Max Verstappen flirts with Super GT after Fuji test, but misses major crowd-puller

Max Verstappen has already made several trips to GT3 this year in preparation for his first participation in the 24 Hours of Nürburgring. In the run-up to the Japanese GP, however, he also saw action with Super GT equipment. The four-time champion tested, for Red Bull promotion, with a Nissan Z GT500 on the soaking wet Fuji Speedway. Once at Suzuka, he showed interest in participating in the Super GT, although a guest appearance is currently difficult to justify.

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The test with the Nissan Z was the second time Verstappen could sample a modern Super GT car. Earlier, he already got behind the wheel of a Honda NSX-GT at Motegi. The Dutchman visibly enjoyed – despite the heavy rainfall – his trip to Fuji. “It was very nice,” Verstappen told the press at Suzuka. “It was just a shame it rained so hard, so I couldn’t drive that many laps. I would have liked to continue longer.”

‘Would love to race in Super GT’

“It’s a fantastic car, a fantastic racing class in general, and it was a great experience to drive that car and feel the grip in the rain,” he continued enthusiastically. “It’s very different from what we have in Europe. Moreover, it’s always good to drive as many different cars as possible.” Although he is open to participating with the GT500 cars – which are even more extreme than the GT3 cars he drives at the Nürburgring – Verstappen misses a crowd-puller on the calendar to which he can commit once.

“Who knows, I still have to see,” he responded to the question of whether he wants to officially compete in the Super GT. “It’s a great racing class. I wish there was one standout race, instead of just a whole championship. If that were the case, it would be easier to dedicate yourself to one race; I can’t drive a whole championship. Besides, one single race within a championship is sometimes not the right choice either. So we’ll see.” Nevertheless, the Dutchman assured that he would ‘very much like’ to race in the Super GT. “It really reminds me of the old DTM cars, and I thought those were fantastic to see.”

Suzuka 1000km

Several F1 drivers have been lured to the Super GT in the past, particularly by the chance to drive the famous Suzuka 1000km. This long-distance race grew since 1966 into an important endurance event and became part of the Super GT in 2006. Thanks to the format with a third driver, new names got the chance to step in. The most famous of these is Jenson Button, who made his debut in the Japanese class via this route after his F1 career.

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That entry opportunity disappeared in 2018, when the race was replaced by the Suzuka 10 Hours, weakening the link with the Super GT. Meanwhile, the name Suzuka 1000km has returned, but in a different form and without the same direct access to the top class. This means the classic route for guest appearances like Button’s has largely disappeared. For Verstappen, one possible entry remains: a future wildcard in the GT500 class, for example at the race in Sepang, which is held in mid-June. Such participation, however, depends on support from a manufacturer and external partners, leaving his chances uncertain for now.

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