Super GT Suzuka 300km Postponed

The GT Association (GTA), the promoter of the Autobacs Super GT Series, and Mobilityland Corporation, the holding company of Suzuka Circuit, have announced that the upcoming Fujimaki Group Suzuka GT 300km Race, originally scheduled for 29-30 May, has been postponed indefinitely.

There has been a wave of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in many of Japan’s most populous areas. Six prefectures have declared a State of Emergency due to this most recent wave of infections, which includes the prefectures of Osaka, Kyoto, and Hyogo in the Kansai region – a region which also encompasses Mie Prefecture and the city of Suzuka.

A statement released today by the GTA reads: “On May 11, the GT Association decided to postpone Round 3 in Suzuka, which was scheduled to be held on May 29 and 30, due to the spread of the novel coronavirus infection and the application of the ‘Priority Measures for Prevention of Spread’ to Suzuka City in Mie Prefecture. An alternative date will be announced at a later date, taking into account the spread of the infection. We would like to ask for the understanding of our fans who have been looking forward to the Suzuka race.

“In the Super GT Series, all parties involved, including the entrants, participating manufacturers, related companies, and the press, adhere to the ‘Guidelines for Infection Prevention’ and ‘Road Map for Holding Official Events’ that were formulated independently [by the GTA]. Last year, we held all eight rounds of the series without any clusters among the participants. This year, we have further strengthened our measures, such as conducting PCR tests on all related parties prior to the event and allowing only those who have been confirmed negative to enter the circuit.”

“This time, these same measures were applied to Suzuka City in Mie Prefecture, where the Suzuka Circuit is located, and although it is possible to hold the event with a limit of 5,000 spectators, we have decided to postpone the event in order to prioritize the daily lives of medical personnel and residents in the area surrounding the circuit after reviewing various data such as the utilization rate of hospital beds and the medical environment in the prefecture. As a result, we have decided to postpone the race.”

“As for an alternative schedule, we will consider holding the race without spectators or changing the venue, if necessary, in consideration of the infection situation in Mie Prefecture and Suzuka City and the shortage of hospital beds at related medical institutions.”

The next scheduled round of the 2021 Autobacs Super GT Series is at Twin Ring Motegi on 18 July.

The post Super GT Suzuka 300km Postponed first appeared on dailysportscar.com.