10 Porsche 911 GT3 R will compete across the Pro, Pro-Am and Bronze classes this weekend at the 50th edition of the Suzuka 1000km, which acts as the penultimate round of the 2026 Intercontinental GT Challenge season. Additionally, SRO Japan Cup and Porsche Carrera Cup Japan will be in support of the iconic enduro.

Suzuka 1000km

The marque names two strong Pro line-ups, with the first seeing AO Racing joining forces with Absolute Racing. Laurin Heinrich and Julien Andlauer will be back racing together after taking victories as teammates in IMSA SportsCar Championship this year, winning at both Daytona and Sebring in the Porsche 963.

They’ll be partnered by Porsche driver Alessio Picariello in the #8 AO by Absolute Racing Porsche 911 GT3 R. Absolute Racing will also have a second entry in the race, as current Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters (DTM) Drivers’ Champion Ayhancan Güven steps into the #7 car.

His teammates for this event will be 2026 Bathurst 12 Hour second-place finisher Dorian Boccolacci and 2025 Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup victor Alessandro Ghiretti, who complete a star-studded trio. Tsunami RT makes its third appearance in Intercontinental GT Challenge this year, with Daniel Gaunt, Fabio Babini and Johannes Zelger competing in the Pro-Am class, alongside the Independent Cup.

The further seven Porsche 911 GT3 R will be racing in the Bronze category, as Porsche Center Okazaki sends two cars to the gruelling enduro. Hiroaki Nagai, Kazuto Kotaka and Hibiki Taira head up the squad’s #18 machine, while GT World Challenge Asia regular duo Kiyoshi Uchiyama and Tsubasa Kondo are joined by Yuta Kamimura. Bingo Racing with LM Corsa’s Shinji Takei and Ukyo Sasahara will be busy taking on both Suzuka 1000km and SRO Japan Cup, with Porsche Carrera Cup Japan racer Reimei Ito joining them for the enduro.

The other cars, as well as the Tsunami RT entry, will be fighting to score points for their nominated FIA Bronze-graded drivers in the Intercontinental GT Challenge Independent Cup. Kerong Li currently leads the standings, with Anders Fjordbach and Joel Sturm partnering up with the Chinese racer in the #86 High Class Racing car for this round.

Current Porsche ARbox Carrera Cup Asia Masters’ titleholder Adrian D’Silva teams up with Leo Ye and Mathieu Jaminet, who returns to the event for the first time since 2018.

Herberth Motorsport names the same driver line-up that secured third in class last year, as Ralf Bohn competes alongside Robert and Alfred Renauer. Meanwhile, Jonathan Hui, Chris Froggatt and Eddie Cheever III pilot the #93 Ziggo Sport Tempesta Racing entry.

Porsche has a rich history at this event, taking the most overall victories of any manufacturer, securing 11 wins with its maiden success dating back to the 1967 edition. The 2025 enduro was the first in five years, which saw Porsche Motorsport Asia Pacific customer team Absolute Racing clinch second and fourth overall, alongside Bronze honours.

Thanks to strong performances at Bathurst, Nürburgring and Spa, Porsche comes into the penultimate round of the 2026 Intercontinental GT Challenge season leading the Manufacturers’ Championship, holding an eight-point advantage. This makes the results this weekend even more important as the marque looks to remain in a strong position ahead of the season finale at Indianapolis next month.

This will be the 50th running of the Suzuka 1000km around the much-loved circuit, with its unique figure of-eight shape. The 5.807-kilometre track is home to some of the sport’s most famous corners such as the Esses, Spoon Curve and the formidable 130R.

Testing kicks off the weekend’s action on Friday at 09:10 local time (UTC+9), with Night Practice from 17:50. Saturday begins with Pre-Qualifying at 10:40 before Qualifying gets underway at 17:40 later that day. Sunday sees lights out for the six-and-a-half hour enduro at 12:50, with the event concluding in the night at Suzuka.

Hiroaki Nagai, Porsche Center Okazaki: “We’re very excited to take on the prestigious Suzuka 1000km on the global Intercontinental GT Challenge stage. We’ll use our experience from GT World Challenge Asia as we focus on having a clean and consistent race. Alongside my teammates, we’ll be aiming for a strong performance in our class.”

Kazuto Kotaka, Porsche Center Okazaki: “Suzuka 1000km is a special race for every driver. Endurance racing requires not only speed, but also teamwork and strategy. We’re well prepared as a crew and we’ll push hard until the very end to bring home the best possible result.”

