Suzuka 10H Canceled; Replacement Round Planned

The Suzuka 10 Hours has fallen victim to the COVID-19 pandemic as organizers have been forced to cancel the Asian round of the Intercontinental GT Challenge powered by Pirelli.

Following the postponement of the Total 24 Hours of Spa to October, the Suzuka 10 Hours was set to be the next event on the IGTC schedule, slated for Aug. 21-23.

However, “preventative COVID-19 measures internationally” and Japan’s own strict travel restrictions could be extended throughout summer.

Japan sits with over 16,000 confirmed cases of coronavirus and 777 deaths as of May 22, 2020.

As a result, circuit owner Mobilityland Corporation has decided to cancel the 49th edition of Japan’s summer endurance classic rather than reschedule due to the “already packed autumn schedule”.

“We have decided to cancel the BH Auction SMBC Suzuka 10 Hours Endurance Race in light of the nature of this race event with many participant teams coming from Europe and other countries around the world,” said Kaoru Tanaka, President Representative Director of Mobilityland Corporation.

“We want to express our regrets to all the fans who were looking forward to attending the Suzuka 10 Hours and all of the other stakeholders involved in this race event and ask for a kind understanding regarding this unavoidable cancellation.”

The SRO Motorsports Group is working on a potential opportunity to stage a fifth event as part of the IGTC season elsewhere, with a decision expected before the end of June.

The Indianapolis 8 Hours is now scheduled to host the second round of the globe-trotting series on Oct. 2-4, with Spa and the Kyalami 9 Hour also still penciled in for Oct. 22-25 and Nov. 19-21, respectively.