Pirelli To Supply The Inaugural Suzuka 10 Hours Race

Adding to its diverse portfolio of international GT races and championships, Pirelli will exclusively supply tires for the inaugural Suzuka 10 Hours Race, which takes place from August 23-26 next year at the Suzuka Circuit in Japan.
 
This race, featuring GT3 cars, will be the first-ever encounter between Japanese Super GT300 and international GT cars, all running on Pirelli P Zero tires on one of the most exciting and demanding circuits in the world.
 
Pirelli is the market leader in global GT racing, thanks to its association with the world’s most prestigious car brands – most of whom choose Pirelli as original equipment – and premier championships such as the Blancpain GT Series, where Pirelli is the sole tire supplier.
 
The Suzuka 10 Hours Race will become the Asian round of the Intercontinental GT Challenge, which already visits legendary venues such as Bathurst in Australia and Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium, as well as the United States and Malaysia.
 
This ground-breaking race will take over from the long-established Suzuka 1000 kilometers: the biggest GT race in Japan that regularly attracts crowds of 80,000 people. The race will be supported by all the top European car manufacturers as well as a contingent of Japanese manufacturers, with Honda, Nissan and Toyota expected to be represented.
 
Pirelli won the contract to supply the race against several key competitors thanks to its experience in top-level GT competition. The proven speed, reliability and consistency of the P Zero tire product will allow all drivers with varying vehicle architectures to maximize their potential. The current agreement is for two years from 2018 to 2019.
 
Pirelli’s Motorsport Business Director Ernesto Garcia Domingo commented: “We’re delighted to partner with this pioneering and exclusive race, which enriches our GT offering even further: reaching out to more territories, fans and manufacturers. The expertise that we have accumulated through supplying the world’s top GT championships and prestige car manufacturers over many years puts us in a perfect position to contribute towards a fantastic spectacle on one of the most thrilling circuits in all of motorsport.”