Final【Road To 8HOURS】It's Not Too Late! Let's Go Watch the 8 Hours Race at the Last Minute! ~Free Entry, Free Spectating, and You Can Even Job Hunt!

The Suzuka 8 Hours, or "Hachitai," is finally entering race week. While some enthusiastic fans rush to Suzuka without a second thought, and others decide to watch from home, the most common sentiment for this kind of event is "Should I go? I'm not sure." There are many plans to encourage those undecided fans!

The 2026 Hachitai is a Once-in-a-Lifetime Event!

Hachitai, should I go? I can watch it on TV at home, and it'll probably be crowded anyway... When a big event comes around, it's said that the "undecided crowd" is larger than those who decide to go or not go. This "undecided crowd" often makes their decision at the last minute, based on their physical condition, the weather that day, or even their mood.

Federico Fellini, the Italian film director known for the movie "La Dolce Vita," left us with the famous quote, "Life is a festival. Let's enjoy it together." Hachitai is a World Endurance Championship race, and it's a festival. It's okay to decide on the day and head to Suzuka; let's enjoy it together.

What we want to announce even at the last minute is the "16-23 ZERO Yen Pass" (www.suzukacircuit.jp/8tai/ticket/16-23pass/) that Suzuka Circuit prepares for each major race. This pass allows individuals aged 16 to 23 to enjoy the race, music festival, attractions, and pool for free over the three days of July 3rd to 5th. Those who are 16 years old were born in 2002 and will be valid from July 6th, aligning with the Hachitai dates. Those who are 23 years old were born in 2011. Therefore, individuals born between July 6, 2002, and April 1, 2011, are eligible!

First, prepare a photo ID that shows your date of birth and name, such as a driver's license, student ID, passport, or My Number card.

The "16-23 ZERO Yen" pass includes free admission to the races. Normally, race tickets cost around 5,000 to 6,000 yen, but with this pass, they are free. This applies to A seats, B/Q area seats, and general admission. On Sunday, the final day, a special "16-23 ZERO Yen Pass Exclusive Area" will be available, offering a close-up view of the start scene. This is a highly popular area where you can watch the race alongside the Monaki, a four-member unit and junior group of Junretsu, and even take a group photo! It's first-come, first-served!

You'll also receive support merchandise. Honda's BB shirts, flags from each manufacturer... If you think this will add too much to your luggage, don't worry; the Suzuki support goods come in a tote bag, and Yamaha's are in a vinyl bag, so they'll all fit, probably.

Furthermore, we highly recommend the "16-23 & Corporate Networking Event at Suzuka 8 Hours" (https://www.suzukacircuit.jp/8tai/event/16-23-companies-meeting/). This is a corporate information session held at the Traffic Education Center, where 8FES is taking place, next to the Motorsports Gate. It's especially recommended for high school and university students! It's a chance to speak directly with representatives from over 40 companies, including those in Suzuka City. The atmosphere is relaxed, and casual attire is perfectly fine! It's a rare opportunity to participate in a corporate information session even in a T-shirt and shorts. Webike's operating company, River Crane, will also be participating.

This event includes a lottery exclusively for participants, and the grand prize is the chance to wave the checkered flag at Saturday's TOP 10 Trial! Make sure to apply by Saturday morning!

The "8FES," held at the Traffic Education Center from Saturday to Sunday, is also free to enter! The stage events include talk shows with Hachitai participating teams on Saturday, followed by a music festival on Saturday afternoon. For details, click here (https://www.suzukacircuit.jp/8tai/event/8fes-stage/). Oh, and on Sunday, 175R and MONKEY MAJIK will be performing!

For endurance races, not just at Suzuka but also at Le Mans, Bol d'Or, or SPA, it's surprisingly rare for spectators to watch the entire race. While many are in the stands for the start and finish, it's common for people to be at the events or merchandise stalls during the race. For a 24-hour endurance race, some people even go home at night and return to the circuit the next morning. At Hachitai, it's perfectly fine to participate in 8FES during the race. Also, the 16-23 pass includes free access to Suzuka's famous pool!

The "16-23 ZERO Yen Pass" requires advance registration. First, apply on "MobilityStation" (https://ticket.mobilitystation.jp/suzuka). Then, on the day you enter the circuit, show your electronic ticket and ID to receive your admission ticket. If you're visiting this site for the first time, you'll need to register as a member first.

Here's another quote for you. American novelist Mark Twain, known as the author of "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer," said:

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do."

However, if you absolutely cannot make it to Suzuka, watch the race on TV at home.

BS TwellV (https://www.twellv.co.jp/program/sports/8tai-2026/) and J SPORTS (https://jod.jsports.co.jp/p/motor/ewc/111052-L) will be broadcasting the Hachitai live in its entirety.

The 2026 Hachitai is a one-time event. Let's meet at Suzuka!