One of Japan’s largest custom car and related products festival, now attracting global attention, TOKYO AUTO SALON 2026, opened on January 9 (Fri) at Makuhari Messe (Mihama-ku, Chiba) and will run until January 11 (Sun). Major automakers familiar to SUPER GT—TOYOTA, Honda, NISSAN, SUBARU—along with tire manufacturers, parts makers, and custom-parts / accessory brands have set up a wide variety of booths. GTA Co., Ltd. once again opened the SUPER GT booth this year. In addition, booths from AUTOBACS, teams, and sponsor companies showcased SUPER GT race cars and merchandise, while numerous events featuring drivers and team managers were held on January 10 and 11. This fan-favorite event offers an early taste of the excitement of the 2026 SUPER GT season.
As in previous years, the SUPER GT booth was set up in the central passage of the East Hall. SUPER GT machines from three automakers were on display altogether, led by last season’s champion car, No.1 au TOM’S GR Supra, alongside No.3 Niterra MOTUL Z from the 2025 season and Honda’s 2019 development car, No.99 Honda NSX-GT. These rare machines, usually hard to examine closely at the circuit, offered fans a chance to look back on past seasons.
SUPER GT Booth (East Hall 7 / 2nd Floor Passage)
No.1 au TOM’S GR Supra (2025)
No.3 Niterra MOTUL Z (2025)
No.99 Honda NSX-GT Development Car (2019)
The booth also featured a commemorative photo spot where drivers added their signatures, and fans stopped by for a shot. There was also a gift campaign for fans who completed a survey.
Honda/MUGEN booth hosted a press conference in the morning. Koji Watanabe, President of HRC, appeared on the stage and stated, “In SUPER GT, No.100 car of STANLEY CIVIC TYPE R-GT finished second again in the championship (GT500) last year. Honestly, failing to win the title with CIVIC TYPE R-GT was frustrating.” He looked back on two years with CIVIC TYPE R-GT and continued. “This season, our goal is victory and reclaiming the championship. We will introduce the Prelude-GT, and a newly created position of Technical Director will be placed on-site to strengthen technical support for five Prelude-GT cars, connecting development and operations more closely. Car No.8 will run under the name ‘Team HRC ARTA MUGEN,’ with HRC engineers involved in team operations. So, this is a new challenge both technically and operationally. Please take a look at the Honda HRC Prelude-GT at Honda/MUGEN booth, which embodies our determination to win in its HRC livery.” He spoke about strengthening support for Prelude-GT this season. In addition, to broaden the base of motorsports, he stressed the importance of e-MOTORSPORTS. “Our booth features the SIM-02 simulator built from the actual monocoque of the NSX CONCEPT-GT that once competed in SUPER GT. Please try it and experience the realistic sensation.” He also introduced the simulator using an actual GT500 machine.
No.99 Honda HRC PRELUDE-GT Development Car (HRC Livery)
Honda eMS SIM-02 (Simulator based on NSX CONCEPT-GT) Honda/MUGEN (Central Hall 4, Booth No.432)
At SUBARU/STI’s afternoon press conference, the 2026 SUPER GT entry plan was revealed. Masahiro Ozawa (Team general manager) and Minoru Sawada (Team manager) will continue, along with regular drivers Takuto Iguchi and Hideki Yamauchi. Additionally, Shunji Okumoto will be registered as reserve (third) driver for the 2026-season. On the surface, the race car seems unchanged as SUBARU BRZ GT300, but the engine that attracted attention in the final round last season has been changed. The 2026 BRZ GT300 now features a 3.0-liter twin-turbo flat-six based on the EG33 from the legendary Alcyone, replacing the EJ20 flat-four turbo. With two additional cylinders, concerns arose about body balance and bonnet space, but in fact, the chassis was newly designed in the 2025 model with development considering the possibility of installing a flat-six (horizontally opposed 6-cylinder engine). At the booth, the inside of the bonnet was also displayed, and the engine appeared compact and mounted in a front-midship position. You would hardly notice it’s a 3.0-liter flat-six unless told. Details were not disclosed since still under development, but performance and drivability have significantly improved, and the evaluation from the two drivers is very high.
No.61 SUBARU BRZ R&D SPORT (2026) SUBARU/STI (East Hall 7, Booth No.718)
TEAM UPGARAGE, which also announced a new structure at last year’s Auto Salon, unveiled its 2026 lineup. Ace driver Takashi Kobayashi will partner with Kotaro Shimbara, a Honda development driver and a current University of Tokyo student, who finished fourth in the FIA-F4 standings in 2025 and is a notable presence. The team continues with the Mercedes AMG GT3 for 2026. In its first year of change last season, the car scored a win at Sepang in Round 3 and increasingly joined the battle at the front. Like his senior from Honda’s development program, Yuto Noura, who stepped up to GT500 class this season, Shimbara aims to deliver victories and challenge for the title in the Mercedes AMG GT3 of UPGARAGE. Greater success is expected from this promising rookie.
No.18 UPGARAGE AMG GT3 (2025) UPGARAGE (West Hall 1, Booth No.118)
In the afternoon, Nissan booth hosted a retirement ceremony for Tsugio Matsuda, who ended his SUPER GT career last season. Nissan-related team managers and former drivers, including Masahiko Kondo (Team manager, No.24 KONDO RACING) of the team which Matsuda fought his final season with, Kazuyoshi Hoshino and Kazuki Hoshino (Team general manager and Team Manager, No.12 TEAM IMPUL), long-time teammates in No.23 and No.12 cars Ronnie Quintarelli, and Masataka Yanagida and current driver Katsumasa Chiyo were in attendance. Many people deeply connected to Matsuda gathered. Ivan Espinosa, CEO of Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., also presented flowers and shared memories of the 2014 Motegi finale. While bidding farewell, the ceremony celebrated Matsuda’s new role as NISMO team manager, marking the start of another chapter in his motorsport career.
*Excluding those introduced in the article. Car name and booth name/number are shown beneath photo)
