Last weekend, on September 12th and 13th, we went to Suzuka Circuit to watch the 8th and 9th rounds of the Porsche Carrera Cup Japan (PCCJ).

SUZUKA 1000Km and PCCJ Combined Event

This year’s PCCJ event was held alongside the “2026 Intercontinental GT Challenge Round 4 – 50th SUZUKA 1000Km,” so the crowd was much larger than in the PCCJ races I’ve attended before.

I had been eager to book a room at the Suzuka Circuit Hotel in advance, but due to the race weekend policies, reservations could only be made starting from July ◯th onward. I was ready online at the opening time, but rooms sold out instantly. I couldn’t get any at all.

Of course, race teams and officials get priority, but I’m still amazed at how many people gather for these events.

One highlight this time was seeing the racing team led by Maezawa, the founder of ZOZO. I didn’t get to see him in person, but during the grid walk, the in-house monitor showed his interview, and I thought, “Wow, Maezawa really is here!” which got me excited (laughs).

Being both team owner and driver, he managed to finish among the top contenders—truly impressive.

Suzuka Circuit’s Amusement Park Makes It Perfect for Families

It had been about a year and a half since I last visited Suzuka Circuit for the Carrera Cup. Normally, I often attend the season opener at Okayama International Circuit, but due to scheduling this year, I chose Suzuka.

That turned out to be a great decision. The amusement park right next to the circuit kept my eldest and second daughters happily entertained the entire time. Having such facilities nearby really makes attending these events much easier and more enjoyable for the whole family.

Thinking back to last May when we came to Suzuka for a Porsche Club event, my daughters said, “We’re going to the amusement park!” and played there nonstop all day. Even after riding the same attractions multiple times, they were completely thrilled, saying “This is so much fun!” For my middle school and elementary-aged girls, the coasters and rides struck the perfect balance of thrilling and fun.

Although the second day was hit by heavy rain, it actually made the amusement park nearly deserted.

They were absolutely ecstatic, enjoying themselves so much that they didn’t step foot on the racecourse area even once (laughs). Well, everyone found their own way to enjoy the weekend, so it was a win.

Up-Close Thrills of the Racing Action

The PCCJ pace car this year, just like last year, was the Turbo GT, which looked absolutely stunning—honestly, I found myself watching the Taycan more than the actual cup cars!

The Purple Sky Metallic color really is breathtaking.

Watching the Carrera Cup live is always exciting. The engine sound is incredible—nothing compares to hearing it live on-site compared to YouTube videos. My eldest son even said, “I want to watch it outside right next to the track instead of from the lounge!” and stayed energized by the intense racing all day (he was also pumped about the SUZUKA 1000Km race).

Entering the Carrera Cup requires significant time and money commitment, so I felt like the number of entries has declined compared to a few years ago (I recall nearly 20 cars some seasons, while this time there were about 11). Although the grid was smaller, the thrill of seeing it live up close is definitely worth it.

We all enjoyed the weekend in our own ways, making it a truly memorable family outing.

Looking forward to going again next year!