The Suzuka 1000km will become a points-paying Super GT300 round from 2027.
Super GT organiser, GTA, officially confirmed the news via chairman Masaaki Bandoh last Sunday just prior to the Japanese championship's event at Fuji.
The initial partnership between Intercontinental GT Challenge and GTA was first confirmed at the CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa in late June. As well as moving to IGTC's 2027 season finale slot on September 3-5, the Summer Endurance Race - as it's also known in Japan - would become a joint event counting towards SRO's globe-trotting GT3 series.
GTA's announcement added further detail by confirming the 1000km will return to the official Super GT300 schedule for the first time since 2017. Suzuka is the fifth of nine events scheduled for the class.
GT300 comprises nationally homologated and FIA GT3 cars. All of the latter will be eligible to score IGTC points on their manufacturer's behalf, assuming the brand is registered with Intercontinental.
Bandoh suggested that a 50-car grid could be created with a split of 25 cars each provided by SRO and GTA.
Super GT's GT500 category will not contest the event.
GT300 entrants will use the championship’s new control tyre manufactured by Dunlop, which becomes mandatory for all teams from the start of next season, while Pirelli continues to supply international and regional outfits. The performance of both products will be assessed simultaneously during dedicated test sessions in Europe and Japan next year before findings are applied to Suzuka’s Balance of Performance.
SRO’s GT Bureau already has significant experience of regulating multi-tyre supplier competition through its longstanding Balance of Performance contract with Super GT.