Team KCMG enjoyed a positive start to its 2026 Nürburgring Langstrecken Serie campaign, with all four drivers impressing around the Nordschleife in NLS2, leading to an 10th-placed finish.
A strong qualifying performance from David Pittard saw the #47 Mercedes-AMG GT3 line up sixth on the grid. The 2023 Nürburgring 24 Hours champion then made a lightning start, improving up to third by the first turn.
Pittard retained his position for the rest of his stint, before handing over to NLS debutant Nirei Fukuzumi. Moving back into third after the rest of the field had completed their stops, the Japanese driver quickly made his way into second, recording very impressive lap times for a rookie, before settling into third.
Four-time Super GT champion Sho Tsuboi took the third stint as he also made his debut in a very competitive field as teams prepare for May’s Nürburgring 24 Hours. 2025 winner Jesse Krohn completed the race, with the team taking the opportunity to evaluate tyre compound options as it continues to build experience, resulting in a 10th-placed finish overall and ninth in the SP9 Pro category.
Team KCMG will be back at the Green Hell soon, with NLS3 set for 11 April.
DAVID PITTARD
“All the hard work and effort of the whole KCMG operation came together for a clean race which we can build on. The car was fast, Jesse was fast, Sho and Nirei really impressed by how quickly they were up to speed at the legendary Nordschleife. Now it’s time to take learning from this weekend to challenge at the front again!”
JESSE KROHN
“This event marked a significant milestone for the team. It was our first proper race outing with the AMG GT3, and I couldn’t be happier with how the entire operation was executed. Huge respect for our two GT3 Nordschleife rookies, Nirei and Sho! Driving on undisputedly the hardest track in the world is a massive challenge, but they were brilliant. They ticked off every learning objective without any mistakes. Combined with David’s usual stellar performance, we’ve built a fantastic foundation. We’re carrying a lot of positive momentum into NLS 3 in three weeks.”
SHO TSUBOI
“This was my first time driving an AMG GT3 and my second time at the Nürburgring, and it was a very good experience. There are still many challenges ahead, but first of all, I would like to thank everyone at KCMG for giving me the opportunity to race in such a wonderful environment. I will continue to work hard to improve step by step.”
NIREI FUKUZUMI
“NLS2 was a really good weekend for us. The weather was dry all day and I was able to run many laps which meant I learned a lot. I still have improvements to make for the future but I’m quite happy with my performance! Thanks to the KCMG team for helping me as always, and I’m really looking forward to racing here again.”
MATT HOWSON TEAM MANAGER
“NLS 2 marked a strong return to GT3 competition at the Nürburgring for KCMG. This was the first event for both team and drivers with the AMG GT3 and the objectives were to gain all-round experience, so to add to that a top six qualifying and running 3rd in the early stages of the race was the result of incredible work from the entire team. David and Jesse displayed strong pace despite limited time with the AMG GT3, and Nirei and Sho showed enormous potential in their debut SP9 event. Racing never stays still, so we will continue to push for improvements in every area, but the foundations are strong and we’re ready and hungry for the challenge!”
PAUL IP KCMG FOUNDER
“Finishing the weekend with a top 10 result for our return to GT3 competition at the Nürburgring is a very strong showing. We were able to complete a high number of laps, allowing all drivers to gain valuable experience with both the car and the track. The results are encouraging in terms of overall performance potential and it gives us a solid foundation to keep working ahead of the third round of the NLS.”
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.
