The Super Taikyu Suzuka 5 Hour Race is set to take place this Sunday, featuring a provisional entry list of 52 cars spanning eight classes. Among the highlights are the return of Craft-Bamboo Racing with their Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO in the ST-X class and several other notable teams and drivers making appearances across various categories. Additionally, new entrants such as Prime Racing bring fresh talent to the competition, while significant driver changes occur within some teams. The event will be streamed live on the official Super Taikyu Series YouTube channel.

The ST-X class sees an expansion with Craft-Bamboo Racing rejoining the fray, fielding the #33 Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO. Jeffrey Lee has been confirmed as one of its drivers for the Suzuka race, with co-drivers yet to be announced. Last season, the team celebrated victories under the leadership of Honda's Kakunoshin Ohta. Meanwhile, seven x seven Racing, winners of Round 1, continue their campaign with their Porsche 911 GT3 R driven by Hiroyuki Ogawa, Kiyoto Fujinami, Tsubasa Kondo, and Taichi Watarai. Notably, apr, last year's ST-X champions, must rely on Hiroaki Nagai, Rikuto Kobayashi, and Koki Saga after Naoya Gamou's unavailability.

In the ST-Z category, excitement builds with the inclusion of 12 cars, including newcomer Prime Racing. Backed by Toyota Gazoo Racing China, Prime Racing fields the #315 GR Supra GT4 EVO2 with an all-Chinese lineup comprising Han Lichao, Wang Hao, Shi Wei, and Deng Yi. These drivers boast impressive international credentials, ranging from Shi Wei’s participation in the F1 Academy wildcard at the Chinese Grand Prix to Han Lichao's double championship wins in the China Endurance GT4 series. Team ZeroOne also undergoes a major change, welcoming Yuki Tanaka into their Nissan Z NISMO GT4 setup, replacing Tadao Uematsu due to safety concerns regarding the platform.

Further developments see touring car veteran Samuel Hsieh stepping onto the scene with Progress Racing in the #111 Mercedes-AMG GT4, marking his debut in the series. Saitama Green Brave retains its leading position in ST-Z following its Motegi success, while Team ZeroOne's Nissan maintains consistency in its lineup. In the exhibition ST-Q class, Mazda Spirit Racing and Team SDA Engineering make their eagerly awaited seasonal debuts alongside the #104 GR Team SPiRIT Toyota GR Yaris DAT Racing Concept.

As the grid nears completion, two entries in ST-1, four in ST-3, nine in ST-4, and fifteen across ST-5F and ST-5R categories ensure a diverse and competitive field. Spectators can look forward to a thrilling spectacle when the green flag waves at 11:00 AM JST (local time) on Sunday.

With the stage set for a dynamic race, fans of motorsport are in for an exhilarating experience as competitors vie for supremacy across multiple categories. The diverse range of vehicles and talented drivers promises a memorable event that captures the essence of endurance racing excellence.