New Honda Prelude GT500 for 2026 Super GT

Today, September 30, 2025, Japan technicians officially unveiled the new Honda Prelude GT500. Set to replace the legendary Civic Type R-GT in the Japanese Super GT championship starting from the 2026 season. This announcement marks the end of the Civic Type R-GT era, which competed from 2024 and will retire at the end of this year.

The Honda Prelude GT500 was previewed at Sportsland Sugo, where it completed its first shakedown. Its official race debut is scheduled for the weekend of April 11-12, 2026, at the Okayama Circuit, where it will face historic rivals such as the Toyota GR Supra and the Nissan Z.

The new Prelude GT500 is inspired by the sixth-generation road-going Prelude. It was recently launched in Japan and expected in Europe in 2026. Sharing the platform with the Civic, the racing version features a more aggressive design, with sculpted lines and a large rear wing. The body is made of lightweight materials such as carbon fiber to enhance performance. Although technical details are still under wraps, the Prelude GT500 is likely to use a 2.0-liter turbo engine, similar to the one used in the Civic Type R-GT.

The actual Honda Civic R-GT Model

The Civic Type R-GT had a short but intense career. After its debut in 2024, it achieved notable victories, including a double win at Fuji in 2024, thanks to the collaboration with the ARTA Mugen team. However, it was unable to consistently compete with the dominance of the Toyota Supra. With the introduction of the Honda Prelude GT500, Honda closes one chapter and opens a new one, focusing on a car that is more in line with the brand’s sporting traditions.

The 2026 season promises to be exciting.

With the new Prelude GT500, Honda aims to return to the top of Super GT, challenging the established forces of Toyota and Nissan. Notably, Honda will be the only manufacturer in the championship to enter with a new model in 2026. The debut at the Okayama Circuit will serve as the ideal testing ground to evaluate the car’s potential and see how it performs on track against its main rivals.

New developments possible on the Honda Prelude GT500

Moreover, Honda has made a very bold decision by introducing this new model in the championship, as starting next year it will be possible to further develop the aerodynamics. Although the Civic Type R-GT had reached a very high level. The new model unveiled today is expected to have even greater development potential, which is why the replacement was deemed necessary.