2026 SRO Japan Cup

The 2026 SRO Japan Cup is the fifth season of the SRO Japan Cup, an auto racing series for grand tourer cars in Japan, co-promoted by the SRO Motorsports Group and Team Asia One GT Management. The races are contested with GT3-spec, GTC-spec and GT4-spec cars with hopes of GT2-spec entries.

Calendar

Round Circuit Date Map of circuit locations
1 Miyagi Prefecture Sportsland SUGO, Murata, Miyagi 15–17 May
2 Shizuoka Prefecture Fuji Speedway, Oyama, Shizuoka 10–12 July
3 Okayama Prefecture Okayama International Circuit, Mimasaka, Okayama 28–30 August
4 Mie Prefecture Suzuka International Racing Course, Suzuka, Mie 11–13 September
Sources:[1][2]

Entry list

Team Car Engine No. Drivers Class Rounds
GT3
Japan Hitotsuyama with Cornes Racing Ferrari 296 GT3 Ferrari F163CE 3.0 L Turbo V6 1 Japan Shintaro Kawabata[3] PA 1–3
Japan Akihiro Tsuzuki[3]
Japan Bingo Racing with LM corsa Porsche 911 GT3 R (992.2) Porsche M97/80 4.2 L Flat-6 9 Japan Ukyo Sasahara[4] PA 1–3
Japan Shinji Takei[4]
Japan The Spirit of FFF Racing Lamborghini Huracán GT3 Evo 2 Lamborghini DGF 5.2 L V10 19 Japan Hiroshi Hamaguchi[5] Am 1–3
Japan Mineki Okura[5]
Japan Max Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo Mercedes-AMG M159 6.2 L V8 24 Japan Yuya Motojima[6] PA 1–3
Japan Yusaku Shibata[6]
Japan Fivestar with Team DreamDrive Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo Mercedes-AMG M159 6.2 L V8 25 Japan Takashi Sano[7] PA 2
Japan Takuya Shirasaka[7]
Japan AWD Racing Audi R8 LMS Evo II Audi DAR 5.2 L V10 27 Japan Jake Parsons[a][8] PA 1–3
Japan Jesse Swinimer[a][8]
Japan Ponos Racing Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo Ferrari F163CE 3.0 L Turbo V6 45 Japan Yorikatsu Tsujiko[9] Am 1–3
Japan Yusuke Yamasaki[6]
Japan CarGuy Racing Ferrari 488 GT3 Evo 2020 Ferrari F154CB 3.9 L Turbo V8 66 Japan Kazuki Ota[6] Am 1–2
Japan Takeshi Kimura[6] 1
Japan Takashi Toyoda[7] 2
Japan Miracolo Tokyo McLaren 720S GT3 McLaren M840T 4.0 L Turbo V8 88 Japan Tadao Uematsu[10] PA 1–3
Japan Kenta Yamashita[10]
Japan K-tunes Racing Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R (1)
Lexus RC F GT3 (2)[7]
Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo (3)[11]
Chevrolet LT6.R 5.5 L V8 (1)
Toyota 2UR-GSE 5.4 L V8 (2)
Ferrari F163CE 3.0 L Turbo V6 (3)[11]
96 Japan Kazunori Suenaga[6] PA 1–3
Japan Sena Sakaguchi[12] 1
Japan Nirei Fukuzumi[12] 2–3
Ferrari 296 GT3 Ferrari F163CE 3.0 L Turbo V6 97 Chinese Taipei Betty Chen Yin-yu[12] PA 1–3
Japan Shinichi Takagi[12]
Japan Norik Racing Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo Ferrari F163CE 3.0 L Turbo V6 181 Japan Taku Bamba[4] PA 1–3
Japan "Norik"[4]
Japan RunUp Sports Nissan GT-R Nismo GT3 Nissan VR38DETT 3.8 L Turbo V6 360 Japan Masaaki Nishikawa[13] Am 1, 3
Japan Atsushi Tanaka[13]
Japan Maezawa Racing Ferrari 296 GT3 (1–2)
Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo (3)[11]
Ferrari F163CE 3.0 L Turbo V6 555 Japan Yusaku Maezawa[6] PA 1–3
Japan Naoki Yokomizo[6]
Japan GalahRacing Nissan GT-R Nismo GT3 Nissan VR38DETT 3.8 L Turbo V6 935 Japan "Galah"[7] PA 2
Japan Natsu Sakaguchi[7]
GT4
Japan Akiland Racing[14] Toyota GR Supra GT4 Evo2  BMW B58B30 3.0 L Turbo I6 11 Japan Yuji Kunimoto[14] PA 1, 3
Japan Masayoshi Oyama[14]
Japan E-Needs Racing Toyota GR Supra GT4 Evo2 BMW B58B30 3.0 L Turbo I6 29 Japan Kota Murase[7] Am 2
Japan Tatsuya Osaki[7]
Hong Kong Pop Race Mercedes-AMG GT4 Mercedes-AMG M178 4.0 L Turbo V8 44 Hong Kong Kelvin Ho Chun Ki[6] Am 1–3
Japan Maaya Orido[6]
Japan Zenko RS Garage with Sunrise BLVD[15] Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport Porsche MDG.GA 4.0 L Flat-6 82 Japan Yoshimoto Makino[15] PA 1–3
Japan Takeshi Suehiro[15]
Icon Class
Drivers
PA Pro-Am Cup
S Silver Cup
Am Am Cup
  • Kei Cozzolino was scheduled to compete for Ponos Racing, but Cozzolino left the team before the season starts. He was replaced by Yusuke Yamasaki, and the team competed in the Am class.[9][16]

