YART Yamaha will spearhead the Iwata marque's racing effort at the 2024 Suzuka 8 Hour race, as it goes in search of its first podium at the event.
2024 will mark the third year that YART has been Yamaha's main factory team at the Suzuka 8 Hour, after it decided to withdraw its one-event Yamaha Factory Racing Team since the 2022 edition.
YART was in podium contention in 2023 with its riders Niccolo Canepa, Karel Hanika, and Marvin Fritz when mechanical problems struck the #7 R1, leading them to a 22nd-place finish.
The same trio - which guided YART to its first Endurance World Championship title last year - will be aboard the now #1 Yamaha at Suzuka this year.
So far in 2024, YART has finished third at the 24 Heures Motos and first at last weekend's 8 Hours of Spa Motos to currently sit second in the overall standings, one behind current points leaders Yoshimura SERT Suzuki.
Honda also recently confirmed the line-up for its factory Team HRC squad, with MotoGP rider Johann Zarco headlining the three-man team that will also include five-time 8 Hour winner Takumi Takahashi and Team HRC debutant Teppei Nagoe.
