No-Tire-Change Gamble Puts Nissan GT-R on the Podium at SUGO
September 20, 2026 · Sportsland SUGO, Japan
The No. 56 REALIZE Nissan Mechanic Challenge GT-R came within striking distance of stealing a GT300 victory at Sportsland SUGO on Sunday, using an aggressive no-tire-change strategy to leap into the lead before ultimately finishing second.
Driven by João Paulo de Oliveira and Iori Kimura, the Nissan GT-R entered the second half of the 2026 SUPER GT Round 6 race behind the front-running No. 60 Syntium LMcorsa LC500 GT. While its rivals changed tires during the pit cycle, the No. 56 team elected to keep its existing rubber and send the car straight back into the fight.
The gamble worked.
With less time spent in the pits, the GT-R emerged ahead of the No. 60 Lexus and suddenly found itself leading the GT300 field.
From there, the race became a question of whether the Nissan could make its aging tires last long enough to stay in front.
It nearly did.
Shunsuke Kohno, now behind the wheel of the No. 60 LC500 GT, began closing the gap as the GT-R's pace gradually fell away. Late in the race, Kohno was able to catch and pass the No. 56, reclaiming the lead and carrying the Lexus to its second consecutive SUGO victory.
De Oliveira and Kimura held on to second place, putting the REALIZE Nissan Mechanic Challenge GT-R on the podium after a race defined by strategy rather than outright pace.
A Gamble Worth Taking
Finishing second may not grab the same headline as a victory, but the No. 56 team's decision transformed the complexion of the GT300 race.
Instead of simply attempting to match the pole-starting No. 60 car over a conventional stint, Nissan's team traded fresh tires for track position — forcing the eventual winner to chase them down on track.
Even the winning LMcorsa team admitted the move caught them by surprise.
The result is exactly the sort of race that makes endurance and GT competition compelling: sometimes the quickest route to the front isn't simply being the quickest car.
GT-R, Not Z
One important distinction for Nissan fans following SUPER GT: this was a GT300 result.
The No. 56 REALIZE Nissan Mechanic Challenge GT-R competes in the GT300 category and should not be confused with Nissan's Z-based GT500 program competing simultaneously in SUPER GT's premier class.
While the modern Z carries Nissan's banner in GT500, the GT-R remains very much alive in Japanese competition — and at SUGO, one clever pit call was nearly enough to put it on the top step.
The No. 61 SUBARU BRZ R&D SPORT completed the GT300 podium in third.
For the Nissan faithful, second place at SUGO came with something arguably more interesting than a routine podium: a legitimate shot at victory created by rolling the dice.
And for a while, it looked like it just might work.
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