Race results

Bold indicates overall winner for each car class (GT3 and GT4). In the Pole Position column, bold indicates the driver who set the qualifying lap.

GT3
Round Circuit Pole position Pro/Am winners Am winners
1 R1 SUGO Japan No. 1 Hitotsuyama with Cornes Racing Japan No. 1 Hitotsuyama with Cornes Racing Japan No. 19 The Spirit of FFF Racing
Japan Shintaro Kawabata
Japan Akihiro Tsuzuki
Japan Shintaro Kawabata
Japan Akihiro Tsuzuki
Japan Hiroshi Hamaguchi
Japan Mineki Okura
R2 Japan No. 9 Bingo Racing with LM corsa Japan No. 9 Bingo Racing with LM corsa Japan No. 19 The Spirit of FFF Racing
Japan Ukyo Sasahara
Japan Shinji Takei
Japan Ukyo Sasahara
Japan Shinji Takei
Japan Hiroshi Hamaguchi
Japan Mineki Okura
2 R1 Fuji Japan No. 19 The Spirit of FFF Racing Japan No. 88 Miracolo Tokyo Japan No. 45 Ponos Racing
Japan Hiroshi Hamaguchi
Japan Mineki Okura
Japan Tadao Uematsu
Japan Kenta Yamashita
Japan Yorikatsu Tsujiko
Japan Yusuke Yamasaki
R2 Japan No. 1 Hitotsuyama with Cornes Racing Japan No. 1 Hitotsuyama with Cornes Racing Japan No. 19 The Spirit of FFF Racing
Japan Shintaro Kawabata
Japan Akihiro Tsuzuki
Japan Shintaro Kawabata
Japan Akihiro Tsuzuki
Japan Hiroshi Hamaguchi
Japan Mineki Okura
3 R1 Okayama Japan No. 24 Max Racing Japan No. 24 Max Racing Japan No. 19 The Spirit of FFF Racing
Japan Yuya Motojima
Japan Yusaku Shibata
Japan Yuya Motojima
Japan Yusaku Shibata
Japan Hiroshi Hamaguchi
Japan Mineki Okura
R2 Japan No. 96 K-tunes Racing
Japan Nirei Fukuzumi
Japan Kazunori Suenaga
4 R1 Suzuka
R2
GT4
Round Circuit Pole position Silver/Am Winners Am winners
1 R1 SUGO Japan No. 82 Zenko RS Garage with Sunrise BLVD Japan No. 82 Zenko RS Garage with Sunrise BLVD Hong Kong No. 44 Team Pop Race
Japan Yoshimoto Makino
Japan Takeshi Suehiro
Japan Yoshimoto Makino
Japan Takeshi Suehiro
Hong Kong Kelvin Ho Chun Ki
Japan Maaya Orido
R2 Japan No. 82 Zenko RS Garage with Sunrise BLVD Japan No. 11 Akiland Racing No classified finishers
Japan Yoshimoto Makino
Japan Takeshi Suehiro
Japan Yuji Kunimoto
Japan Masayoshi Oyama
2 R1 Fuji Japan No. 82 Zenko RS Garage with Sunrise BLVD Japan No. 82 Zenko RS Garage with Sunrise BLVD Hong Kong No. 44 Team Pop Race
Japan Yoshimoto Makino
Japan Takeshi Suehiro
Japan Yoshimoto Makino
Japan Takeshi Suehiro
Hong Kong Kelvin Ho Chun Ki
Japan Maaya Orido
R2 Japan No. 82 Zenko RS Garage with Sunrise BLVD Japan No. 82 Zenko RS Garage with Sunrise BLVD Japan No. 29 E-Needs Racing
Japan Yoshimoto Makino
Japan Takeshi Suehiro
Japan Yoshimoto Makino
Japan Takeshi Suehiro
Japan Kota Murase
Japan Tatsuya Osaki
3 R1 Okayama Japan No. 82 Zenko RS Garage with Sunrise BLVD Japan No. 82 Zenko RS Garage with Sunrise BLVD Hong Kong No. 44 Team Pop Race
Japan Yoshimoto Makino
Japan Takeshi Suehiro
Japan Yoshimoto Makino
Japan Takeshi Suehiro
Hong Kong Kelvin Ho Chun Ki
Japan Maaya Orido
R2 Japan No. 82 Zenko RS Garage with Sunrise BLVD
Japan Yoshimoto Makino
Japan Takeshi Suehiro
4 R1 Suzuka
R2

