Nakajima Racing Puts Honda On Autopolis Pole

Honda’s qualifying streak deepens as tyre choices and championship handicap weights loom large over Sunday’s three‑hour race.

Overview

Riki Okusa put the Dunlop‑shod No. 64 Nakajima Honda on pole with a 1:32.414, completing a Honda front‑row sweep with Yuto Nomura second and Yuji Kunimoto third.
Tyre suppliers and manufacturer differences helped shape the GT500 order, and the championship‑leading No. 36 TOM’S Toyota will start eighth while carrying the maximum 100 kg nominal handicap.
In GT300, Hideki Yamauchi put the No. 61 Subaru BRZ on pole with a 1:42.677 as GTA‑GT300 specification cars locked out the top five starting positions.
Recent driver recoveries altered lineups for the weekend: Sena Sakaguchi returned from an eye injury to rejoin Racing Project Bandoh and Katsumasa Chiyo came back after a toe injury to resume driving duties for Nissan.
The qualifying result sets the grid for the Autopolis 3 Hours and points to a race where tyre strategy, pit timing and how teams manage handicap weight will likely decide who can convert strong qualifying into a podium finish.