AUTOPOLIS INTERNATIONAL RACING COURSE PREPS FOR SUPER GT ACTION
As the 2026 Autobacs SUPER GT Series approaches its critical double-header at Mobility Resort Motegi on November 7-8, teams gear up for a pivotal race weekend at Autopolis International Racing Course in Kyushu, Japan. This event, scheduled to support earthquake relief efforts following the devastating July 28 earthquake in Kumamoto, underscores the series’ commitment to community support.
Championship Standings and Challenges
The #36 au TOM’S Toyota GR Supra GT500 duo of Sho Tsuboi and Kenta Yamashita leads the GT500 championship with a 13-point margin. However, they face the maximum Success Weight in this crucial “full weight” race. Last year’s outing at Autopolis was a setback for Tsuboi and Yamashita, who experienced overheating issues.
The competition is fierce, with 8 out of 14 GT500 cars carrying over 50 kg of Success Weight, affecting performance due to reduced engine fuel flow limits. Key contenders include the #17 Astemo Honda HRC Prelude-GT (Koudai Tsukakoshi/Yuto Nomura), the #100 Stanley Prelude-GT (Naoki Yamamoto/Tadasuke Makino), and the #16 ARTA Mugen Prelude-GT (Tomoki Nojiri/Ren Sato), all of which aim for valuable championship points.
A notable development involves Nissan, as Katsumasa Chiyo returns to the #23 Motul Autech Nissan Z GT500 following a foot injury. Nissan faces potential embarrassment, as the brand seeks to avoid its first winless season since 2002.
GT300 Landscape Shifts
In GT300, João Paulo de Oliveira and Iori Kimura in the #56 Realize/Nissan Mechanic Challenge GT-R extended their championship lead by 21 points after a strong performance at Sugo. Conversely, the #777 D’station Aston Martin Vantage GT3 Evo and the #7 CarGuy Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo faced challenges, both needing creative strategies this weekend to overcome Success Ballast complications.
The defending champions, seven x seven Racing, look to capitalize on momentum with their #666 Porsche 911 GT3 R driven by Sven Müller and rookie Taichi Watarai, both showing promising form. The #60 Syntium LM corsa Lexus LC500 is another car to watch as it seeks to build on its recent victory at Sugo.
Home-turf supporters will rally behind Hiroki Yoshida (#52 Saitama Green Brave Toyota GR Supra) and Takuto Iguchi (#61 Subaru BRZ R&D Sport), among others.
Qualifying and Race Details
Qualifying for the Autopolis 3 Hour Race begins Saturday at 2:30 PM JST, followed by the feature race on Sunday at 1:00 PM JST. English-language coverage will be available through RACER Network and RACER+, featuring commentators Jonathan Green, Jon Massengale, and RJ O’Connell.
As the championship race intensifies, all eyes will be on the formidable landscape of Autopolis, with high stakes for drivers and teams alike.
