2019.08.22

[SUZUKA 10H] GT300 class race machines and others participating in the SUZUKA 10H race parade through the streets of Suzuka!

Prior to the holding of the 2019 48th Summer Endurance “BH Auction SMBC Suzuka 10-hour Race” (nickname: SUZUKA 10H; dates: Aug. 23 - 25) the “Suzuka Motorsports Festival” was held on Aug. 22 at the AEON MALL Suzuka and the streets of Suzuka City, home of Suzuka Circuit, as an event aimed at bringing the fans closer to motorsport.

 

   

 

 

SUZUKA 10H is an endurance race that inherits the tradition of the former SUZUKA 1000 Km race that was until the year before last a round of the SUPER GT series. The participating cars are mainly FIA GT3 regulation cars, and through a partnership with GTA, promotor of SUPER GT, the JAF-GT300 regulation cars (including Mother Chassis cars) competing in the SUPER GT series will also be eligible to compete. With this, nine GT300 teams are entered for the race. As for the drivers, in addition to the teams’ regular drivers there will also be some GT500 class drivers participating with some of the overseas teams, etc.

 

   

 

   

 

   

 

SUZUKA 10H is an endurance race that inherits the tradition of the former SUZUKA 1000 Km race that was until the year before last a round of the SUPER GT series. The participating cars are mainly FIA GT3 regulation cars, and through a partnership with GTA, promotor of SUPER GT, the JAF-GT300 regulation cars (including Mother Chassis cars) competing in the SUPER GT series will also be eligible to compete. With this, nine GT300 teams are entered for the race. As for the drivers, in addition to the teams’ regular drivers there will also be some GT500 class drivers participating with some of the overseas teams, etc.

 

The parade started from the Motor sports Gate of Suzuka Circuit and ran along the public road commonly known as Circuit Road (officially: Suzuka city street Kasado Tsutsumigaura route) to the special event venue set up at AEON MALL Suzuka and return to the circuit by the same route. Leading the parade were motorcycles and patrol cars of the Mie Prefectural Police and open convertibles carrying Mie Governor Eikei Suzuki, Suzuka Mayor Noriko Suematsu and GTA Chairman Masaaki Bandoh, followed by 35 SUZUKA 10H participating race machines, bringing the grand total to 63 vehicles. The parade covered a route with a total length of 6.6 km.

 

   

 

   

 

   

 

 

At the event venue at AEON MALL Suzuka, Governor Suzuki, Mayor Suematsu and GTA Chairman Bandoh were on hand for the opening ceremony, and visitors saw race machines on display along with a good number of special attractions.

 

   

 

 

Attention also focused on the talk show featuring drivers participating in the SUZUKA 10H. On stage for the first of the two talk sessions were former F1 World Champion Mika Hakkinen, who is entered to race for the first time in some while, and star GT500 driver Hiroaki Ishiura of the No.1 1 PLANEX SMACAM RACING team.

 

   

 

Featured in the second talk session were another star driver Juichi Wakisaka (No. 60 LM corsa), who also returns to a GT car race for the first time in a while, and Nobuteru Taniguchi and Kamui Kobayashi (No. 00 Mercedes-AMG Team Goodsmile), three drivers well known to SUPER GT fans.

 

   

 

 

At the same time there was an autograph event featuring the drivers who participated in the parade this time, and a display of the racecars entered in the SUZUKA 10H. Furthermore, there were displays of other 2- and 4-wheeler race machines based at Suzuka and a demo ride event featuring trial and motocross riders showing off their amazing skills.

 

   

 

   

 

   

 

 

Page Top