McIntosh: Suzuka Return Prep for Future IGTC Campaign

Photo: Julien Delfosse/DPPI

Anthony McIntosh said his entry in this weekend’s Suzuka 1000km is aimed to get more track experience ahead of a full season Intercontinental GT Challenge program in the future.

The FIA Bronze-rated American driver has brought his FIA World Endurance Championship co-drivers Dan Harper and Parker Thompson to the fourth round of the IGTC season in a Bronze class Team WRT BMW M4 GT3 EVO.

It marks a one-off appearance in the globe-trotting GT3 series this year, although McIntosh took part in last year’s revival of the race, finishing 18th overall and second in the Pro-Am class in a GetSpeed Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo.

“For me, Suzuka was one of those tracks where I needed to spend some more time at and just really learn,” McIntosh told Sportscar365.

“Last year when I went there, I didn’t really get a lot of seat time. It was raining and I had to learn the track at night, so that was kind of wild.

“I never really got the hang of it. I think for me to go back and get tuned up for it so we could get ready to do [a full season of] IGTC.

“We haven’t confirmed it yet but it’s on the list to eventually do. I have to learn all those tracks.”

While this weekend marks Thompson’s Suzuka debut, BMW factory driver Harper was part of WRT’s two-car Pro class effort last year, finishing sixth overall, while nursing an injury that forced him to right-foot brake.

When asked about their chances for a potential overall podium, given the reduced Pro class entry this year, Harper didn’t completely discount such a prospect.

Absolute Racing’s Bronze Cup-winning Porsche 911 GT3 R of Richard Lietz, Loek Hartog and Antares Au nearly finished third overall last year, until Hartog was passed by Nicky Catsburg in a hard-fought late-race battle.

“You never know in an endurance race,” said Harper.

“Obviously sometimes getting the Bronze driving time out of the way as early as you can, if you’re lucky and still in a decent spot after that and there’s a safety car, then it’s all to fight for.

“I think with Parker and I, we’re more then capable to fight with all of the other pros.

“Obviously the focus is on the Bronze class and try to get the victory there. That’s the main goal.

“But of course, after that, you want to try and push for an overall podium or something, that would be cool.”

In what’s a rarity for fly-in IGTC teams, all three drivers tested at Suzuka prior to this weekend.

Vosse: WRT Didn’t Actively Search for Suzuka Program

Team principal Vincent Vosse revealed that the Belgian squad, which won the race outright in 2025 in the Pro class, didn’t actively pursue customers for this year’s event after it became clear the team wouldn’t return in a factory capacity.

“Here we had a request from one of our customers, which is Tony,” Vosse told Sportscar365. “We are happy to do it. We did not look that we need to do it but it comes like this.

“We already have quite a busy season.”

When asked if WRT could put together a full season IGTC effort together in the future as a customer program, Vosse said the series is quite appealing but is awaiting final judgement on the swap from Indianapolis to Circuit of The Americas for the U.S. round next year.

“You see now that the championship is picking up,” he said. “Bathurst is a very nice event. Of course, Nürburgring, Spa, Suzuka.

“Now it’s going to be COTA next year. This is the last bit that’s missing in the championship. If that picks up, they have a strong platform.”

Source: Sports Car 365