Fuji Super TEC 24 Hour Race: TKRI Secures Victory Amidst Challenging Conditions
In a significant display of endurance racing, Tatsuya Kataoka, driving for TK Racing, claimed victory at the 2025 Fuji Super TEC 24 Hour Race in a Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO. This marks Kataoka’s third overall win in the event, tying him with Kiyoto Fujinami for the most victories in its brief history.
Kataoka shared the #23 TKRI Mercedes with co-drivers Daisuke Matsunaga, Shunji Okumoto, Yuhki Nakayama, and Yuya Motojima. They finished a narrow 54.559 seconds ahead of the #666 seven x seven Racing Porsche 911 GT3 R, driven by Fujinami, Hiroyuki "Bankcy" Ogawa, Taichi Watarai, and João Paulo de Oliveira. The race concluded with the second-closest margin in its history, solidifying seven x seven Racing’s lead in the ST-X Class Championship.
The race was significantly impacted by adverse weather conditions, resulting in a shortened duration of 23 hours. Heavy rain and fog led to multiple Safety Car interventions and two lengthy red flags, with nearly three and a half hours of lost time. Notably, the pole-sitting #33 Craft-Bamboo Racing Mercedes-AMG, initially in control, retired due to an exhaust failure and accrued additional mechanical issues.
As the race progressed, the challenging conditions diminished the competition. The #101 Hitotsuyama Racing Audi R8 LMS GT3 EVO II finished third after experiencing a right-rear tire issue, resulting in an 11-lap deficit.
Technical challenges plagued several contenders, including the #81 GTNET MotorSports Nissan GT-R, which faced a drivetrain failure while running second overall, ultimately finishing 45th.
In class highlights, Team ZeroOne’s #25 Nissan Z NISMO GT4 secured a vital victory in the ST-Z class, overcoming a tumultuous weekend for Nissan’s GT4 program. Meanwhile, the D’station Racing Porsche 911 GT3 Cup clinched the ST-1 victory, following issues with the #2 K’s Frontier KTM Cars X-Bow GTX.
The ST-2 category saw the #72 Nihon Automobile College Honda Civic Type R secure its first win, while the ST-3 class was won by Tracy Sports with Delta in a Lexus RC 350.
TKRI’s win strengthens their position in the Eneos Super Taikyu Series, showcasing resilience amid the unpredictable conditions of Fuji Speedway. With the race’s challenges providing ample drama, the event reaffirmed the exceptional skill and strategic acumen required in endurance racing.