Championship standings

Scoring system

Championship points are awarded for the first ten positions in each race. Entries are required to complete 75% of the winning car's race distance in order to be classified and earn points. Individual drivers are required to participate for a minimum of 25 minutes in order to earn championship points in any race.

Position  1st   2nd   3rd   4th   5th   6th   7th   8th   9th   10th 
Points 25 18 15 12 10 8 6 4 2 1

Drivers' championships

Pos. Driver Team SUG FUJ OKA SUZ Points
GT3
1 Japan Yuya Motojima
Japan Yusaku Shibata
Japan Max Racing 2 2  2  2 1   97
2 Japan Ukyo Sasahara
Japan Shinji Takei
Japan Bingo Racing with LM corsa 4 1  5 3  2   80
3 Japan Tadao Uematsu
Japan Kenta Yamashita
Japan Team Uematsu 3 3  1  4  13   68
4 Japan Shintaro Kawabata
Japan Akihiro Tsuzuki
Japan Hitotsuyama with Cornes Racing 1 5 Ret 1  3   75
7 Japan "Norik"
Japan Taku Bamba
Japan Norik Racing 7 9  4  7  5   36
5 Japan Hiroshi Hamaguchi
Japan Mineki Okura
Japan The Spirit of FFF Racing 5 6 Ret  5  6   36
8 Japan Yusaku Maezawa
Japan Naoki Yokomizo
Japan Maezawa racing 6 4 WD WD  4   32
6 Japan Jake Parsons
Japan Jesse Swinimer
Japan AWD Racing 9 7 3  8 Ret   27
9 Japan Yorikatsu Tsujiko
Japan Yusuke Yamasaki
Japan Ponos Racing 10 8  7  6  8   23
10 Chinese Taipei Betty Chen Yin-yu
Japan Shinichi Takagi
Japan K-tunes Racing 8 Ret  6  9  7   20
11 Japan Kazuki Ota Japan CarGuy Racing 11 Ret  8  12 4
11 Japan Takashi Toyoda Japan CarGuy Racing  8  12 4
13 Japan Masaaki Nishikawa
Japan Atsushi Tanaka
Japan RunUp Sports 12 10  11   3
12 Japan "Galah"
Japan Natsu Sakaguchi
Japan GalahRacing  9  11 2
14 Japan Kazunori Suenaga Japan K-tunes Racing  WD  WD Ret  10 Ret  P 1
14 Japan Nirei Fukuzumi Japan K-tunes Racing Ret  10 Ret   P 1
15 Japan Takashi Sano
Japan Takuya Shirasaka
Japan Fivestar with Team DreamDrive  13†  13 1
— Japan Takeshi Kimura Japan CarGuy Racing 11 Ret 0
— Japan Sena Sakaguchi Japan K-tunes Racing  WD  WD 0
GT4
1 Japan Yoshimoto Makino
Japan Takeshi Suehiro
Japan Zenko RS Garage with Sunrise BLVD 13 12  10  14  9  P 93
2 Hong Kong Kelvin Ho Chun Ki
Japan Maaya Orido
Hong Kong Pop Race 15 Ret  11  16  12   63
3 Japan Yuji Kunimoto
Japan Masayoshi Oyama
Japan Akiland Racing 14 11  10   61
4 Japan Kota Murase
Japan Tatsuya Osaki
Japan E-Needs Racing  12 15 33
Pos. Driver Team SUG FUJ OKA SUZ Points
ColourResult
GoldWinner
SilverSecond place
BronzeThird place
GreenPoints classification
BlueNon-points classification
Non-classified finish (NC)
PurpleRetired, not classified (Ret)
RedDid not qualify (DNQ)
Did not pre-qualify (DNPQ)
BlackDisqualified (DSQ)
WhiteDid not start (DNS)
Withdrew (WD)
Race cancelled (C)
Blank Did not practice (DNP)
Did not arrive (DNA)
Excluded (EX)
Bold – Pole

