Suzuka Round SUPER GT Series, which will include updates in race distance and event date.”  

 

GTA Chairman Masaaki Bando addressing the event by video-mail

 

Addressing the audience of the announcement event via video-mail, GTA Chairman Masaaki Bando said, “Following the GTA vision concept, this new project will constitute one more link and step into the globalization of the SUPER GT Series. We are and will continue working close together in the effort of establishing this race in the calendar as one of the rounds that will unify the GT300 in South East Asia. Concerning the new race format for the Suzuka Round SUPER GT Series in 2018 and onwards we are determined to, together with Mobilityland, bring to the circuit and to the enthusiasts much new excitement and emotion. We are determined to provide the ultimate environment that continues to invite and satisfy the vast public and motorsports fans.” 

 

SRO Motorsports Group CEO Stephane Ratel addressing the audience

 

In his address to the event audience, SRO Motorsports Group CEO Stephane Ratel said, “I am very excited to be here at Suzuka Circuit today to officially unveil the 47th Summer Endurance Suzuka 10 Hours. SRO fully supports this new project undertaken by Mobilityland. We are at a legendary circuit that is highly valued both in Europe and Asia. It is therefore a most appropriate platform to host a global GT race and write another chapter in the Suzuka Circuit’s long and valuable history. SRO will fully embrace the event by supporting champions from our numerous affiliated global categories and those teams currently competing in the European and Asian Blancpain GT Series to ensure that it flourishes and becomes a success.” 

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