The “46th International SUZUKA 1000km, Round 6 of the SUPER GT series will take place at Saturday, August 26 and Sunday, August 27. And this year’s SUZUKA 1000km is scheduled to be a historical one.
The SUZUKA 1000km is the longest race on the GTA series calendar and usually turns out to be a very decisive race in the SUPER GT season. The GT500 class technical regulations have been revised for the 2017 season, which means that all of the cars entered in the class are all newly developed vehicles. In addition to that, there are many new vehicles competing in the GT300 class as well. Thus, the race is likely to be up in the air in a completely different way from the race last year.
The Lexus LC500 should be the center of attention due to the overwhelming performance in the GT500 class it has displayed since the pre-season debut and test sessions. The Lexus cars have proven their strength by dominating the podium of the two opening rounds of the 2017 SUPER GT series season. How they perform in over the long 1000km distance this race could be the key to victory for the Lexus teams.
Rival teams Honda and Nissan, however, are not looking on with their arms folded. The Honda NSX-GT is the only car with a mid-ship engine layout. As the GT500 common monocoque is made on the premise of being used for a front-engine car, manufacturing the mid-ship engine car involves numerous difficulties. The more development of the NSX-GT progresses, the more it is expected to achieve ideal handling when cornering and do well at a technical circuit like Suzuka.
The Nissan GT-R delivered superb performance in Round 2 of the series to qualify second and succeeded in breaking the complete dominance of the Lexus cars to finish the race in fourth place. Given the strength by winning the championship crown three times in the past five years, there is no doubt that the Nissan GT-R will weigh in strongly with further repercussions during the season.
Above all, the SUZUKA 1000 km is a survival race contested over a distance more than three times the usual races on the calendar. Weather and heat affect the race development a lot, and as a result, various drama has unfolded here every year. There is no doubt that the race this year will not be an exception.
The biggest topic of this year’s event is the fact that this season is the last for the Suzuka 1000 km as a round of the SUPER GT series.
From 2018, it will be reborn as a new form of endurance race, so this year will be the last chance to enjoy the SUPER GT SUZUKA 1000km.
A landmark announcement was made from Suzuka Circuit at the Suzuka Fan Appreciation Day, that the International Suzuka 1000km, will evolve into the Suzuka 10 Hour Endurance Race from 2018 onwards.
This final SUZUKA 1000 km will surely be one where the new type GT 500 machines will compete ruthlessly. Enjoy experiencing the excitement firsthand at the track.
Please check out the full story over on SPOT-Report complete with highlights and the official laps/times of the finish.