Italics – Fastest Lap

Notes:

  • † – Drivers did not finish the race, but were classified as they completed more than 90% of the race distance.

Pro-Am Cup

Pos. Driver Team SUG FUJ OKA SUZ Points
GT3
1 Japan Yuya Motojima
Japan Yusaku Shibata
Japan Max Racing 2 2  2  2  1   97
2 Japan Ukyo Sasahara
Japan Shinji Takei
Japan Bingo Racing with LM corsa 4 1  5 3  2   80
3 Japan Tadao Uematsu
Japan Kenta Yamashita
Japan Team Uematsu 3 3  1  4  9   73
4 Japan Shintaro Kawabata
Japan Akihiro Tsuzuki
Japan Hitotsuyama with Cornes Racing 1 5 Ret 1  3   75
5 Japan "Norik"
Japan Taku Bamba
Japan Norik Racing 6 7  4  5  5   46
6 Japan Jake Parsons
Japan Jesse Swinimer
Japan AWD Racing 8 6  3  6 Ret   35
7 Japan Yusaku Maezawa
Japan Naoki Yokomizo
Japan Maezawa racing 5 4  WD  WD  4   34
8 Chinese Taipei Betty Chen Yin-yu
Japan Shinichi Takagi
Japan K-tunes Racing 7 Ret  6  7  6   28
9 Japan "Galah"
Japan Natsu Sakaguchi
Japan GalahRacing  7  9 8
10 Japan Kazunori Suenaga Japan K-tunes Racing  WD  WD Ret  8 Ret  P 4
10 Japan Nirei Fukuzumi Japan K-tunes Racing Ret  8 Ret  P 4
— Japan Sena Sakaguchi Japan K-tunes Racing  WD  WD 0
GT4
1 Japan Yoshimoto Makino
Japan Takeshi Suehiro
Japan Zenko RS Garage with Sunrise BLVD 9 9  8  10  7  P 93
2 Japan Yuji Kunimoto
Japan Masayoshi Oyama
Japan Akiland Racing 10 8  8   61
Pos. Driver Team SUG FUJ OKA SUZ Points

Am Cup

Pos. Driver Team SUG FUJ OKA SUZ Points
GT3
1 Japan Hiroshi Hamaguchi
Japan Mineki Okura
Japan The Spirit of FFF Racing 1 1 Ret  1  1  P 100
2 Japan Yorikatsu Tsujiko
Japan Yusuke Yamasaki
Japan Ponos Racing 2 2  1 2 2   97
3 Japan Kazuki Ota Japan CarGuy Racing 3 Ret  2 3  48
4 Japan Masaaki Nishikawa
Japan Atsushi Tanaka
Japan RunUp Sports 4 3 3    42
5 Japan Takashi Toyoda Japan CarGuy Racing  2 3 33
6 Japan Takashi Sano
Japan Takuya Shirasaka
Japan Fivestar with Team DreamDrive  5†  4 27
7 Japan Takeshi Kimura Japan CarGuy Racing 3 Ret 15
GT4
1 Hong Kong Kelvin Ho Chun Ki
Japan Maaya Orido
Hong Kong Pop Race 5 Ret  3  6  4  P 93
2 Japan Kota Murase
Japan Tatsuya Osaki
Japan E-Needs Racing  4  5 43
Pos. Driver Team SUG FUJ OKA SUZ Points

