Suzuki CN Challenge Returns with 100% Sustainable Fuel

Suzuki’s employee-led endurance team returns to Suzuka 8 Hours with upgraded rider line-up and a mission to race using 100% sustainable fuel.

Suzuki Motor Corporation’s pioneering Team Suzuki CN Challenge is set to make a powerful statement at this year’s Suzuka 8 Hours, marking a bold leap forward in sustainable racing innovation. For the 46th edition of the iconic endurance race, held from August 1 to 3, the team will compete using 100% sustainable fuel, a significant progression from last year’s 40% bio-sourced blend.

Operated entirely by Suzuki employees, Team Suzuki CN Challenge forms a key part of the manufacturer’s broader effort to develop high-performance, low-impact technology under real-world racing conditions. The initiative aligns with Suzuki’s goal to reduce environmental load without sacrificing competitive performance — leveraging the demanding Suzuka 8 Hours as a proving ground for future production technology.

“In last year’s race, we took on a completely new challenge and achieved an impressive eighth place overall,” said Toshihiro Suzuki, President of Suzuki Motor Corporation. “Thanks to the support of our partners and fans, we’re now aiming even higher. This year, we’re not just continuing — we’re evolving. Our target is to overcome new challenges together and pave the way to a better, more sustainable future.”

Suzuki’s commitment to pushing sustainability further is echoed by Tsuyoshi Tanaka, Executive General Manager of Motorcycle Operations: “By completing last year’s race with reduced environmental impact, we proved that sustainable performance is possible. In 2025, we’re expanding our use of sustainable components and focusing on further technology development that goes beyond carbon neutrality.”

In 2024, Team Suzuki CN Challenge impressed with a top-10 finish and a victory in the Experimental category. For 2025, the team is strengthening its campaign by refreshing its rider line-up. Albert Arenas, the Spanish rider who secured third at last year’s Suzuka 8 Hours, joins forces with Takuya Tsuda, Suzuki’s veteran test and development rider, and Étienne Masson, part of the 2025 FIM Endurance World Champion team, Yoshimura SERT Motul.

The team will once again enter the Experimental class, pushing the boundaries of alternative fuels and sustainable technology in motorsport.

As the countdown to the 46th Suzuka 8 Hours begins, all eyes will be on Team Suzuki CN Challenge — not just for their racing performance, but for what their efforts represent: a sustainable future in high-performance motorcycling.