Suzuka 1000km Returns as Mercedes‑AMG Scales Back Entries

Overview

• The Suzuka 1000km has returned in a shortened six-and-a-half-hour format with the full 30-car entry present and teams preparing to race this weekend.
• Record rainfall in the Nagoya and Chūbu region flooded paddock access, caused local injuries and forced teams to improvise logistics during setup.
• Mercedes‑AMG described the situation as a “worst-case weekend” after splitting drivers across IGTC, DTM, ELMS, GT Open, NLS and factory testing, which reduced its Suzuka presence to three cars.
• Maro Engel, the IGTC points leader, is unavailable for the remaining series rounds because consecutive DTM commitments conflict with the GT3 calendar.
• Absolute Racing’s Ayhancan Guven led the opening Suzuka test and new entries showed pace, underlining how calendar congestion and lineup changes could reshape the title fight and team plans.