WATCH: Hoppy Schatz’s Super GT car caught on fire after crashing into the wall at Fuji Speedway

Flames erupted out of the number 25 car of Seita Nonaka in the second half of the race.

WATCH: Hoppy Schatz’s Super GT car caught on fire after crashing into the wall at Fuji Speedway

Seita Nonaka's GR Supra GT catches fire during the Super GT race at the Fuji Speedway (Credits: @geinou/Twitter)

Japan is known to have an exciting motorsport arena. The island nation is home to carmakers who have a great legacy in the world of racing, such as Honda and Toyota. As such, it is no surprise that the GT racing series in the country is filled with action for fans. However, the recent Super GT race in Fuji had a rather alarming incident as Hoppy Schatz’s Toyota Supra driven by Seita Nonaka.

On lap 68 of the Super GT race at the Fuji Speedway, Nonaka’s car caught fire. This forced the Japanese driver to drive down the escape road. A clip surfaced on Twitter as Seita Nonaka took evasive action to prevent any mishap on track to his competitors. A lot of smoke was released from the Toyota GR Supra before marshalls could help out the GT racing driver.

Thankfully, Nonaka escaped from the car without any injuries despite the massive flames that erupted from his car. The Japanese driver’s incident led to a brief Safety Car period before a red flag was called as the marshalls struggled to contain the fire. This incident is a reminder of the dangers of racing no matter the category.

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Max Verstappen wants to have his own GT racing team

Max Verstappen and Thierry Vermeulen at Paul Ricard earlier this year (image via Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe)
Max Verstappen and Thierry Vermeulen at Paul Ricard earlier this year (Image via Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe)

GT racing is known to provide fans with entertaining races. Two-time F1 world champion Max Verstappen has expressed his interest to have his own GT3 team in the future. The Dutch driver has targeted the year 2025 for when his racing team will make his debut with two cars to start with. The Red Bull driver even insisted on aiming to win the championship from the get-go.

Presently, the Dutchman sponsors his fellow countryman, Thierry Vermeulen, in the German DTM series. Verstappen has left the door for more initiatives in the future. Although, the chances of the F1 driver running a team in the Japanese Super GT series are unlikely at this stage. The reigning world champion will lose his connection with the island nation after Honda’s switch to Aston Martin in 2026.

Thus, the Super GT Fuji race had an unfortunate incident with Seita Nonaka. Nonaka’s number 25 GR Supra GT erupted in flames in the second half of the race, forcing the Japanese driver to end his run. Thankfully, the GT driver came out unharmed as race marshalls did their best to contain the fire from spreading at the iconic track.

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