Honda Announces Driver Line-Up for 2026 GT500 Season
Tokyo, Japan – December 21, 2025: In a pivotal press conference, Honda Racing Corporation (HRC) unveiled its GT500 driver roster for the upcoming 2026 Autobacs SUPER GT Series, highlighting structural changes and the introduction of the new Honda HRC Prelude-GT.
The lineup sees the return of Kakunoshin Ohta, who spent the previous season racing in North America’s IMSA series. Ohta will pilot the #8 Prelude-GT for Team HRC ARTA Mugen, where he will team up with Hiroki Otsu, a seven-time veteran known for his technical prowess. Ohta’s participation will not interfere with his IMSA commitments, as he is set to compete in prominent races including the Rolex 24 At Daytona.
HRC President Koji Watanabe emphasized the company’s long-term ambitions, stating, “In the long term, our objective is to establish a factory team in four-wheel racing.” This strategic move appears to solidify Honda’s commitment to expanding its footprint in GT500.
Additionally, Tomoki Nojiri will transition to the #16 ARTA Mugen car, where he will partner with Ren Sato. Nojiri, a two-time Super Formula Champion, shifts from the #8 car after a long tenure, while Sato brings recent success, having secured two pole positions and a podium last season.
Newcomers Igor Fraga and Yuto Nomura will also join GT500, showcasing Honda’s strong recruiting from the Super Formula ranks. Fraga, replacing Takuya Izawa in the #64 Honda for Modulo Nakajima Racing, arrives with momentum after securing his first win in Super Formula. Meanwhile, Nomura joins the #17 Honda at Astemo Real Racing, partnering with Koudai Tsukakoshi, who is set to enter his 18th season in GT500.
The only unchanged lineup belongs to the #100 Stanley Team Kunimitsu, featuring two-time champion Naoki Yamamoto alongside Tadasuke Makino for a seventh consecutive year. They concluded the last season in second place, further establishing their competitive edge.
To enhance its technical capabilities, HRC has appointed Akihiro Hasegawa as the new GT500 Technical Director, leveraging his two decades of experience in vehicle development.
With these announcements finalized, the 2026 GT500 field will consist of 14 cars, the smallest since 2010, following Nissan’s contraction to a three-car unit. The integration of new talent alongside experienced drivers signals a fresh chapter for Honda in the ongoing race for GT500 supremacy.
Notable Quotes:
- “Our objective is to establish a factory team in four-wheel racing.” – Koji Watanabe, HRC President.
Key Drivers:
- Kakunoshin Ohta (#8 Prelude-GT)
- Hiroki Otsu (#8 co-driver)
- Tomoki Nojiri (#16 Prelude-GT)
- Ren Sato (#16 co-driver)
- Igor Fraga (#64 Honda)
- Yuto Nomura (#17 Honda)
End of Report
