Kohei Hirate to Exit Full-Time Racing in 2026
Tokyo, Japan – Kohei Hirate, a prominent figure in the Autobacs SUPER GT Series and two-time GT500 champion, has confirmed he will not race full-time in the 2026 season following a strong performance that saw him finish second in the 2025 GT300 Championship.
After a seven-year tenure with Nissan, during which he achieved significant success across the GT500 and GT300 classes, Hirate announced his departure from the manufacturer last November. A veteran of Japanese motorsport, Hirate commenced his career with Toyota, securing GT500 titles in 2013 and 2016. His transition to Nissan yielded immediate results, exemplified by a victory in 2019 driving the GT-R NISMO GT500.
In the 2025 season, Hirate drove for Kondo Racing in the GT300 category, achieving consistent results with top-ten finishes at every race, including a third-place finish in the season opener at Okayama and a second at Sportsland Sugo. He concluded the year just one point shy of the GT300 Drivers’ Championship, placing fourth in the finale at Mobility Resort Motegi.
Hirate’s contributions extended beyond racing; he was integral in the development of the Nissan Z GT4 during the Super Taikyu Series. His final factory race for Nissan occurred at Fuji Speedway in November 2025.
This winter, Hirate took part in a competitive multi-driver open test at Sepang, where new talent emerged. Consequently, Hirate expressed his intent to take a step back, stating, “Though I have raced professionally for 24 years, my desire to race remains unchanged. I will position this year as a ‘year to build towards the next chapter.’”
Hirate plans to engage in selective racing opportunities while also focusing on mentoring the next generation of motorsport enthusiasts through lectures and events. The motorsport community looks forward to potential future engagements from the seasoned driver.
