Super GT Round 5 Race 1

Super GT Round 5 Race 1 brings the SUZUKA GT 300km RACE to Suzuka Circuit in Japan as part of the AUTOBACS SUPER GT Series. This race represents a critical mid-season event where championship positions begin to solidify. The 300km sprint format at one of Japan's most technical circuits creates unique challenges for teams and drivers alike. Hot summer conditions test both machinery and strategy, while the Success Weight system plays a significant role in determining competitive order.

The SUZUKA GT 300km RACE

The race at Suzuka Circuit runs as a 300km sprint event. Teams face demanding conditions due to high temperatures and humidity typical of late summer in Japan. The Success Weight system influences car performance significantly at this stage of the season. Cars carrying heavier Success Weight face additional fuel flow restrictions, which affects their race pace and pit stop strategy. This system creates opportunities for teams that performed less strongly in earlier rounds.

Suzuka Circuit Overview

Suzuka Circuit measures 5.807 kilometers in length and holds FIA Grade 1 certification. Honda Mobilityland operates this facility, which can accommodate 155,000 spectators. The track features a width between 10 and 16 meters and includes 52 meters of elevation change. John Hugenholtz designed the circuit, which opened in September 1962.

The circuit uses a figure-eight layout with a unique crossover section. Key sections include the sweeping opening corners, the technical Esses, the Turn 11 hairpin, and the final chicane. These areas provide the main overtaking opportunities. The balanced nature of the circuit rewards both high-speed stability and precise cornering ability.

GT500 Class Competitors

Three manufacturers compete in the GT500 class at Super GT Round 5 Race 1. Each brand brings distinct strengths to Suzuka Circuit.

Honda Entries

Honda campaigns the HRC Prelude-GT model. The No.100 Stanley Kunimitsu entry features drivers Naoki Yamamoto and Tadasuke Makino. The No.8 Team HRC ARTA Mugen car runs with Hiroki Otsu and Kakunoshin Ohta. Honda secured a double victory at the previous Fuji round. The Astemo REAL RACING team carries the lightest Success Weight among Bridgestone-equipped Honda entries.

Toyota Entries

Toyota fields the GR Supra across multiple teams. The No.36 au TOM'S GR Supra, driven by Sho Tsuboi and Kenta Yamashita, leads the championship standings. This car carries 80 kilograms of Success Weight. The No.37 entry seeks another Suzuka victory, while the No.19 car benefits from lighter weight restrictions. Toyota holds four positions within the top five championship places.

Nissan Entries

Nissan competes with the Nissan Z. The No.23 NISMO Nissan won this race in the previous year. The team aims to recover from a difficult performance at Fuji.

GT300 Class Competition

The GT300 class features diverse machinery and driver combinations. Expected entries include the No.88 VENTENY Lamborghini GT3 with Takashi Kogure and Daniil Kvyat. The No.18 UPGARAGE AMG GT3 runs with Takashi Kobayashi and Kotaro Shimbara. The No.5 MACHSYAKEN AIR BUSTER MC86 MACH GO features Yusuke Shiotsu and Souta Arao. The No.61 SUBARU BRZ R&D SPORT entry includes Takuto Iguchi and Hideki Yamauchi.

Technical Regulations

The supergt series introduced several regulation changes this season. GT500 class teams must use a single engine throughout the entire season. Any engine change results in a five-second stop penalty at the final race. The standard fuel flow rate decreased from 95 kilograms per hour to 90.2 kilograms per hour.

Cars carrying more than 50 kilograms of Success Weight face an additional fuel flow reduction to 88 kilograms per hour. Success refueling restrictors adjust pit stop refueling times based on each car's Success Weight. GT500 technical regulations remain frozen through 2029 to reduce costs. New GT500 car models will not appear before 2030.

Multiple tire manufacturers compete against each other this season. The series will switch to a single tire supplier for each class starting next year.

Circuit History

Suzuka Circuit began operations in September 1962. The venue has hosted Super GT races since 1993, with continuous events from 1995 to present. The circuit previously held the Suzuka 1000km endurance race as part of the Super GT calendar. Suzuka also hosts Formula One and Japanese Super Formula championships.

Notable Characteristics

Suzuka Circuit stands as one of few facilities worldwide with a figure-eight configuration. The track crosses over itself via a bridge section. The technical layout combined with summer weather conditions creates substantial demands on cars and drivers. Multi-class racing between GT500 and GT300 cars adds strategic complexity. Speed differences between classes require constant awareness from all drivers.

Success Weight penalties, fuel flow restrictions, and tire degradation combine to make strategy crucial. Teams must balance race pace with fuel consumption and tire life. The 300km distance requires careful planning for pit stop timing and fuel loads. Temperature management becomes critical for both engines and tires during the race.

Super GT Round 5 Race 1 at Suzuka Circuit offers close competition across both classes. The combination of technical challenges, weather conditions, and regulatory factors creates opportunities for different teams to succeed. Championship implications add further significance to results at this mid-season race in Japan.