Hibiki Taira, Porsche Center Okazaki: “I’m excited to compete in this year’s Suzuka 1000km, battling on such a competitive grid against many top global outfits. I love Suzuka International Racing Course and will work to maximise the potential of the Porsche 911 GT3 R. Together with my teammates, I’ll fight all the way for a podium finish in our class.”

Kiyoshi Uchiyama, Porsche Center Okazaki: “After the GT World Challenge Asia round in Okayama, the team has worked incredibly hard to get the car ready for the Suzuka 1000km. I was once again reminded of the strength of this crew. This will be my first endurance race, and I’m determined to deliver a strong result and repay everyone for all their hard work.”

Tsubasa Kondo, Porsche Center Okazaki: “I’m looking forward to making my Suzuka 1000km debut this weekend. I’ll use my experience from GT World Challenge Asia and work with Kiyoshi and Yuta to fight for a strong class result.”

Yuta Kamimura, Porsche Center Okazaki: “I’m excited to race again with Porsche Center Okazaki, after sharing a podium with Kiyoshi at Sepang last year in GT World Challenge Asia. It’ll be great to team up with Tsubasa for the first time and together, we’ll fight for a class podium at the Suzuka 1000km!”

Shinji Takei, Bingo Racing with LM Corsa: “Our early retirement at the 2025 Suzuka 1000km has strengthened our determination heading into this year’s edition. With the new Porsche 911 GT3 R and two fast teammates, we’re ready to fight together. We’re also taking on the final round of the SRO Japan Cup in Suzuka this weekend, with the championship still to be decided. We know it will be a tough battle, but we’re going to give it everything.”

Ukyo Sasahara, Bingo Racing with LM Corsa: “It’s a great honour to once again race in the Suzuka 1000km. The Bronze class features an exceptionally skilled level of competition, making the demands on both the team and drivers extremely high. We’re also taking on the season finale of the SRO Japan Cup at Suzuka this weekend. This is the culmination of everything we’ve worked for throughout the year, and our entire crew is fully focused on converting that into a victory. It will be a demanding few days, but we will give everything we have to fight for the best possible results across both championships.”

Reimei Ito, Bingo Racing with LM Corsa: “I’m excited to race at the prestigious Suzuka 1000km again. After last year’s disappointment, we’re back and I’ll give everything I have to contribute to the team and fight for the best possible result. It will be a tough weekend with a double entry alongside Porsche Carrera Cup Japan, but we’re ready for the challenge.”

Mathieu Jaminet, EBM: “I’m looking forward to returning to Suzuka as I haven’t raced in this event since 2018. It will also be great to compete with EBM again, this time alongside new teammates in Adrian and Leo. I’m confident that we’ve got a competitive car and the aim is to achieve a good result for the team.”

SRO Japan Cup

The weekend’s action also sees the conclusion of the 2026 SRO Japan Cup campaign, with two Porsche entries taking on the event. As mentioned, Shinji Takei and Ukyo Sasahara will be competing in both Suzuka 1000km and SRO Japan Cup.

The Bingo Racing with LM corsa duo currently sits second in the GT3 drivers’ standings, still in contention for the title with just two races to go. Zenko RS Garage with Sunrise BLVD’s Yoshitomo Makino and Takeshi Suehiro secured the GT4 Drivers’ Championship last time out in Okayama after a double victory.

The pair will still be aiming to finish the season off strongly in the #82 Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport.

Testing and Official Practice takes place on Friday from 08:00 and 14:00 local time (UTC+9) respectively, before Qualifying on Saturday morning at 09:00. The opener gets underway at 13:45 later that day, with the final race of the 2026 season beginning on Sunday at 09:10.

Alexandre Gibot, Managing Director Porsche Motorsport Asia Pacific Ltd.: “We’re looking forward to taking on the 50th running of the Suzuka 1000km this weekend. With our two Pro cars and our additional eight entries across the Pro-Am and Bronze classes, we’re confident that we’ve got a strong package and can be competitive at the penultimate round of the Intercontinental GT Challenge season. It’s fantastic to once again be the most-represented manufacturer at the event for the second consecutive year and it shows the confidence our customers have in our products and support. Porsche Carrera Cup Japan will be racing at Suzuka as well as SRO Japan Cup, where we’ll be looking to add the GT3 drivers’ crown to the already clinched GT4 honours in Okayama. Porsche has a great history at Suzuka 1000km, and we hope to add to that this weekend.”