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 18th edition, we will be talking with James Pull who came to Japan with a desire to compete in SUPER GT and in Japanese races, and he has competed in the Super Taikyu series and increased his capabilities there. From this, he was given the chance to compete in SUPER GT for the first time and will be driving the No. 48 Kenko K’s Frontier WM NILZZ GT-R.
* Interviewed at the Official Tests at Fuji
James Pull No .48 Kenko K’s Frontier WM NILZZ GT-R (GT300 class rookie)
− Welcome to SUPER GT! You have experienced competing in Super Taikyu, and from this season you have been given the chance to participate in SUPER GT. Would you please tell us how this came about? Ever since I was a child, I have really loved SUPER GT and its predecessor, JGTC (All Japan GT Championship). From the time I first started racing I really looked up to them and wanted to come to Japan to compete in SUPER GT, and that is why I came to Japan. At first, I competed for two years in Super Taikyu and during that time I studied Japanese culture and the Japanese race circuits. Then I got a chance from NILZZ Racing to compete this season, which meant I could finally participate in SUPER GT. I felt lucky and of course very happy. I am full of gratitude to the team for this.
− So your dream has finally come true, hasn’t it. What is it about SUPER GT that made it so attractive for you? What I liked most about it was the nickname of “Blue Godzilla” used overseas (for the Skyline GT-R [R32]). I like JDMJDM (the way the Japanese enjoy customized car culture and games). That was what made me come to love Japanese cars, Japan’s circuits and Japanese culture so much. It is interesting how the tire makers are competing with each other in SUPER GT, and the races are also fair and really interesting. I also loved watching Kazuyoshi Hoshino-san, Tetsuya Tanaka-san and Manabu Orido-san race, and it made me want to become a racing driver, which means I definitely wanted to compete in SUPER GT.
− In Super Taikyu, you were driving the FIA GT3 spec Audi R8, and this year in SUPER GT you will be driving the NISSAN GT-R GT3. Will you please tell us your impression of the cars. They are definitely quite different. Of course, there is a big difference between an MR (midship) and an FR car, and the systems are also different, but now that I have gotten used to it (the GT-R GT3) it feels pretty good. But in SUPER GT there are drivers like J. P. Oliveira (car No. 56) who are specialists at driving the GT-R. For that reason, I think at first it will be difficult (to get a top 10 finish in a race).
− Well, the opening round of the season at Okayama is fast approaching. In closing would you tell us about your goals for the opening round and the season. I will be very happy if I can help get some series points. The car is quite fast, but because this is a team sport, I don’t think it will be easy. First of all, we have to continue competing well through the whole season, and I want to see us work up to the point where we will be among the top ten teams in the final round at Motegi. But, I think the most important thing of all is to study the SUPER GT culture, and since I think that most SUPER GT participants and the fans don’t know about me, I want to work hard to get everyone to know who I am.
In the next interview we will talk with Iori Kimura, who last year helped lead his team to a dramatic first win in the No. 5 86MC, and this season will drive the No .56 REALIZE NISSAN MECHANIC CHALLENGE GT-R. We hope you will look forward to it.
