SRO Motorsports Group has announced details of its joint venture with Super GT Series organiser GTA and Mobilityland, which will see the first ever joint GT3/GT300 race. The 10-hour endurance event will take place at Suzuka Circuit in Japan on 23-26 August 2018.
The event will take the place of Super GT’s Suzuka 1000km race, which will be staged for the final time later, in its current configuration, this season. Organisers state that ‘its history will live on’ through what will become the 47th Summer Endurance Suzuka 10 Hours.
SRO already oversees Super GT’s GT300 BoP, but this is the first time both the Japanese championship class and GT3 have had the chance to compete against one another.
Manufacturers, teams and drivers currently contesting SRO promoted and partner GT3 series – such as the Blancpain GT Series in Europe and Asia, Pirelli World Challenge in America, British GT Championship, and endurance races forming the Intercontinental GT Challenge (Bathurst 12 Hours, Total 24 Hours of Spa, California 8 Hours and Motul Sepang 12 Hours) will be eligable to take on Japan’s premier GT cars.
Times remain TBC but the race is expected to start at 10:30 local time and run into the evening before finishing at 20:30. A total prize fund of US$874,000 has also been confirmed.
“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,” said Susumu Yamashita, Mobilityland Co. Ltd. president. “In collaboration, the Suzuka Circuit will provide the dream stage where worldwide GT series will gather in the prospect of future worldwide expansion. We are determined to, together with the entire local region, fully support the event, the public, the entrants and all of those involved in this promising project. By implementing this new project, we aim to create and nourish a brand new festive summer style which will certainly also promote new values.”
“Following the GT Association vision concept, this new project will constitute one more link and step into the globalisation of the Super GT Series,” added Masaaki Bandoh, president of GT Association Co. Ltd. “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.”
