With the conclusion of the 2026 AUTOBACS SUPER GT Official tests at Okayama and Fuji, the opening round of the season at Okayama is fast approaching (held on April 11th and 12th).

With this, we interviewed some of the drivers who will be the focus of special attention, as well as rookie drivers and newly added drivers. As we look forward to the start of the series we offer their messages to the SUPER GT fans.

In this 10th edition, we will be talking with Sota Arao, a driver who has competed in F4 in Europe, etc., and from the year before last has also competed in Super Formula Lights. This season he will compete in SUPER GT for the first time driving the No. 5 MACHSYAKEN AIR BUSTER MC86 MACH GO.

* Interviewed at the Official tests at Fuji

“From the Official Tests at Okayama I became a regular driver for the first time. Again this season I want people to come see MACH GO live at the circuit, and I want to have people see us win races.“

Sota Arao
No. 5 MACHSYAKEN AIR BUSTER MC86 MACH GO (GT300 class rookie)

− In the Official Tests at Okayama you were entered as the third driver for car No. 5, and here at the Fuji Tests you make your appearance as the team’s second driver. This means that you will be a regular driver now, doesn’t it?
　I got introductions from a few people and it turned out that I was invited to do a rookie test in the No. 5 MACHSYAKEN AIR BUSTER MC86 MACH GO at the Official Tests at Okayama. The fact is that at that point it wasn’t yet decided that I could become a regular driver, and it wasn’t until the test was over that (becoming a regular driver) was decided. So, I think it was my performance in the rookie test that became the main reason for my acceptance.

− TEAM MACH’s No. 5 MC86 is popularly known as the “MACH GO” car, and this was the first GT300 class car you ever drove. When you drove it what was your actual impression of it?
　When I drove it, the only reaction I had was that it was a very typical Hakosha (not a formula car or prototype racing car but a mass-production based racing car). As Shiotsu-san (the team’s first driver Yusuke Shiotsu) also said, I thought it was much like the Super Formula Lights cars, so I had no problems with it.

The car’s weight didn’t bother me, but the space where you are seated is farther to the right. In the formula cars (that I have experience with) where you are seated right in the center of the car, and that is about the only difference I feel. Also, the feeling of the ABS (Anti-lock Brake System) is naturally different from a formula car (which is not fitted with ABS), which makes it a bit difficult, but besides that, I felt it was a lot like a formula car.

− It seems like you have learned a lot from the team’s senior driver, Yusuke Shiotsu, haven’t you? Are things going well with you as teammates?
　Well, yes. Since Shiotsu-san and I have nearly the same body height, it feels easy when we change stints as driver.

− You are now going into your first opening round in SUPER GT. Would you tell us how you feel in terms of confidence and what your goals are for this season?
　Since the No. 5 MACHSYAKEN AIR BUSTER MC86 MACH GO won the final round of last season, we naturally want to get a good start in the opening round at Okayama by aiming for a win.
　 From there, I want to work hard to constantly win series points throughout the season with the aim of eventually winning championship title. As a team, since we were able to clear a big hurdle by winning a race at the final round of the season, I hope to see us work together as a team like we did then, and if we do, I think there is a good chance we can win a race again.

Since TEAM MACH is originally based in Kyushu Prefecture and the car maintenance is done in Osaka, and because Okayama is close to Osaka, I hope that everyone will come to the circuit to see in person the so-called ”Ancient weapon” (*) that the No. 5 MACHSYAKEN AIR BUSTER MC86 MACH GO is known as, and hopefully see it as it wins.

* The Mother Chassis（MC） of car No. 5 first competed as a spot entry in 2014 and competed full-time from the following season. In last season’s final round at Motegi, it got its first win since 2021 (No. 2 Lotus Evora MC) to prove its ongoing competitiveness.

In the next interview we will talk with Niklas Krütten, who first competed in the GT300 class in 2024 driving the BMW works machine and this season will return to the GT300 class driving the No. 6 UNI-ROBO BLUEGRASS FERRARI. We hope you will look forward to it.