Overview

• GT Association chairman Masaaki Bandoh announced the change at Autopolis, confirming 2026 as the final season with open tyre competition.
• Both GT500 and GT300 will move to a one-make tyre format, with reporting indicating the suppliers could differ by class.
• All four current manufacturers applied for the GT300 tender, while only two are believed to have bid for the Bridgestone-heavy GT500 field.
• Teams reliant on non-Bridgestone backing in GT500—Modulo Nakajima Racing (Dunlop), Racing Project Bandoh and Kondo Racing (Yokohama)—face funding uncertainty once supplier-specific support ends.
• Observers expect a drop in peak lap speeds under control tyres, a shift that follows Michelin’s 2023 GT500 exit and Bridgestone’s expanded supply to most top-class entries.