K-Tunes Racing Joins Corvette Racing as GT3 Customer Team
K-tunes Racing has officially announced its partnership with Corvette Racing, becoming the first customer team for the Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R in Japan. The team will debut the vehicle in the 2026 SRO Japan Cup.
As part of their 2026 season strategy, K-tunes will compete in multiple series, fielding GT3 cars from three manufacturers. In the Japan Cup, the new #96 Corvette will be driven by Nirei Fukuzumi and Sena Sakaguchi, both of whom are Toyota Gazoo Racing factory drivers. Fukuzumi will participate at Fuji Speedway and Okayama International Circuit, while Sakaguchi, who secured a win on his SUPER GT debut with K-tunes in 2019, will race at Sportsland Sugo and Suzuka Circuit. Their co-driver will be confirmed later.
Additionally, K-tunes will reintroduce the title-winning #98 Ferrari 296 GT3, now upgraded to the Evo package, with Taiwanese driver Betty Chen joining 2024 series champion Shinichi Takagi for the Japan Cup.
In the Autobacs SUPER GT Series, K-tunes Racing unveiled a new red and black livery, along with a return to Bridgestone tires. Veteran drivers Takagi and Morio Nitta, both former champions, will embark on their 17th season together in the GT300 class.
Toshihiro Ichise remains as the Chief Engineer, supported by Kaito Tsuji, a former ARTA engineer now serving as Performance Engineer for the #96 Lexus.
In a strategic move, K-tunes Racing will also enter its Lexus RC F GT3 at the 50th annual Suzuka 1000km on September 13. This event marks the first entry from a customer Lexus/Toyota team since the race joined the Intercontinental GT Challenge in 2018. Sakaguchi will be one of the drivers for this event; the other two will be announced later.
The partnership with Corvette Racing and the multi-series approach underscore K-tunes’ ambition to elevate its competitive presence in Japanese motorsport as the industry transitions towards new GT3 specifications.
