Super GT - Super GT Round 7

Super GT Round 7 takes place at Autopolis International Racing Course in Japan for the 2026 season. This race is a 3-hour endurance event that features both GT500 and GT300 class competition. The supergt series brings 43 cars to this challenging circuit, with 14 entries in GT500 and 29 in GT300.

The Autopolis Circuit

Autopolis International Racing Course sits near Kamitsue village in Ōita Prefecture, Japan. The circuit opened in 1990 and measures 4.673 km (2.904 miles) in length. Drivers face 18 or 19 turns and navigate an elevation change of over 50 meters (160 ft). The track descends in its first section and climbs uphill in the latter portion. The start/finish straight sits at an altitude of 820 meters (2,690 ft).

Yoshitoshi Sakurai designed this circuit. He previously led the Honda F1 team in the 1960s. The mountainous location provides spectacular views but creates access challenges through narrow, winding roads. The technical layout combines high-speed sweepers with tight hairpins. This mix demands precision from drivers and creates multiple overtaking opportunities throughout the race.

GT500 Class Competitors

The GT500 class features 14 cars from three Japanese manufacturers. Toyota fields the GR Supra, Honda brings the HRC Prelude-GT, and Nissan competes with the Z NISMO GT500.

Toyota Teams

Toyota enters five GR Supra cars for this round. TGR Team au TOM'S fields defending champions Sho Tsuboi and Kenta Yamashita in car number 36. TGR Team KeePer Cerumo runs Toshiki Oyu and Rikuto Kobayashi. TGR Team ENEOS ROOKIE pairs Nirei Fukuzumi with Kazuya Oshima. TGR Team WedsSport Bandoh enters Yuji Kunimoto and Sena Sakaguchi on Yokohama tires. Team SARD completes the Toyota lineup with Yuhi Sekiguchi and Sacha Fenestraz. Most Toyota teams use Bridgestone tires.

Honda Teams

Honda fields five HRC Prelude-GT entries. Team Kunimitsu runs Tadasuke Makino and Naoki Yamamoto. ARTA features Kakunoshin Ohta and Hiroki Otsu. Modulo Nakajima Racing pairs Igor Omura Fraga with Koudai Tsukakoshi on Dunlop tires. Other Honda teams rely on Bridgestone rubber.

Nissan Teams

Nissan enters three Z NISMO GT500 cars. Tsugio Matsuda retired from driving to become NISMO's Team Director. Atsushi Miyake moved to Kondo Racing to drive the No. 24 car, which switched to Bridgestone tires. Team Impul and NISMO continue with Bridgestone compounds.

GT300 Class Competition

The GT300 class brings 29 cars across 10 makes and 14 unique vehicle models. This class includes FIA GT3 cars, GTA-GT300 regulation cars, and Mother Chassis (MC) vehicles. Ferrari introduces the 296 GT3 Evo, Porsche brings an updated 911 GT3 R, and BMW returns with the M4 GT3 EVO.

Tire Suppliers in GT300

Yokohama supplies 17 of the 29 GT300 cars. Bridgestone equips six entries, Dunlop provides for four cars, and Michelin supports two vehicles.

Notable GT300 Entries

Team Eneos ROOKIE joins with a Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO. Hiroaki Ishiura and Tokiya Suzuki drive on Bridgestone tires. Velorex runs a Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo with Niklas Krütten and Yoshiaki Katayama. PONOS Racing fields Kei Cozzolino and Takuro Shinohara in a Ferrari on Yokohama tires. D'station Racing returns with Tomonobu Fujii and Charlie Fagg in an Aston Martin Vantage GT3 EVO. JLOC's Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO2 program includes Takashi Kogure and Daniil Kvyat in car #88. Team Mach brings back the sole surviving Mother Chassis car, the #5 Toyota (Dome) 86 MC.

Technical Regulations for 2026

The 2026 season introduces significant regulation changes focused on durability and cost reduction.

GT500 Regulations

Each GT500 car is limited to one engine for the entire season. Teams face a five-second stop penalty for any engine change. This reduces the previous allowance of two engines per season. The standard fuel flow rate decreased from 95 kg/h to 90.2 kg/h. Cars carrying over 50 kg of Success Weight face a further reduction to 88 kg/h. Beyond 67 kg of Success Weight, teams must install a success refueling restrictor that lengthens pit stop times. An even smaller restrictor applies above 84 kg of Success Weight. GT500 aerodynamic development is frozen through 2029. The 2026 season marks the final year of multi-tire manufacturer competition in Super GT before switching to a single supplier in 2027.

GT300 Regulations

GT300 cars follow FIA GT3, GT300, or GT300MC (Mother Chassis) regulations. Output restriction happens through air restrictors that limit engine air intake and control turbo boost pressure. Balance of Performance (BoP) for FIA GT3 cars is determined with cooperation between the GTA and SRO. GT300 teams also face a limit of one engine per season.

Autopolis in Super GT History

Autopolis has hosted Super GT races regularly since 2003. The circuit first held a Super GT race in 1999, an exhibition race won by Tom Coronel and Hidetoshi Mitsusada in a Honda NSX-GT.

The elevation changes and technical layout create unpredictable races. Strategic battles often define the outcome at this circuit. The mountainous location brings varied weather conditions, including fog and rain, which can impact qualifying and race results. Drivers stress the need for precision, as small mistakes receive heavy penalties on this track.

The 3-hour race format requires multiple pit stops, making strategy crucial. Safety car periods can reshape the race and offer opportunities for teams to gain track position through smart timing. Autopolis has produced remarkable comeback victories, with teams climbing from lower grid positions to reach the podium. Close finishes are common at this venue. The 2017 GT300 race saw a winning margin of just 0.091 seconds.

Circuit Background

Wealthy real-estate developer Tomonori Tsurumaki built Autopolis in 1990. He envisioned it as a retreat for the affluent and sponsored the Benetton F1 team in an attempt to host a Formula One race. Tsurumaki purchased a Pablo Picasso painting for $51.3 million to display in a gallery at the circuit.

Despite its high-standard facilities, Autopolis has never hosted a Formula One Grand Prix due to its remote location. The circuit faced financial difficulties and changed ownership several times. Kawasaki Heavy Industries (Kawasaki Motors) has owned the circuit since 2005.

The circuit's name references Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium. Nagayu Onsen, a hot spring with high carbon dioxide gas concentration, sits nearby, creating the "SPA" connection. Autopolis hosts various motorsport events beyond Super GT, including Super Formula, Super Taikyu, and MFJ Superbike.

What to Expect from Round 7

This 3-hour endurance race at Autopolis promises intense competition across both classes. The technical circuit layout tests driver skill and team strategy. The elevation changes and varied corners create opportunities for position changes throughout the race. Weather conditions in this mountainous region can add an extra challenge. Teams must balance tire management, fuel strategy, and the new engine regulations to succeed at this demanding venue. The supergt series delivers close racing at Autopolis, where every decision matters over the 3-hour distance.