A total of 46 teams lined up on the grid for round 3 of the 2024 FIM Endurance World Championship, ready to compete on one of motorsport's most iconic circuits. Among them, nineteen teams are Honda-powered.

During the warm-up session held from 8:30 am to 9:15 am, Team HRC with Japan Post topped the time sheets with a lap time of 2:06.336.

SDG Team HARC-PRO. Honda set the third-best lap time with 2:08.648, followed closely by F.C.C. TSR Honda France in fourth place with 2:08.652.

The race got underway at 11.30am (local time) under particularly hot and very humid conditions, with a temperature of 37ºC.

Team HRC with Japan Post started in 3rd place on the grid with Takumi Takahashi. The experienced Japanese rider made an excellent start, and after a close battle at the front, Takahashi, who was in third place, moved to second on lap 10 and managed to take the lead of the race at the 130R corner with his best lap time of 2:07.378.

Back in the pits at the end of his stint, Takahashi handed over the Honda CBR1000RR-R SP to the MotoGP French rider, Johann Zarco who joined the track still in first place.

Zarco improved his time to 2:07 and, with a comfortable riding position, opened a 20.808-second gap. Thanks to the Frenchman's strong pace, when Tappei Nagoe took over for his stint, Team HRC with Japan Post was still leading by one lap after two hours of racing.

Starting from sixth place on the grid, SDG Team HARC-PRO. Honda, with Mario Suryo Aji, made a great start and joined the front group. After the first two hours of racing, the Honda #73 was positioned in fourth place with a best lap time of 2:08.112.

F.C.C. TSR Honda France started the 8-hour race from eighth place on the grid with Josh Hook. When the Australian entered the pits to hand over the Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP to Mike Di Meglio, the Frenchman rejoined the race in tenth place.

During the first hour of racing, the safety car was deployed when WÓJCIK RACING TEAM 777 rider Gino Rea had a high-side crash, and his bike was taken to the pits.

Asia-Dream Racing with Astemo had a crash in the early stages of the race and back to the pits the team decided to retire due to serious damage to the bike.

After two hours of racing, Team HRC with Japan Post is leading the the 45th Coca-Cola Suzuka 8 Hours.