IGTC: Team WRT and the BMW M4 GT3 EVO triumph at the Suzuka 1000KM.

Suzuka. The Intercontinental GT Championship (IGTC) returned to Suzuka (JPN) for the first time since 2019 – and at the 49th running of the Suzuka 1000KM classic, Team WRT dominated with the #32 BMW M4 GT3 EVO. On Saturday, Kelvin van der Linde (RSA), Raffaele Marciello (SUI), and Charles Weerts (BEL) secured pole position. In Sunday’s six-and-a-half-hour race, they won with a clear margin. In the fourth round of the 2025 IGTC season, it was their third win after victories with Team WRT at Bathurst (AUS) and ROWE Racing at the Nürburgring 24 Hours (GER). The #31 car from Team WRT, driven by Augusto Farfus (BRA), Max Hesse (GBR), and Dan Harper (GBR), was sixth overall. Team KRC celebrated with the #89 BMW M4 GT3 EVO, taking second place on the Bronze class podium while also winning the GT World Challenge Asia classification.

The Suzuka climate posed challenges for drivers and teams. With extreme humidity and temperatures topping 30 degrees Celsius, and repeated rain showers on Friday and Saturday, conditions were tough, but none of that stopped the #32 BMW M4 GT3 EVO.

In the opening stage, van der Linde, Weerts, and Marciello confidently defended first place and even managed to build a lead. However, several yellow flag and safety car periods brought the field back together, and the fact that the frontrunners were on different strategies made for an exciting race. In the final stages, the #32 car was able to pull clear once again and secured victory after 170 laps with a margin of more than 13 seconds.

Farfus, Harper, and Hesse started from eighth on the grid, quickly gained positions, and firmly established themselves in the top five. At times, they were even in contention for a podium spot. After a turbulent final hour, the #31 BMW M4 GT3 EVO crossed the line in fifth overall but were classified sixth (fifth in the PRO class) due to a post-race time penalty.

It was also a strong performance from BMW M works driver Neil Verhagen (USA) and his teammates Maxime Oosten (NED) and Ruan Cunfan (CHN) in the #89 BMW M4 GT3 EVO from Team KRC. Their race went only one way, namely forward. The trio ultimately had double reason to celebrate. The #89 finished a strong ninth overall, taking second place in the IGTC Bronze class while also securing victory in the GT World Challenge Asia classification.

In the IGTC manufacturers’ standings, points leader BMW extended its lead to 18 points with the Suzuka victory (127 vs 109). In the drivers’ standings, four BMW M works drivers now sit at the top: van der Linde leads with 85 points ahead of Marciello (80), Farfus (72), and Weerts (53). The season finale of the Intercontinental GT Challenge 2025, the Indianapolis 8 Hour (USA), will take place from 16th to 18th October. There, BMW M Motorsport and Team WRT will once again compete together.

Comments after the race:

Andreas Roos (Head of BMW M Motorsport): “What a fantastic performance at Suzuka! Congratulations to Team WRT, to Kevin, Raffaele, and Charles on this outstanding victory. Pole position and then such a dominant race performance; with the BMW M4 GT3 EVO they were in a class of their own. It was fantastic for BMW M Motorsport to be back on the top step after the double success at Bathurst and win at the 24h Nürburgring. Augusto, Max, and Dan also put in a strong performance in the #31. Unfortunately, it wasn’t quite enough for a podium in the end, but they fought hard and delivered a flawless race. Overall, we can be very satisfied given that at the Indianapolis finale we have a strong chance of winning the title in both championships. Congratulations also to our Chinese customers Team KRC. To take ninth overall in such a competitive field and secure a class podium was a fantastic achievement.”

Vincent Vosse (Team Principal, Team WRT): “What a great feeling winning this important IGTC race! The last time we were here we won the race also! We had a strong car from the start until the end but you never know what can happen! We’ve been a little bit under pressure at some point as I think the Porsche had a better strategy than us. Luckily we could come back and win the race. This win is super important for us, for BMW M Motorsport and for the championship. Onto the next one!”

Kelvin van der Linde (Team WRT, #31 BMW M4 GT3 EVO, 1st place overall &  PRO class): “It’s great to be back here with Team WRT. The team has been amazing all week. The car was flawless and we made no mistakes so we managed to bring the win home! I’m super proud of everyone!”

Raffaele Marciello (Team WRT, #31 BMW M4 GT3 EVO, 1st place overall &  PRO class): “I’m super happy. It’s a very nice race to win! I won it in 2018, then I was on the podium with Kelvin in 2019 and now we are back together on the top spot. It was an amazing race, the car was amazing and my teammates did an amazing job! It was a nice reward for our work. Thanks to Team WRT and to BMW M Motorsport!”

Charles Weerts (Team WRT, #31 BMW M4 GT3 EVO, 1st place overall &  PRO class): “I’m extremely happy! It was my first time and first race in Japan! To be able to score the pole position and the win is a perfect race. It’s a dream! Huge thanks to my teammates for the great job, to WRT and to BMW M Motorsport for giving us such a competitive car! On to many more!”

Dan Harper (Team WRT, #32 BMW M4 GT3 EVO, 6th place overall, 5th place PRO class): “It was a very warm and humid race! It’s super great that the sister car got the victory. They’ve been flying all weekend long. It’s fully deserved: pole and leading the whole race. It’s great for BMW for the Manufacturers championship which was the main aim this weekend. It has been a shame for us in the #31 but we did not have the pace that the #32 had. We were fighting hard to stay in the top five. We still got good points for BMW. It was super nice to be back with Team WRT and great to join the celebrations with the sister car.”

Neil Verhagen (Team KRC, #89 BMW M4 GT3 EVO, 2nd place Bronze class): “A great result for Team KRC. Thanks to them and BMW M Motorsport for the opportunity. I think in the end P2 was the best we could do. We didn’t quite have the pace for the class win. That’s a bit unfortunate, but we gave it everything and I’m very happy with the result and proud for the hard work of the team. It makes for a great week. It was my first time at Suzuka and the circuit is defintely one of my favourites. The fans were incredible and the whole event was awesome.”