The final qualifying results for the iconic 2026 Coca-Cola Suzuka 8 Hours endurance race have been locked in at the 5.821 km Suzuka Circuit. Running from July 3–5, 2026, the grid positions for the FIM Endurance World Championship (EWC) event were determined based on the average of each team’s two best rider times.
Several prominent Malaysian riders showcased their grit against a highly competitive international field. Here is how the Malaysian riders and their respective teams fared during the official qualifying sessions:
Honda Asia-Dream Racing with Astemo (#88) — 20th Overall (Grid 20)
The Honda Asia-Dream Racing with Astemo squad secured a top-20 starting position, placing 20th overall and 18th in the EWC category. Former Moto3 rider Khairul Idham Pawi put on an impressive display as the Yellow Rider, setting the fastest individual time in his team.
- Team Best Lap (Average): 2:06.709
- Gap to 1st: +1.971 seconds
- Rider Breakdown:
- Blue Rider (Nakarin Atiratphuvapat): 2:06.855
- Yellow Rider (Khairul Idham Pawi): 2:06.563
- Red Rider (Mohammad Adenanta Putra): 2:09.824
Honda Tochigi Racing & Koyokai Dream Racing (#112) — 34th Overall (Grid 34)
An all-Malaysian duo spearheaded the Honda Tochigi Racing & Koyokai Dream Racing entry alongside their Japanese teammate. Competing in the Experimental (EXP) class, Muhammad Helmi Azman and Muhammad Zaqhwan Zaidi helped their team land 34th overall and 2nd in the EXP category. Helmi Azman registered a blistering 2:07.919 mark to lead the outfit.
- Team Best Lap (Average): 2:08.463
- Gap to 1st: +3.725 seconds
- Rider Breakdown:
- Blue Rider (Muhammad Helmi Azman): 2:07.919
- Yellow Rider (Takafumi Kato): 2:12.371
- Red Rider (Muhammad Zaqhwan Zaidi): 2:09.008
TEAM FRONTIER (#828) — 42nd Overall (Grid 42)
Veteran Malaysian rider Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman suited up for TEAM FRONTIER on a BMW machine in the EWC class. Serving as the Blue Rider, Azlan Shah set the benchmark pace for his team with a lap of 2:09.657, placing the crew 42nd overall.
- Team Best Lap (Average): 2:10.565
- Gap to 1st: +5.827 seconds
- Rider Breakdown:
- Blue Rider (Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman): 2:09.657
- Yellow Rider (Ryosuke Katahira): 2:13.188
- Red Rider (Sho Hasegawa): 2:11.474
The stage is set for a gruelling 8-hour endurance challenge, where these riders will look to leverage their consistency and race pace to climb up the ranks during Sunday’s main event.
Credit Photo : Honda Asia-Dream Racing with Astemo
