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 9th edition, we will be talking with Kazuhisa Urabe, who has 3 years of experience racing in FIA-F4 Championship and last year served as the third driver for the No. 2 HYPER WATER INGING GR86 GT, while this season he has earned a regular seat in the No. 2 car.
* Interviewed at the Official tests at Okayama
Kazuhisa Urabe No. 2 HYPER WATER INGING GR86 GT (GT300 class regular river)
− We watched your performance in the FIA-F4 Championship, and now you have become a regular driver in the GT300 class, haven’t you. Would you please tell us about your racing career and how you came to join your new team. I began riding karts from the age of 14, and from the age of 15 I began participating in kart races. When I was 16, I ranked 4th in the All-Japan Kart Championship and got a license for JAF racing. When I was 17, I stepped up to FIA-F4 where I competed for three seasons. In addition, I also experienced competing in the FORMULA REGIONAL JAPANESE CHAMPIONSHIP and the Inter Proto、Porsche Carrera Cup Japan, and last year I joined this team as the third driver. At the beginning of this year, I got a regular seat as a driver and I’m really happy about this. From next year SUPER GT will go to a one-make tire supply policy and I wanted to experience being in SUPER GT during this period of competition for tire development. Since I had been told by our elder drivers that there is a lot to learn from tire development, in order to advance as a driver, I wanted to be involved in tire development.
− As a regular driver this year, with your involvement in the tests, what is your impression of the car? Compared to when I drove the No. 2 car in last year’s Official Tests and tire tests, the car’s shortcomings have been improved, and I was able to find positive aspects in both the tires and the car’s setup, so I felt that the car has evolved. This year I have been able to spend a lot more time driving, and in this test, I think we have already put in more laps on the track than last year. We have been able to do long runs and in them I can feel things like the qualities of the special tires, etc., and I am learning a lot from this. Our goal for the opening round is of course to get the win. And in order to stay in competition for the championship title I believe keeping a positive flow coming out of the opening round will be very important. I want to be able to show all the fans and everyone involved that “This year the HYPER WATER (car No. 2) has what it takes!”
In our next interview we will talk with Sota Arao, who has competed in F4 in Europe, etc., and from the year before he 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. We hope you will look forward to it.
