Super GT Round 4 Race 1

Super GT Round 4 Race 1 brings the premier Japanese touring car series to Fuji International Speedway for a 300-kilometer battle between GT500 and GT300 class competitors. This supergt event features the combined categories racing together, with two drivers sharing duties in each car. The race format ensures no single driver completes more than two-thirds of the race distance. A rolling start procedure launches the action, with cars following a safety car before the green flag waves.

The Circuit at Fuji International Speedway

Fuji International Speedway sits at the eastern foothills of Mount Fuji in Oyama, Shizuoka Prefecture, approximately 100 kilometers southeast of Tokyo. The circuit measures 4.563 kilometers in length and contains 16 turns. Toyota Motor has owned the facility since 2000. The current layout reopened in 2005 following a redesign by Hermann Tilke.

The main straight stretches approximately 1.475 kilometers, ranking among the longest in international motorsport. GT500 cars reach speeds around 270-280 km/h before heavy braking into Turn 1. The track features an elevation change of about 30 meters and holds an FIA Grade 1 license. Located around 550 meters above sea level, the circuit can experience rapidly changing weather conditions. The views of Mount Fuji create a distinctive backdrop for racing action.

GT500 Class Competitors

Three Japanese manufacturers compete in the GT500 class with full factory support. Toyota, Honda, and Nissan each field multiple entries.

Toyota GT500 Teams

TGR Team au TOM'S runs the #36 car with Sho Tsuboi and Kenta Yamashita, the defending GT500 drivers' champions. TGR Team KeePer Cerumo fields the #38 entry with Rikuto Kobayashi, promoted from GT300, alongside Toshiki Oyu. TGR Team ENEOS Rookie operates the #14 car with Nirei Fukuzumi and Kazuya Oshima. Racing Project Bandoh retains Yuji Kunimoto and Sena Sakaguchi in the #19. TGR Team SARD continues with Yuhi Sekiguchi and Sacha Fenestraz in the #39. Team TOM'S fields the #37 with Giuliano Alesi and Ukyo Sasahara.

Honda GT500 Teams

The #8 ARTA Honda operates as a works team with direct HRC support, driven by Kakunoshin Ohta and Hiroki Otsu. The #16 ARTA Honda features Tomoki Nojiri and Ren Sato. Nakajima Racing runs the #64 with Igor Omura Fraga, a GT300 graduate. Real Racing Honda pairs Koudai Tsukakoshi with Yuto Nomura, the reigning Super Formula Lights champion, in the #17.

Nissan GT500 Teams

Nissan fields three Nissan Z NISMO GT500 cars. Team Impul runs the #12 with Kazuki Hiramine and Bertrand Baguette. NISMO operates the #23 with Katsumasa Chiyo and Mitsunori Takaboshi. Tsugio Matsuda moves from driver to Team Director for NISMO. Kondo Racing fields the #24 with Atsushi Miyake and Teppei Natori.

GT300 Class Entries

The GT300 class combines FIA GT3 cars with original GTA-GT300 regulation vehicles. Team Eneos ROOKIE joins with the #32 Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO, driven by 2007 GT300 Champion Hiroaki Ishiura and rookie Tokiya Suzuki. Velorex runs the #6 Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo with Niklas Krütten and Yoshiaki Katayama. PONOS Racing retains Kei Cozzolino and Takuro Shinohara for the #45 Ferrari, switching to Yokohama tires.

D'station Racing returns Tomonobu Fujii and Charlie Fagg for their third season in the #777 Aston Martin Vantage GT3 EVO. R'Qs Motor Sports uses a four-driver rotation of Hisashi Wada, Masaki Jyonai, Masaki Kano, and Yuma Shoji. The sole surviving GT300 Mother Chassis, the #5 Toyota (Dome) 86 MC of Team Mach, returns with Yusuke Shiotsu as one driver. JLOC confirms Daniil Kvyat in one of their Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO2s. Porsche contracted driver Sven Müller returns with seven x seven Racing.

Tire suppliers for GT300 include Yokohama, Bridgestone, Dunlop, and Michelin.

Technical Regulations for the Season

Several regulation changes affect the competition. GT500 and GT300 cars now use one engine per season, reduced from two previously. The standard fuel flow rate for GT500 engines drops from 95 kilograms per hour to 90.2 kg/h.

Success Weight System

The Success Weight system receives revisions. Cars accumulating over 50 kg of Success Weight face a further fuel flow rate reduction to 88 kg/h. Success Refueling Restrictors increase pit stop times when cars reach 68-84 kg and 85-100 kg of nominal Success Weight.

Additional Technical Rules

GT500 cars use GTA-designated fuel, while GT300 cars must use fuel sold by the organizer. This season marks the final year with multiple tire manufacturers competing, as the series switches to a single tire manufacturer in each class from 2027. GT500 aerodynamic development remains frozen through the 2029 season. Individuals cannot register as both a regular racing driver and team director simultaneously, though team directors can serve as reserve drivers.

Fuji International Speedway History

Fuji International Speedway opened in January 1966. The original concept called for an American-style superspeedway, but funding limitations resulted in a road course design. The circuit has hosted Formula 1 races during 1976-1977 and 2007-2008, plus FIA World Endurance Championship events. Super GT, previously known as the All Japan Grand Touring Car Championship (JGTC), has raced at Fuji since 1993.

The circuit's long straights and technical corners like the 100R challenge drivers and teams. The setting provides dramatic racing conditions with mountain weather patterns affecting strategy.

Special Features for This Race

The race carries the "SUPER GT Summer Vacation Special" promotion. Junior high school students and younger receive free admission. Special summer food stalls serve attendees, and limited-edition trading cards are distributed to spectators. A unique "Splash Seat" spectator area offers a way to stay cool, with attendees getting soaked as a heat relief measure.

Super GT Round 4 Race 1 at Fuji International Speedway showcases Japan's top touring car championship. The combination of GT500 and GT300 classes creates varied competition across the 300-kilometer distance. The circuit's characteristics, from the extended main straight to elevation changes, test driver skill and team strategy. Both classes feature strong manufacturer support and diverse international talent.