Yuya Motojima to Drive for Team 5Zigen in Suzuka 1000km
Reigning SUPER GT Series GT300 champion Yuya Motojima will compete for Team 5Zigen in the 49th Suzuka 1000km on September 14, marking his fifth consecutive appearance in Japan’s premier endurance race. Motojima will be behind the wheel of the #500 Nissan GT-R NISMO GT3, sharing driving duties with Yu Kanamaru and Takayuki Aoki.
The announcement confirms the full lineup of 99 drivers for the event, barring any late withdrawals. At 34 years old, Motojima is a significant asset to Team 5Zigen, having previously led JLOC to its first series title in 2022, where he notched four victories in eight races alongside co-driver Takashi Kogure.
While JLOC has struggled to replicate its past success this season, Motojima has found victories in different competitions, including the prestigious Fuji Super TEC 24 Hours and a win for Max Racing at the SRO Japan Cup’s opening round in Sugo.
Motojima’s experience with the Nissan GT-R NISMO GT3 dates back to his 2021 participation in the Fuji 24 Hours for MP Racing. Team 5Zigen, which supported JLOC during Motojima’s early seasons, recently celebrated Nissan’s first overall win in the GT World Challenge since 2021, with a top finish at the Suzuka round.
This season, Team 5Zigen has secured three sixth-place finishes overall and two wins in the Silver-Am Cup class at Buriram and Fuji, demonstrating ongoing competitiveness in the series.
The Suzuka 1000km promises to be a thrilling event as these seasoned drivers take on one of motorsport’s most enduring challenges.
