Anest Iwata Reveals Nissan Z, Names Fraga Replacement

Anest Iwata Racing has revealed plans to contest the SUPER GT season with a Gainer-constructed Nissan Z GT300, as well as a refreshed driver lineup.

As previously reported by Sportscar365, the team owned by heavy manufacturing company Anest Iwata makes the switch from the Lexus RC F GT3 it has campaigned since its 2023 debut, having acquired the car operated for the last two seasons by Gainer.

During a special launch event on Sunday, it revealed the new car in livery, as well as a new official identity, Anest Iwata Gainer Racing.

It follows Anest Iwata employing Gainer as its service provider last year after parting ways with its previous partner team, Arnage Racing.

Gainer, whose ongoing GT300 participation was confirmed earlier this month by Nissan, is set to use a freshly-constructed version of the Z that it introduced to the category in 2024 as a replacement for its previous pair of Nissan GT-R NISMO GT3s.

Anest Iwata has also revealed a new driver lineup for the 2026 campaign, employing Korean driver Lee Jung Woo to replace Honda GT500-bound Igor Fraga.

Lee, who raced last year in Korean Super Race and Lamborghini Super Trofeo Asia, will partner Hironobu Yasuda aboard the Yokohama-shod No. 26 Anest Iwata Z.

The 31-year-old previously shared a car with Yasuda in last year’s Fuji 24 Hours, and has a history of competing in the Super Taikyu blue riband dating back as far as 2018.

Although Anest Iwata is no longer using the RC F GT3 this year, two examples of the car will still be on the GT300 grid with K-tunes Racing and Shade Racing.