Intercontinental GT Challenge – Suzuka 1000km, Japan

A near-flawless performance from Pro drivers Nicky Catsburg, Scott McLaughlin and Alexander Sims has seen the Johor Motorsports Racing Team charge to a hard-fought third overall at the iconic Suzuka 1000 endurance race.

 

 

At the same event, His Highness Tunku Abdul Rahman Al-Haj Ibni Sultan Ibrahim, Tunku Panglima of Johor (HH Prince Jefri Ibrahim), HH Tunku Abu Bakar Al-Haj Ibni Sultan Ibrahim, Tunku Putera of Johor (HH Prince Abu Bakar Ibrahim) and Finnish driver Konsta Lappalainen had a consistent showing to finish third in the Pro-Am class.

Three-time Australian Supercars champion and IndyCar Series racer McLaughlin started the gruelling six-and-a-half-hour race from ninth spot on the grid. A clean, mature performance from the New Zealander saw him move the #2 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R up to P6 before handing the car to Sims.

 

 

After a smooth, composed stint that maintained their road position, the Englishman swapped out for Dutchman Nicky Catsburg to bring the Corvette home.

Catsburg proved his pedigree as a world-class racer during his long stint in the driver’s seat, making smart passes and working his way up to P3 before coming under immense pressure from behind in the dying stages of the race.

Despite the hounding, Catsburg held his nerve to cross the line just 0.26s ahead of the fourth-placed car, ensuring JMR secured a hard-fought podium result.

Meanwhile, in the Pro-Am class, a calculated, smooth race from HH Prince Jefri Ibrahim, HH Prince Abu Bakar and Konsta Lappalainen saw them claim a well-deserved P3 result.

Prince Jefri Ibrahim began the race with a clean start in the #99 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R, and some smart pit-stops strategies and steady driving from both himself and his brother, Prince Abu Bakar, put Lappalainen in a great position to finish strongly.

 

 

The Finn put in a long final session as darkness descended, bringing JMR’s Pro-Am entry home in 20th overall and third in class. 2025 marked the return of the Suzuka 1000 as part of the SRO Intercontinental GT Challenge after a five-year hiatus.

A total of 33 GT3 and GTA-GT300-spec cars took the grid for the race, with 27 completing the full distance.

The JMR team now switches its focus to the final two rounds of the GT World Challenge Asia powered by AWS, to be held on a new street circuit at Beijing on 17-19 October.

 

 

Nicky Catsburg: “I was in the car for a long time and there were many, many great battles. I don’t think I’ve ever had to fight that hard for a P3 result; a car behind me had a lot of pace late in the race, and the last five or six laps were just about surviving. We had great fun – the car did well, the team did great, so I’m happy to finish with a podium. I’m really proud of the way we all drove today and I really hope I can do some more races with JMR in the future.”

Scott McLaughlin: “Working with Nicky, Alex and the entire JMR team this weekend has been fantastic. We had great pit-stops and I’m really proud of this result. It was hot out there and I got caught behind some slow cars at the start of the race, but the car had plenty of pace. I’m proud of Nicky for holding on for third in an amazing drive. To be here, getting a podium with JMR is unreal. Ideally you want to win the race, but this is the first time the team has had a Pro car and to be part of that and achieve an overall podium is unbelievable. It was really cool to come here with Corvette and be part of the programme with two superstar race drivers in Nicky and Alex. To come here as a Chevrolet-affiliated driver with two other amazing Corvette racers and team up with this team on the rise is really cool. It’s a world class team and I’d love to be part of it in the future.”

Alex Sims: “It’s been a fantastic weekend. Driving the Corvette around the Suzuka race track has been a wonderful experience. Nicky’s drive at the end really put us on the podium; he was hands-down the quickest driver for us all weekend and he had a mega race and he really earned this result for us. I’m really proud of him and the whole JMR team, who made this a weekend to remember.”

HH Prince Jefri Ibrahim: “I’m really proud of the whole team. It was a tough weekend with the weather conditions and a tough race, but everyone did an amazing job, This is my third round with my brother racing alongside me, and our first podium together in the Intercontinental Challenge, so to finish the race is a proud moment and he did an amazing job all weekend. From the mechanics, to my trainer and everyone involved, I’m super-proud of what we achieved. This is just the beginning, the tip of the iceberg of what our plan is. It’s a new journey and there are more exciting plans ahead.”

HH Prince Abu Bakar Ibrahim: “To finish third in Pro-Am and to have our sister car finish third overall was a great result for JMR. Everyone did great this weekend – every pit-stop was flawless and we couldn’t ask for more. This is the first race in years where I’ve teamed up with my brother; it was our first podium together since 2019 and my first endurance racing podium. It’s been a very good weekend.”

Konsta Lappalainen: “It was a pleasure to be here with JMR and we had a good race. We had some engine issues on Friday evening, but the team did an amazing job to get the car fixed before qualifying began on Saturday. I want to give a massive thank-you to the team, and to both Prince Jefri and Prince Abu Bakar for the opportunity to drive alongside them. Everyone has been so friendly and welcoming for my first event with the JMR team and I’d love to return for more.”

 

Results – 2025 GT World Challenge Asia, Okayama International Circuit

Qualifying:

Car #2 (Nicky Catsburg/Scott McLaughlin/Alexander Sims) – P9 overall, P6 in class

Car #99 (HH Prince Jefri Ibrahim/HH Prince Abu Bakar Ibrahim/Konsta Lappalainen) – P27 overall, P4 in class

Race:

Car #2 (Nicky Catsburg/Scott McLaughlin/Alexander Sims) – P3 overall, P3 in class

Car #99 (HH Prince Jefri Ibrahim/HH Prince Abu Bakar Ibrahim/Konsta Lappalainen) – P20 overall, P3 in class