Goodsmile Racing & TeamUKYO Announce 2026 Lineup and Key Changes
Goodsmile Racing & TeamUKYO have officially confirmed their driver lineup for the 2026 Autobacs SUPER GT Series. For the fifteenth consecutive year, three-time GT300 Drivers’ Champions Nobuteru Taniguchi and Tatsuya Kataoka will pilot the #4 Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO. Team management remains consistent, led by Team Director Ukyo Katayama under the guidance of Team Owner Takanori Aki.
A pivotal shift within the team sees Takao Kohno, the Chief Engineer and a cornerstone of Goodsmile Racing, stepping aside after a distinguished 30-year career in SUPER GT. Kohno’s tenure includes notable engineering roles, such as leading RE Amemiya’s victorious Mazda RX-7 campaign, culminating in the 2006 GT300 Championship. Since 2011, his engineering work has been instrumental in securing multiple championships for Taniguchi and Kataoka in 2014 and 2017.
Replacing Kohno is Viktor Ferder, who brings extensive experience from roles with HWA AG and as a freelance engineer for various Mercedes-AMG teams across premier endurance racing events. Ferder’s insights are expected to enhance the team’s competitive edge this season.
Additionally, KIM International will now provide service for Goodsmile Racing, having previously supported other motorsport efforts, including the KTMS ST-2 in the Super Taikyu Series.
In the previous season, Taniguchi and Kataoka achieved a fifth-place finish in the GT300 standings, consistently securing top-ten results across all domestic rounds. Their performance was bolstered by substitute drivers Yuhki Nakayama and Shunji Okumoto, who clinched a third-place finish at Sepang while Taniguchi and Kataoka also participated in the CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa.
Goodsmile Racing unveiled the 2026 illustration of their mascot, Hatsune Miku, designed by Kuroboshi Kouhaku, known for work on prominent series such as Sword Art Online and Fate/Grand Order. There is currently no announcement regarding potential participation in selected Intercontinental GT Challenge events.
This announcement signifies a blend of continuity and change for Goodsmile Racing as they gear up for a competitive 2026 season.
