In late March, Suzuki announced that it would enter a newly developed GSX-R1000R factory race bike running on E40 biofuel in the 2024 Suzuka 8 Hours endurance race as part of the FIM EWC World Endurance Championship.
After withdrawing from both the MotoGP World Championship and the FIM EWC at the end of the 2022 season, Suzuki no longer has a factory team participating in these major events. The 2024 EWC consists of four rounds, with the Suzuka 8 Hours, scheduled for July 19-21, being the third race of the year. Although there is no factory team contesting the full season, the privateer SERT Yoshimura team continues to compete using the GSX-R1000R.
Suzuki emphasizes that motorsports have traditionally served as testbeds for new technologies, fostering development through competition. To demonstrate its commitment to sustainability, the new “eco” version of the GSX-R1000R features:
- E40 biofuel (containing 40% non-petroleum-based bio-additive gasoline)
- An exhaust system developed by Japanese tuner Yoshimura equipped with a catalytic converter
- Engine lubricants provided by Motul, based on non-petroleum, bio-sourced base oils (typical lubricants use mineral oil derived from petrochemical byproducts)
- Bridgestone competition tires made from a higher proportion of recyclable materials
- Front and rear fenders crafted from natural flax fibers
- Bodywork composed of recyclable carbon fiber
- Brake pads supplied by Sun Star, designed to significantly reduce brake dust emissions – a component of vehicle emissions
Suzuki has yet to disclose its rider lineup for the event, which will compete under the Team Suzuki CN Challenge banner, led by Shinichi Sahara, the experienced former team manager who guided Suzuki to the 2020 MotoGP World Championship title.
The FIM EWC World Endurance Championship tests durability, reliability, and overall performance limits, with its inaugural race held in 1980. Suzuki is a dominant force in this competition, having claimed 20 world championships over the past four decades. Since adopting the inline-four-engine-equipped GSX-R1000 in 2001, the marque has secured 14 world titles.
