KC Motorgroup (KCMG) is pleased to confirm its line-up and team structure for the 2026 Super Formula campaign, which will mark its 17th year competing in the Japanese championship, ahead of Pre-Season Testing at Suzuka International Racing Course on 25-26 February.
As announced in December, the outfit will have an all-new driver line-up for this year. Kenta Yamashita brings plenty of experience as a Super Formula race-winner alongside clinching three Super GT500 titles, stepping into the #8 car. Joining him will be Kalle Rovanperä, who won the World Rally Championship in both 2022 and 2023 with TOYOTA GAZOO Racing World Rally Team, as he moves into single-seater racing in the #69 machine.
Additionally, KCMG welcomes Seita Nonaka as reserve driver following a success outing for the squad last year, where he stood in as a replacement in Mobility Resort Motegi, collecting valuable points.
The team would again like to express its heartfelt thanks to drivers Kamui Kobayashi and Nirei Fukuzumi, who drove for the team until last season, and to Yuhi Sekiguchi, who contributed as Team Coordinator. KCMG wishes them all the best for the future. Additionally, the outfit extends its gratitude to Kids com who have provided strong support over the last four years, learning a lot from Mr Nishiyama, the President of Kids com.
For the 2026 campaign, KCMG continues its partnership with Achievement Co Ltd, who have supported the squad since 2009, and Pioneer Sales Co Ltd, for its ninth consecutive season. Additionally welcoming Hirano Tyre Shokai Ltd, who handles nationwide mail-order sales of tyres and parts and operates a workshop for vehicle inspections. Sakashita-gumi Ltd, a construction company supporting the local community through civil engineering and plant installation works, also joins as a partner celebrating its 66th anniversary.
The livery for the new year returns to a design based on KCMG blue, departing from last season’s cobalt blue colour, as the team aims to achieve its long-cherished goal of a Super Formula victory.
The 2026 campaign kicks off this week at Suzuka International Racing Course, with four two-hour testing sessions across Wednesday and Thursday. Both days get underway at 10:00 local time (UTC+9) with the afternoon running taking place at 14:00.
#8 KENTA YAMASHITA
“This season marks my 10th year competing in Super Formula, and for the first time I’ve switched teams to race with KCMG. I felt positive during December’s test, and the squad has a family-like atmosphere, so I’m really looking forward to this campaign. My immediate goal is to win races, and ultimately, I’ll be driving all season aiming to be in contention for the title.”
#69 KALLE ROVANPERÄ
“I hope to have a good first season racing formula cars and I’m looking forward to working with my new team also! It’ll be nice to see a lot of Japanese fans during the year, so I’m excited!”
SEITA NONAKA
“I’m honoured to be KCMG’s reserve driver for 2026 and very grateful to everyone who made this possible. I enjoyed working with KCMG last year during the round at Motegi and will now do my best to contribute throughout the season to help the team improve.”
RYUJI DOI KCMG HEAD OF MOTORSPORT
“This season, with the new pairing of Kenta Yamashita and Kalle Rovanperä, we’ll be aiming to score our first victory. We’re also delighted to welcome Seita Nonaka as the team’s reserve driver, following his great performance at Mobility Resort Motegi last year. Furthermore, we’re immensely proud to have worked alongside two top drivers in Kamui Kobayashi, who battled with us through thick and thin for nine seasons since 2017, securing five podium finishes for the team, and Nirei Fukuzumi, who, as part of the KCMG family for two years, achieved three podiums and two pole positions. On behalf of the team, we’re wishing them all the best for the future.
“With the addition of the experienced Yamashita, rookie driver Rovanperä, making the transition from rallying, and the technical team from Hitech joining us for our first collaboration, I can’t wait to get the season underway. This year marks many firsts for KCMG, but the entire team is united and will fight for the championship.
“Additionally, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to Mr Nishiyama, President of Kids com, who has provided the team with tremendous support as our main partner over the past four seasons. As Kids com Team KCMG, we secured the team’s first-ever pole position together and improved our place in the teams’ standings. While we will no longer race with the Kids com logo, we will never forget the wealth of advice President Nishiyama has given to the team over these four years.”
Team Structure:
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Team Name: KCMG
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Owner: Paul Ip
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Team Principal and Team Manager: Ryuji Doi
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Acting Representative: Tomoko Doi
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Drivers: Car #8 Kenta Yamashita and #69 Kalle Rovanperä
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Reserve Driver: Seita Nonaka
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Ambassador: Tsugio Matsuda
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Project Leader: Kazushige Igarashi
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Engineers: #8 Yasuhiro Tasaka and #69 Jascha Ohlmann
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Chief Mechanics: #8 Yuta Matsuoka and #69 Masahiro Sawata
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Media enquiries: Cristina Villar
Email address: cristina@kcmg.com.hk
For more information about KCMG please visit www.kcmg.com.hk. To keep track of all the latest updates, please like KCMG’s Facebook page or follow on X and Instagram.
About KCMG
KC Motorgroup Ltd (KCMG) is an international motorsport services group established in 2007 by Paul Ip. The group, with its headquarters located in Hong Kong, has operations reaching across the Asia Pacific region. KCMG operates closely with many partner companies and racing organisations around the world to provide unrivalled motorsport services, equipment, team management and quality distribution in the automotive industry. For more information on all of the team’s activities please visit www.kcmg.com.hk or email info@kcmg.com.hk.
