Ferrari will be represented in the Japanese Le Mans Challenge (JLMC) this year when the inaugural three race schedule kicks off in May. Hitotsuyama Racing plan switch to the new series with the Prodrive-built Ferrari 550 GTS Maranello that they have campaigned with very little success in the 'Super GT' category of the Japanese GT Series (JGTC) for the last two seasons.

The Prodrive Ferrari 550 Maranello has struggled to compete against bigger-budget, factory-supported 'Super GT' class rivals from Toyota, Nissan and Honda, especially as its conversion from European FIA GT to Japanese 'Super GT; specification involved major changes to the size of the air restrictor and the aerodynamics which rendered it uncompetitive. The car has now been converted back to Le Mans LMGT1 specification as Hitotsuyama Racing are taking the new challenge seriously.

Significant improvements made to the car, especially in the area of the aerodynamics last year failed to improve the competitiveness of the Ferrari which was driven in Super GT by Takuya Kurosawa and Hidetoshi Mitsusada. Unable to take on the purpose-built Japanese machines, their main track rival was the similarly-hampered Lamborghini Murciélago R-GT campaigned by Team JLOC, who they will meet again on track as the Lamborghini Owners' Club run team also plan to switch to the JLMC. Hitotsuyama Racing will run a Zytek 05S in the LMP1 'prototype' class of the JLMC this year alongside the Ferrari.
 

The new All Japan Championship organised JLMC series will be conducted, based on the international acclaimed standards of the LMS (Le Mans Series) Sporting Regulations. Following deliberations with ACO (Automobile-Club de I'Ouest), the organisation that sponsors Le Mans 24 Hour Race and is the promoter of Le Mans Endurance Series (LMES) (renamed Le Mans Series (LMS) from 2006), it was approved that the name "Le Mans" used for the All Japan championship to be held from 2006. Thus, the official name was decided as "Japan Le Mans Challenge Japanese Sports Car Endurance Championship (JLMC)".

As the organisers freely admit, with this new series they are studying the possibility of unfolding global series with races in Europe, the United States and Japan, with the Le Mans 24 Hour Race set at the summit, by organising double title races with LMS in the future. The JLMC regulations will comply with the LMES (LMS) regulations of 2004 and 2005. This Championship aims to build an environment where there is plenty opportunity for exchange of ideas between Le Mans 24 Hours Race, the peak of sports car race, while keeping a firm foot on the All Japan Championship style. Promotionally, the aim is to give a chance for national teams, racing machines and drivers to succeed internationally.

In 2006, there will be a total of three JLMC races, each of which is set to be 1000km in duration. The opening encounter will be held May 13-14 at Sportsland Sugo. The second round will be held July 1-2 at Twin Ring Motegi and the last race will taken place October 28-29 at the Okayama International Circuit.