Japan Cup to Become Standalone Four-Round Series

The SRO Motorsports Group Japan Cup will become a standalone four-round series next year when it breaks away from Fanatec GT World Challenge Asia powered by AWS.

The competition was first introduced in 2022 to help stabilize the Fanatec GT grid during the COVID-19 pandemic and attracted a large field of GT3 cars over its two seasons.

Next year, it will become independent from Fanatec GT Asia while still being organized by SRO.

The Japan Cup was previously announced as a ‘championship within a championship’ again for next season with rounds at Sugo, Fuji Speedway, Suzuka and Okayama.

Those remain on the 2024 schedule, with Sugo continuing to be a standalone Japan Cup fixture, but the national series will get a pair of separate 60-minute races at the other Japanese Fanatec GT events.

The weekends when both series are on the bill will be known as the SRO GT PowerTour.

The Japan Cup will remain open to GT3, GT4, GT2 and GTC cars such as Lamborghini Super Trofeo and Ferrari Challenge. Only drivers with a Japan Automobile Federation racing license can take part in the GT3 classes, but GT4 will be open to all Asian drivers.

“The Japan Cup concept has proven very popular… but with entries increasing and grid space becoming an issue, now is the right time for it to evolve,” said SRO Motorsports Group Asia General Manager Benjamin Franassovici.

“Super GT reigns supreme and Super Taikyu has the endurance base covered, but – until now – there was no national GT sprint series that focused on Am drivers. That changes in 2024.

“We first informed teams and drivers of our plans at Okayama and have since received a lot of positive feedback.

“I would love to have an equal split of GT3 and GT4 cars, just like SRO has in British GT for instance, but we also know that might not be possible next year.

“However, we do see Japan Cup as being a destination series for Asia’s GT4 Am drivers who wish to race in a cost-effective and competitive environment.”

Fanatec GT has also made some updates to next year’s calendar with the Shanghai season finale being confirmed for Sept. 14-15.

Additionally, the Suzuka round has been brought forward one week to July 6-7.

2024 Fanatec GT World Challenge Asia powered by AWS Schedule:
April 20-21 – Sepang
May 11-12 – Buriram
June 8-9 – Sugo**
June 22-23 – Fuji*
July 6-7 – Suzuka*
Aug. 24-25 – Okayama*
Sept. 14-15 – Shanghai

*SRO GT PowerTour events
**Japan Cup standalone