The iRacing Suzuka 1000 Presented by Pimax runs September 11-13, 2026 at the Suzuka International Racing Course Grand Prix layout. The race covers 1,000 kilometers over 173 laps with dynamic weather and open setups. Five timeslots spread across the three-day window, with the top split of the Saturday morning session broadcast by RACESPOT. Here is everything you need to confirm your entry before the first session Friday evening.
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What Is the iRacing Suzuka 1000?
The iRacing Suzuka 1000 is a GT3 endurance special event presented by Pimax. At 173 laps on the Suzuka Grand Prix circuit, it runs in the same tier as iRacing’s longer multi-hour events. Open setups are permitted across all sessions, and dynamic weather will be active throughout the race weekend.
Balance of Performance will be finalized closer to the event start. If your car choice depends on BoP adjustments, check the iRacing event page in the days before September 11 for any updates before you register.
Race Schedule and Timeslots
Five sessions are available across the September 11-13 weekend. All times are listed in GMT and Eastern:
- Timeslot 1: Friday, September 11 at 22:00 GMT / 6:00 p.m. ET
- Timeslot 2: Saturday, September 12 at 7:00 GMT / 3:00 a.m. ET
- Timeslot 3: Saturday, September 12 at 12:00 GMT / 8:00 a.m. ET (broadcast)
- Timeslot 4: Saturday, September 12 at 16:00 GMT / 12:00 p.m. ET
- Timeslot 5: Sunday, September 13 at 00:00 GMT / 8:00 p.m. ET Saturday
Each split accommodates up to 60 teams. The top split of Timeslot 3 is the broadcast session.
Eligible GT3 Cars
Eleven GT3 cars are eligible for the iRacing Suzuka 1000. All are supported under the open-setup format. BoP adjustments before the event may affect relative pace between models, so confirm the final standings before locking in your car choice. For a breakdown of how GT3 handling differs across track types on iRacing, see the GT3 car guide.
- Acura NSX GT3 EVO 22
- Aston Martin Vantage GT3 EVO
- Audi R8 LMS EVO II GT3
- BMW M4 GT3 EVO
- Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R
- Ferrari 296 GT3
- Ford Mustang GT3
- Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO
- McLaren 720S GT3 EVO
- Mercedes-AMG GT3 2020
- Porsche 911 GT3 R (992)
Team Format and How to Enter
Teams require a minimum of two drivers and a maximum of 16. Fair share is enabled, which means every driver on your roster must complete their minimum portion of total race laps to count as a finisher. Build your roster before the first session or you risk not meeting the minimum driver count.
All drivers need a Sports Car license at Class C or higher to enter. Class D drivers are eligible with a Safety Rating of 4.0 or above. License and safety requirements must be met at the time of registration. Register through the iRacing members site under the special events section.
Incident Limits and Penalties
Incidents are tracked at the team level for the Suzuka 1000. The disqualification threshold is 150 incident points. Stop-and-go penalties begin at 40 incident points and repeat every 20 incidents after that.
At 173 laps, incident management is part of the race strategy. A high-incident stint early in the race can put a team deep into penalty territory before the halfway point. Factor the 40x threshold into your stint lengths and driver swap timing so you are not burning pit time on avoidable stop-and-go penalties.
Watch the iRacing Suzuka 1000 Live
The top split of Timeslot 3 (Saturday 12:00 GMT / 8:00 a.m. ET) will be broadcast by RACESPOT, available live at iRacing.com/live. RACESPOT has covered previous iRacing special event top splits with live commentary, timing overlays, and onboard coverage.
If you are not competing in the Saturday morning timeslot, the broadcast is still worth watching to see how the full GT3 field handles Suzuka’s technical infield sections and the 130R corner sequence under dynamic weather.
