2026 Eneos Super Taikyu Series: Season Preview
The 2026 Eneos Super Taikyu Series, bolstered by Bridgestone, is set to commence with its opening round on March 21-22 at Mobility Resort Motegi. This season marks a significant step forward with a record 72 entries spanning 11 classes, including 56 cars slated for the opener.
Key Race Schedule
- Round 1: March 21-22, Mobility Resort Motegi (4-hour races)
- Round 2: April 18-19, Suzuka Circuit (5-hour race)
- Signature Event: June 5-7, Fuji Speedway (24-Hour Race)
- Subsequent Rounds:
- July 4-5, Sportsland Sugo (4-hour races)
- July 25-26, Autopolis (5-hour race)
- October 24-25, Okayama International Circuit (3-hour races)
- November 14-15, Fuji Speedway (4-hour race)
The series will also introduce the S-Tai Challenge for entry-level teams, featuring three races.
Notable Entries and Class Insights
The highly competitive ST-X class will showcase established teams such as TKRI, Craft-Bamboo Racing, and apr, with new contenders like Team Pop Race, featuring two-time D1GP champion Daigo Saito making his GT3 racing debut. Notably, the defending champions, seven x seven Racing, will not compete this year, paving the way for a new champion.
D’station Racing has transitioned from the Aston Martin Vantage GT3 Evo to the Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo, aiming to capitalize on its unchanged driver lineup.
Detailed Team Entries for ST-X Class:
- TKRI
- Vehicle: Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO
- Drivers: Daisuke Matsunaga, Tatsuya Kataoka, Yuhki Nakayama, Yuya Motojima
- apr
- Vehicle: Lexus RC F GT3
- Drivers: Hiroaki Nagai, Naoya Gamou, Ryo Ogawa, Koki Saga
- Craft-Bamboo Racing
- Vehicle: Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO
- Drivers: Sun Jingzu, Kakunoshin Ohta, Adderly Fong
The ST-Z class will feature a robust lineup of 12 entries, predominantly using the Toyota GR Supra GT4, while the ST-1 and other lower categories ensure a diverse mix of competitors.
Technical Insights
The 2026 season sees manufacturer-developed vehicles such as the Toyota GR Yaris concepts, showcasing innovations like the G20E engine and eight-speed Direct Automatic Transmission. Subaru enters with its High Performance X “Version 2” based on the WRX STI.
The series also anticipates the debut of the ST-TCR class in Round 2, further enriching the competitive landscape.
Overall, 2026 promises to be a pivotal year for the Super Taikyu Series as participants gear up for intense endurance racing across Japan’s renowned circuits.
