Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. is proud to announce that the official Yamalube YART Yamaha EWC team, currently competing in the World Endurance Championship (E.W.C.), will participate in the 45th edition of the 8 hours of endurance road race Suzuka “Coca-Cola”, from Friday July 19 to Sunday July 21, 2024, as Yamaha's leading team in the event.
In addition to providing technical support for the YZF-R1, Yamaha will also assist YART management during preparation and racing. Together, Yamaha and YART aim to win the 2024 EWC title and reach the podium for the first time at the Suzuka 8 Hours, a long-held dream for YART.
The team will take part in the race at the wheel of a YZF-R1 adorned with a special Suzuka 8 Hours livery with a Yamalube logo, in reference to Yamaha's brand of oil and chemicals which is also part of the Team name.
Niccolò Canepa (Italy), Marvin Fritz (Germany) and Karel Hanika (Czech Republic) will ride the YZF-R1, with the team led by Mandy Kainz.
Marvin Fritz, Niccolò Canepa and Karel Hanika with the YART R1 at the Suzuka 8 Hours
During the 8 Suzuka 2023 Hours, YART was in 2nd position before experiencing a problem which led it to finish in 22nd place. However, after finishing 2nd in the 1st round, winning the 2nd round and taking 4th place in the final round, they managed to win the 2024 EWC title. This is the first title since 2009 for the team and the first title since 2017 for Yamaha.
As reigning champions in 2024, they are off to a strong start so far to win back-to-back titles with a 3rd place finish at the season-opening race, the 24 Heures Motos in France. At the following round, the 8 Hours of Spa Motos in Belgium on June 8, they qualified in pole position and stayed ahead of their rivals in the race to take victory and retain 2nd place overall while reducing the lead. gap with the leaders at just one point. By securing its first podium at the Suzuka 8 Hours, YART will be ideally placed to repeat its feat at the Bol d'Or, in France, on September 14 and 15.