Teams' Championship

Pos. Team SUG FUJ OKA SUZ Points
GT3
1 Japan Max Racing 2 2  2  2  1   97
2 Japan Bingo Racing with LM corsa 4 1  5 3  2   80
3 Japan Hitotsuyama with Cornes Racing 1 5 Ret  1 3    75
2 Japan Team Uematsu 3 3  1 4  13   68
7 Japan The Spirit of FFF Racing 5 6 Ret  5  6   36
8 Japan Norik Racing 7 9  5  7  5   34
9 Japan Maezawa racing 6 4  WD  WD  4   32
10 Japan AWD Racing 9 7 3  8 Ret    27
11 Japan Ponos Racing 10 8  7  6  8   23
10 Japan K-tunes Racing 8 Ret  6  9  7   21
 WD  WD Ret  10 Ret  
11 Japan CarGuy Racing 11 Ret  8  12 4
12 Japan RunUp Sports 12 10  11   3
13 Japan GalahRacing  9  11 2
14 Japan Fivestar with Team DreamDrive  13  13 1
GT4
1 Japan Zenko RS Garage with Sunrise BLVD 13 12  10  14  9   93
2 Hong Kong Pop Race 15 Ret  11  16  12   63
3 Japan Akiland Racing 14 11  10   61
4 Japan E-Needs Racing  12  15 33
Pos. Team SUG FUJ OKA SUZ Points

See also

Notes

  1. 1 2 Australian driver Jake Parsons and Canadian driver Jesse Swinimer are competing under the Japanese license.

References

  1. ↑ Klein, Jamie (20 August 2025). "Okayama Keeps Slot as Full 2026 Calendar Revealed". sportscar365.com. John Dagys Media. Retrieved 20 August 2025.
  2. ↑ "Japan Cup 2026カレンダーを発表!来シーズンも4大会8戦を予定". SRO Japan Cup. 21 August 2025. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
  3. 1 2 "チャンピオンHitotsuyama with CORNES RACINGが2026年も参戦へ!". japancup.co. SRO Motorsports Group. 5 May 2026. Retrieved 5 May 2026.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Klein, Jamie (6 January 2026). "Bingo Racing Switches to Porsche for Japan Cup". sportscar365.com. John Dagys Media. Retrieved 6 January 2026.
  5. 1 2 "Hamaguchi, Okura and The Spirit of FFF Racing confirm Japan Cup comeback". japancup.co. SRO Motorsports Group. 8 January 2026. Retrieved 8 January 2026.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Klein, Jamie (12 May 2026). "Sugo Japan Cup Opener Attracts 16-Car Entry". sportscar365.com. John Dagys Media. Retrieved 12 May 2026.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "FUJI INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY PROVISIONAL COMMERCIAL ENTRY LIST 2026" (PDF). gt-world-challenge-asia.com. SRO Motorsports Group. 1 July 2026. Retrieved 1 July 2026.
  8. 1 2 Klein, Jamie (29 January 2026). "AWD Racing Steps Up to GT3 With Audi, Hitotsuyama Support". sportscar365.com. John Dagys Media. Retrieved 29 January 2026.
  9. 1 2 "「PONOS RACING」2026年シーズン参戦体制のお知らせ" ["PONOS RACING" 2026 season participation system announcement]. PONOS Racing (in Japanese). 20 February 2026. Retrieved 20 February 2026.
  10. 1 2 Klein, Jamie (7 April 2026). "Yamashita Joins Uematsu McLaren for Japan Cup". sportscar365.com. John Dagys Media. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  11. 1 2 3 "Japan Cup OKAYAMA Provisional Entry List" (PDF). japancup.co. SRO Motorsports Group. 19 August 2026. Retrieved 19 August 2026.
  12. 1 2 3 4 Klein, Jamie (14 February 2026). "K-tunes Racing to Field Corvette Z06 GT3.R in Japan Cup". Sportscar365. John Dagys Media. Retrieved 14 February 2026.
  13. 1 2 "Nissan and NMC announces motorsports programs for 2026". Nismo. 4 February 2026. Retrieved 4 February 2026.
  14. 1 2 3 "AKILAND RACINGがGT4クラスに参戦! 国本雄資がドライブ". japancup.co. SRO Motorsports Group. 28 April 2026. Retrieved 28 April 2026.
  15. 1 2 3 "ZENKO RS GARAGE with SUNRISE BLVD. が2026年のJapan Cup参戦決定!GT4チャンピオンを狙う". japancup.co. SRO Motorsports Group. 18 April 2026. Retrieved 18 April 2026.
  16. ↑ Klein, Jamie (6 June 2026). "Cozzolino Steps Down From PONOS Ferrari Drive". sportscar365.com. John Dagys Media. Retrieved 6 June 2026.