Nissan and NISMO left Fuji Speedway empty-handed after Round 4 of the 2026 SUPER GT Series on August 2. Sudden heavy rain before the start, followed by a rapid return to dry running, wrong-footed the three Nissan Z NISMO GT500 entries. Two penalties, a multi-car incident and a retirement left the best-placed Z outside the points-scoring order.
The 2026 SUPER GT Series resumed at Fuji Speedway on August 2 after an unusually long gap. With Round 3 at Sepang in Malaysia postponed, Round 4 was the first race in three months since Round 2 in May. Nissan and NISMO entered three Nissan Z NISMO GT500s, and all three struggled in conditions that changed by the minute.
Rain, then heat, before a lap was completed
As the field formed up on the grid under hot, humid cloud cover, heavy rain swept across the circuit. It stopped just before the formation lap set off at 1:30 p.m., and with sunshine returning almost immediately, teams scrambled to swap the wet-weather tyres they had just fitted back to slicks. Parts of the track were still damp, so the 300 km (186-mile), 66-lap race started behind the Safety Car. Ambient temperature reached 34°C (93°F) and track temperature soon climbed to 47°C (117°F).
The grid order had the #23 MOTUL Niterra Z of Katsumasa Chiyo and Mitsunori Takaboshi 8th, the #12 TRS IMPUL with SDG Z of Kazuki Hiramine and Bertrand Baguette 9th, and the #24 Realize Corporation Z of Teppei Natori and Atsushi Miyake 14th.
Contact on the main straight ends the #23 car’s race
Racing began on lap 5 after four laps behind the Safety Car. Almost immediately, the #12 Z and the #23 Z made contact on the main straight. The #23 Z lost control and hit another competitor, triggering a multi-car incident and a red flag. The car was left with damage to its left-front and right-rear and went to the garage for extensive repairs.
The race resumed at 2:15 p.m. behind the Safety Car, the stoppage having given the track time to dry completely. After four more laps, green-flag running returned on lap 10.
Two penalties drop the #12 Z out of contention
Shortly after that restart, the #12 Z was running 7th when it collected two penalties: a 90-second stop penalty for contact with another car under Safety Car conditions, and a drive-through for an overtaking infringement during the restart procedure. Serving both dropped it to 12th, a lap down.
The #24 Z made the most of the situation. Miyake climbed to 11th on lap 10 and inherited 10th on lap 12 when the #12 Z served its penalty. With GT500 pit stops beginning after lap 21, the team extended his first stint far enough to run as high as 4th before the mandatory stop at the end of lap 29. Natori rejoined 10th.
The repaired #23 Z returned to the track on lap 30, just before half distance, but after 11 laps it developed vibrations and was pitted again. The team elected to retire.
A long day ends without a result
Around lap 50, Natori lost pace in the #24 Z and slipped to 11th, where he finished. The #12 Z handed over to Hiramine at the end of lap 39 and stayed 12th, a lap behind the leaders, although Hiramine produced a run of strong laps late on that suggested better underlying speed than the classification showed.
Nissan and NISMO now head to Suzuka Circuit for the next round, where the team says it will build on the lessons learned at Fuji.
Facts: Nissan Z NISMO GT500 at Fuji
- Event: 2026 SUPER GT Series, Round 4, Fuji Speedway, August 2
- Distance: 300 km (186 miles), 66 laps
- Conditions: 34°C (93°F) ambient, 47°C (117°F) track
- #23 MOTUL Niterra Z (Chiyo/Takaboshi): started 8th, retired
- #12 TRS IMPUL with SDG Z (Hiramine/Baguette): started 9th, finished 12th
- #24 Realize Corporation Z (Natori/Miyake): started 14th, finished 11th
- Next round: Suzuka Circuit
The championship continues at Suzuka.
Source: global.nissannews.com