The 2025 Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli Japan season, the first to feature the new 296 Challenge, reached its grand finale with Round 5 at Okayama International Circuit. A strong 26-car grid lined up, comprising 24 examples of the 296 Challenge and two 488 Challenge Evos. 

Under overcast skies and a comfortable 28°C, Race 1 delivered action across all classes. In Trofeo Pirelli, Nobuhiro Imada (Rosso Scuderia) made a lightning start and claimed his second victory of the season, his first since Fuji. Tsutomu Shimoyama (Cornes Shiba) triumphed in Trofeo Pirelli Am, taking his third win of the year after navigating late-race drama. In Coppa Shell, Norikazu Shibata (Cornes Osaka) delivered a commanding lights-to-flag victory with pace quick enough for second overall. Yasuhito Fukui (Cornes Nagoya) celebrated a maiden win in Coppa Shell Am, while in 488 Challenge Evo, Michito Hirota (Gran Testa Nagano) also secured his first victory with a pole-to-win performance. 

Trofeo Pirelli: In a four-car Trofeo Pirelli field, pole-sitter Tadao Uematsu (Cornes Shiba) entered the final round determined to overturn his narrow deficit to points leader Sota Muto (M.Auto Italia). Drama struck immediately when Muto went off at Turn 1 on the opening lap after contact, handing the lead to Uematsu. He resisted heavy pressure from Imada, who had started fourth, and crossed the line first. However, a post-race penalty for contact dropped Uematsu to third, promoting Imada to victory. Anna Inotsume (Auto Speciale), making her first appearance since Round 1 at Suzuka, finished second.

Six cars took the start in Trofeo Pirelli Am, where the championship fight remains wide open. Pole-sitter and current points leader Motohiko Isozaki (Cornes Shiba) saw his race unravel with a first-corner incident on lap one, falling well down the order. Yamatatsu (Cornes Osaka), starting third, inherited the lead, pursued by second-place starter Kanji Yagura (Cornes Osaka) and fifth-place starter Shimoyama. On lap 14, contact between Yamatatsu and Yagura at the hairpin allowed Shimoyama through to claim his third win of the season. Cold Max (Cornes Osaka), second in the standings and aiming for a late-season title charge, finished runner-up, tightening the championship battle even further.

Pole position in the 488 Challenge Evo class went to Hirota, his third consecutive pole. However, a spin on lap one allowed second-place starter and points leader Yosuke Yamaki (Gran Testa Nagano) to take the lead. Hirota mounted a determined comeback, regaining the top spot on lap 13 and securing his first career victory. 

Coppa Shell. Four cars lined up for the Coppa Shell race, with Shibata securing pole position with a lap time on par with the upper classes. Second-place qualifier Masaru Yoneda (Cornes Osaka) mounted a challenge, but Shibata pulled away to build a lead of up to 10 seconds, delivering a commanding lights-to-flag victory and his third win of the season. Title contender Phil Kim (Nicole Competizione) climbed from fourth on the grid to finish third.

A season-high 10 cars lined up for Coppa Shell Am, with Hiroyasu Sahara (Cornes Shiba) starting from pole ahead of Fukui in second. On lap five, Sahara crashed at Redman Corner while leading, bringing out the red flag. After a 30-minute stoppage, racing resumed, and Fukui gradually extended his advantage to take a well-deserved maiden victory over the 20-lap contest. Points leader Alex Fox (Yanase Fiorano Motori) finished second, while Yoshifumi Komatsu (Nicole Competizione) claimed third from a third-place start.

Round 5, Race 2 will be held at Okayama International Circuit on August 10, starting from 12:40 local time.