2026 SUPER GT Series Reduced to Seven Races Following Malaysia Race Postponement
The GT Association (GTA) has officially confirmed a significant change to the 2026 Autobacs SUPER GT Series, which will now consist of just seven races. This decision comes in the wake of the postponement of the Malaysia GT 300km Race at Petronas Sepang International Circuit to 2027, a consequence of ongoing geopolitical tensions affecting Malaysia.
Initially slated for June, the Sepang race was postponed indefinitely due to the Iran war, leading Malaysia to issue a work-from-home order for government employees and restrict large events deemed non-essential. Following consultations with teams and stakeholders, the GTA opted not to schedule a replacement event, resulting in the first season with fewer than eight championship rounds since 2004.
Historical context reveals that in 2010, a similar situation occurred when Typhoon Hagibis forced the cancellation of the penultimate round at Fuji, allowing only seven races to be completed. However, since the Sepang event is classified as postponed—not canceled—subsequent races will retain their original round numbers, albeit becoming effectively the third through seventh races of the season.
The modified 2026 SUPER GT Series calendar is as follows:
- 11–12 April: Okayama International Circuit (300km)
- 3–4 May: Fuji Speedway (3 Hours)
- 1–2 August: Fuji Speedway (300km)
- 22–23 August: Suzuka Circuit (300km)
- 19–20 September: Sportsland Sugo (300km)
- 17–18 October: Autopolis International Racing Course (3 Hours)
- 7–8 November: Mobility Resort Motegi (300km)
These updates reflect the commitment of the GTA to navigate the complexities of global challenges while maintaining a competitive racing environment in Japan.
