Published July 23, 2024

2024 FIM EWC Round 3 — Suzuka 8 Hours | Race Report (21 July) · 2nd in SST Class

Third time's the charm after Le Mans and Spa — 2nd in the SST class! A superb podium finish at the team's home race.

Team Étoile finished the third round of the 2024 FIM Endurance World Championship (EWC) — the Suzuka 8 Hours, our home race — 18th overall and 2nd in the SST class.

After the morning warm-up and a pit-walk for the fans, Roberto Rolfo, Hikari Okubo and Yudai Kamei were ready. At 11:30 local time the eight-hour race finally got under way. Starting from 19th on the grid, Hikari Okubo opened the throttle and held a good position near the front of the SST class.

It was known from the test sessions that the higher the tarmac temperature, the higher the risk of a crash. Team Étoile's strategy was not to chase the top SST teams, but rather to keep a stable average pace throughout the race.

The plan was to run Hikari, Rolfo and Yudai, in that order, for three cycles with a total of eight pit stops. Hikari held the class lead through the first stint; the rivals were fast, however, and the team spent much of the race 3rd, then 2nd in the later running — effectively 3rd — circulating without trouble.

Things changed towards the end. Running 3rd, the team saw the gap to 2nd come down to within striking distance. The strategy switched: Team Étoile called the last pit stop earlier than planned to have Yudai push hard to the finish — and it worked exactly as anticipated.

At around the 7-hour-58-minute mark, Yudai overtook a rival on the home straight of the final lap to take 2nd, and held it to the flag. In only its third EWC race, and in front of the home fans, Team Étoile finished 2nd in the SST class at the Suzuka 8 Hours and stepped onto the podium. Fourth in the championship, the team could still aim for the title depending on the final round.

As a full-season entry, Team Étoile will keep preparing for the fourth and final round, the Bol d'Or 24 Hours, on 14–15 September.

To all the race fans who supported us, whether through the screen or on site, thank you — your encouragement at the circuit gave us strength and helped us reach this result at the Suzuka 8 Hours. Please cheer us on at the final round too.

Rider & team principal comments

Rider

Yudai Kamei

“It was quite a tough race. Especially at the beginning the tarmac temperature was too high and we saw many riders crash. Usually you would leave a bit of margin in these conditions, but the gap to the SST teams ahead and behind us was always small, so I had to keep pushing. I'm happy I could stay focused until the end.”

“The SST team ahead was about 20 seconds away when I started the last stint. I saw a chance to catch up, and figured it was wiser to push in the first half of my stint rather than the second, since it only gets darker and harder to ride towards the end. In the end I caught up and took 2nd on the final lap.”

“I'm very happy with the result — it's always special to step onto the podium. Every little detail we did as a team led to this 2nd place, and I'm glad I could contribute to it.”

“On championship points we have a gap to the top, but it's still possible to become world champion depending on the final round. We'll do our best, and I hope we can end the season on a positive note.”

Rider

Hikari Okubo

“I led the SST class for the first few laps after the start, but figured I was pushing too much, so I shifted to a better average pace. The decision was right — a few faster SST teams started to crash, and we finished the first stint in the lead.”

“If we could have done one thing better, it would be our average pace over the eight hours; the winning SST team was about 0.5 sec a lap quicker on average. Still, we were so close to the top, which is positive. As a permanent team, finishing 2nd rather than 3rd is a massive gain for our championship. I believe 2nd at Suzuka was the best possible result for where we are now, so I'm very proud of it. I first saw the Suzuka 8 Hours when I was five — one of the life-changing moments that made me pursue a racing career — so it was phenomenal to stand on the podium myself.”

“It's very important that we still have a chance to be SST class champion. It keeps the whole team's motivation high. We'll keep pushing.”

Rider

Roberto Rolfo

“Riding the Suzuka 8 Hours was always on my bucket list, so I'm very happy. We worked so well as a team all week, and the podium at the end was more than I could have asked for. I want to thank everyone in the team.”

“The bike felt really good and I enjoyed all of my stints. My last stint was hard to push because of the bright sunset, and we saw many teams crash, so I'm happy I could manage my pace.”

“The view from the podium was fantastic — all the people in the main stand holding colourful lights, and the near-full moon rising from the ocean. What a vibe; it was a wonderful experience.”

“Overall I enjoyed my stay in Japan. I used to come here for MotoGP, so I'm very happy to be back. A great place, a lovely experience — I'd love to come back again.”

Team Principal

Takashi Ichikawa

“I'm especially happy about two things. First, we finished the race trouble-free. Second, the podium. For the first stint, given the high tarmac temperature and the crash risk of overdoing it, we focused on a steady pace and not chasing the rider ahead. Some fast riders crashed, and we finished the first stint at the top of the SST class.”

“From the second stint we kept our own pace with no clear target, but towards the end, running 3rd, we saw a chance to take 2nd. We told Yudai before his final stint and let him do his thing — and he overtook the rider ahead on the last lap. Ending the race with that kind of excitement was great, and overall I'm happy with how it all went.”

“In only our third race, taking our first podium — at our home Suzuka 8 Hours — is something I'm truly grateful for. We scored points here too, so with the championship in mind I want a plan for the Bol d'Or that finishes not just with a result and good points, which go without saying, but with as many championship points as possible.”

“This year's Suzuka 8 Hours was the first official running of the SST class, which gives it special meaning. To stand on the same podium as the EWC class at that first edition, take in the same view and spray champagne — I couldn't ask for more from this third round. Being in Japan, so many fans spoke to us during the pit-walk; seeing how well our team is recognised, beyond what I had imagined, touched me deeply. Thank you to everyone.”