Super GT: ARTA MUGEN HRC PRELUDE Sweeps GT500 at Suzuka

Super GT: ARTA MUGEN HRC PRELUDE Sweeps GT500 at Suzuka

Round 5 of the AUTOBACS SUPER GT 2026 series brought brutal 34℃ mid-summer heat to Suzuka Circuit. High track temperatures pushed tyre endurance to the limit across the 300km distance, forcing teams to navigate severe degradation and backmarker traffic before a late-race incident neutralised the field.

Event Overview

  • Event: Suzuka GT 300km Race (Round 5)
  • Track: Suzuka Circuit
  • Series: AUTOBACS SUPER GT 2026
  • Distance: 300km (52 Laps)

Class Winners

  • GT500: #16 ARTA MUGEN HRC PRELUDE-GT (ARTA MUGEN) - Tomoki Nojiri and Ren Sato
  • GT300: #9 PACIFIC UMA MUSUME NAC BMW (PACIFIC RACING TEAM) - Yusuke Tomibayashi and Yuta Fujiwara

Highlights

  • HRC Podium Sweep: The #16 ARTA MUGEN HRC PRELUDE-GT running on Bridgestone tyres chased down the pole-sitting #17 Astemo car, executing a decisive pass on lap 37 through backmarker traffic. The #8 ARTA MUGEN car secured third to complete a full Honda HRC GT500 podium lockout.
  • BMW's Pole-to-Finish: In the GT300 class, the #9 PACIFIC UMA MUSUME NAC BMW leveraged Michelin tyres to convert a pole position into a flawless victory, maintaining pace to hold off a late charge from the #7 CARGUY Ferrari 296 GT3 EVO on Yokohama rubber.
  • Late Safety Car Neutralisation: A major GT300 incident with four laps remaining triggered a Safety Car deployment. The race concluded under SC conditions, locking the grid order and denying any final-lap tyre gambles or overtakes.

Photo credits: Honda Racing Corporation