Suzuka Returns to IGTC in Expanded 2025 Schedule

Photo: SRO

Suzuka is set return to the Intercontinental GT Challenge calendar for the first time in six years, with a 1000km race to be staged in 2025, pending a final agreement from circuit owner Mobilityland.

Announced during Friday’s SRO Motorsports Group press conference at Spa-Francorchamps, the revived Asian leg of the globe-trotting GT3 series is set for a yet-to-be-announced date in September, resulting in a return to a five-round IGTC calendar for the first time since 2023.

The race will be run as its traditional 1000km length rather than the ten-hour format that featured on the 2018 and 2019 editions and will be organized entirely by SRO.

It then dropped off the IGTC schedule as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, with SRO founder and CEO Stephane Ratel having held continued discussions with Mobilityland or a revival of the GT3 enduro.

The last Suzuka 1000km was held in 2017 as a round of SUPER GT and had previously also been part of the FIA GT Championship and BPR Global GT Series.

While not counting towards a round of Fanatec GT World Challenge Asia powered by AWS, Asian teams will be encouraged to join in the SRO-organized event.

The new-for-2024 Japan Cup is expected to serve as a support race to the Suzuka 1000km, which is expected to run through dusk and into the night.

Next year’s IGTC season will again kick off with the Repco Bathurst 12 Hour in early February, followed by 24-hour races at the Nürburgring and Spa on back-to-back weekends in June, prior to the highly anticipated return to Japan.

The Indianapolis 8 Hour powered by AWS will again close out the season in October, as part of the Fantec GT World Challenge America powered by AWS season finale.

2025 Intercontinental GT Challenge Schedule:
Feb. 2 – Repco Bathurst 12 Hour
June 21-22 – Nürburgring 24
June 28-29 – CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa
September – Suzuka 1000km
Oct. 4 – Indianapolis 8 Hour

John Dagys

John Dagys is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Sportscar365. Dagys spent eight years as a motorsports correspondent for FOXSports.com and SPEED Channel and has contributed to numerous other motorsports publications worldwide. Contact John