Super GT confirms 2027 calendar

The GT Association has published the 2027 Autobacs Super GT Series calendar, with eight regular rounds at seven venues, plus the return of the Intercontinental GT Challenge Suzuka 1000km as a special event for GT300 teams. Petronas Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia will also return to the calendar as expected, while regular Super GT events at Suzuka and Fuji Speedway will get new dates.

The 2027 season will begin at Okayama International Circuit on April 4, followed by the traditional Golden Week holiday race at Fuji Speedway, taking place on its regular date of Tuesday, May 4.

Sepang returns for a Saturday evening race on June 19. The 2026 Sepang race was cancelled before the start of the current season due to a national energy crisis in Malaysia, rising international freight and air travel costs – all consequences of the current war in Iran, which has impacted other areas of West Asia.

Ironically, it comes just days after Formula 1 announced that Sepang would return to the calendar this year on Oct. 4, hosting the Bahrain Grand Prix on behalf of the country.

The race at Suzuka Circuit moves to the weekend of Aug. 1 as the fourth round of the season, swapping places with what was the summer race at Fuji Speedway – which will now take place in the autumn, on Nov. 7. These date changes reflect the Japanese motorsports industry’s desire to move away from hosting events in the heart of August, Japan’s hottest month of the year.

The IGTC will host the Suzuka 1000km next year on Sept. 5, which will now be part of the Super GT calendar as an elective round for GT300 teams, and promoted by both series in partnership with Honda Mobilityland Corporation, the owner of Suzuka Circuit.

From 2006 to 2017, the Suzuka 1000km was the crown jewel of the Super GT calendar for both GT500 and GT300 classes, before the event switched to a GT3-led IGTC race in 2018 and '19, known as the Suzuka 10 Hours. After the race was put on hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the IGTC encouraged Super GT competitors to race in the revived Suzuka 1000km – including those teams fielding cars built to GTA-GT300 regulations. Yet only a small handful of Super GT teams entered the race last year, most of them using equipment and personnel already racing in GT World Challenge Asia and the SRO Japan Cup.

Starting in 2027, GT300 teams will be given additional incentive to compete: Not only through an expanded partnership between Super GT and the IGTC, but as revealed by the SRO before this year’s CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa, GT300 teams will also be allowed to use Super GT’s new single-make tires that will be introduced in 2027. They will thus compete against regular competitors from the IGTC, GT World Challenge, and Japan Cup using their Pirelli tires, with a special Balance of Performance to be implemented for the 1000km.

It has not yet been confirmed if the Suzuka 1000km will count as a points-paying race for GT300 teams, a move which would add even more incentive for GT300 teams to participate.

After that, the second half of the regular Super GT season resumes with a trip up north to Sportsland Sugo on Sept. 19, then southwest to Autopolis International Racing Course on Oct. 17.

Following the penultimate round at Fuji, Mobility Resort Motegi will once again host the season finale, which now takes place on Nov. 21, two weeks later than its traditional date.

These dates are pending final ratification from both the FIA and Japan Automobile Federation (JAF), and may be subject to change.