Your guide to iRacing’s Suzuka 1000km Special Event

When is the iRacing Suzuka 1000km?

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iRacing’s Suzuka 1000km special event will take place between Friday 11th and Sunday 13th September 2026.

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As ever, the sim racing platform will host the race five times (each with various split allocations) to accommodate various time zones:

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• Friday 11th September 22:00 GMT
• Saturday 12th September 7:00 GMT
• Saturday 12th September 12:00 GMT
• Saturday 12th September 16:00 GMT
• Sunday 13th September 00:00 GMT

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You can also watch the top split live on iRacing’s YouTube and Twitch channels with commentary.

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If you’re planning your season around endurance races like Suzuka, see our 2026 iRacing special events guide for the full calendar and key dates. 

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iRacing Suzuka 1000km Car List

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11 different cars can be selected to compete in iRacing’s Suzuka 1000km, although all are from the single GT3 class. The field size is set to 60 vehicles.

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This is, again, to ape the real-world race that bears the same name:

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• Acura NSX GT3 EVO 22
• Aston Martin Vantage GT3 EVO
• Audi R8 LMS EVO II GT3
• BMW M4 GT3
• 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)

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There are subtle differences between the iRacing event and the motorsport event. Principally, cars such as the Nissan GT-R NISMO GT3 and Lexus RC F GT3 compete in the real-world race, but neither is available for iRacing presently.

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Perhaps to compensate, the Acura and Lamborghini are part of the iRacing roster, when neither has participated in the Japanese race in 2025 or 2026.

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However, last year’s top split on the sim was dominated by the Huracán, taking four of the top six positions thanks to the Grid-and-Go.com Esports team.

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Each usable car for the special event is additional DLC on top of the base iRacing subscription, priced at $11.95 per vehicle.

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Whichever GT3 you choose, our guide on how to get faster in iRacing covers the fundamentals of building pace through more structured practice and feedback. 

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How to Drive Suzuka Fast in iRacing

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Suzuka is one of Japan’s preeminent racing venues, used for Formula 1, Super GT and a host of popular regional events.

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Whichever vehicle you’re in, there are some extremely tricky sections, thanks in part to run-off areas consisting of kerbs, grass and gravel in the first half of the lap, leaving tiny margins for error.

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The opening sector through Snake, Anti-Banked Curve and Dunlop requires you to think several corners ahead, as each immediately follows without a straight in-between. If you run slightly wide at the exit of Snake, for instance, your entry is compromised for the next left-hander, which then affects your line through Anti-Banked.

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This segment requires patience and precision, keeping to the set line and not over-driving.

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130R, meanwhile, requires commitment. In a GT3 car for this special event, it is easily flat without a lift. Getting fast corners right in sim racing comes down to confidence, precision and knowing when to commit.

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 In racing conditions, though, navigating traffic through here can be a challenge. Although you could lose time, it’s better to wait until the braking zone at the final chicane to pass an opponent than attempt a potentially deadly outside move.

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Another tip is to clip the inside kerb at the first Degner. Don’t be afraid. In different sims and cars, it can unsettle your car, but you should be able to use it to your advantage in GT3.

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As this is a GT3-only event, every entrant has the ability to lean on ABS and traction control driving aids. These can help the less experienced driver and match the actual cars, although more experienced sim racers will tweak these settings to suit their style.

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iRacing Suzuka 1000km Race Length and Format

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1000km around Suzuka equates to a 173-lap race, which took the winning top split drivers just under six hours to complete last year.

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We say ‘drivers’ as a plural because this is a team race, with a minimum of two drivers per car. The race is preceded by a 30-minute warm-up session and a two-lap, eight-minute qualifying session to determine the grid order. 

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If this is your first endurance event, our guide on how to prepare for an iRacing Special Event covers practice, team planning and race-day preparation in more detail. 

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An iRacing licence at least D 4.0 Road is an entry requirement.

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Harnessing the power of artificial intelligence, trophi.ai is a unique toolkit that provides real-time advice and in-depth analysis, ideal for increasing confidence ahead of a lengthy iRacing Special Event.

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‍You can sign up for the free trial today.

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