The Honda Endurance Racing team is getting prepared to head to Japan, for the 39th ‘Coca-Cola Zero’ Suzuka 8 hours, the third round of the EWC Championship and Honda’s home race.
Honda’s endurance specialists Julien Da Costa, Freddy Foray and Sébastien Gimbert are hoping to maintain the momentum from their third place finish aboard the Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade SP at Portimao, and score another podium finish.
It’s a historic event for the Japanese manufacturer, with a total of 27 wins to date at the prestigious track. The Suzuka 8 hours, although part of the EWC calendar sees the permanent teams joined by a host of privateers, all competing for Suzuka victory.
Amongst the riders at the Suzuka 8 hours, Honda’s World Superbike pairing Nicky Hayden and Michael van Der Mark join Takumi Takahashi in the MuSASHi RT HARC-PRO team, and Honda’s World Supersport rider Patrick Jacobsen joins F.C.C TSR Honda, who are currently running fourth in the EWC standings.
Last year, Honda Endurance Racing finished in seventh place and this year they’ll be battling against 70 teams at the legendary 5.821km Honda-owned circuit. The Honda Endurance Racing team are currently sitting in sixth place in the overall EWC standings.
The 39th ‘Coca-Cola Zero’ Suzuka 8 hours takes place on Sunday 31 July at 11.30 Japanese standard time (GMT+9).
