Team UpGarage Confirms Real Tie-Up, Signs Shimbara

Team UpGarage has confirmed a new tie-up with Real Racing for its SUPER GT program, while also naming Honda junior Kotaro Shimbara as its new second driver.

At the Tokyo Auto Salon on Friday, UpGarage revealed its team structure for its second season using Mercedes-AMG machinery, following its switch away from Honda at the conclusion of 2024 amid factory support for the NSX GT3 Evo ending.

Having stuck with Servus Japan for the 2025 campaign, the team has entrusted Real Racing with the maintenance of its No. 18 Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo this year.

It marks Real’s first foray into GT3 racing, with the Katsutomo Kaneishi-led team having so far focused on its GT500 program with Honda and on single-seaters.

Shimbara meanwhile was named as the new co-driver to Takashi Kobayashi aboard the No. 18 car, replacing Yuto Nomura, who has stepped up to Real’s GT500 team.

The 21-year-old from Hyogo Prefecture has spent the last two seasons in Japanese Formula 4, finishing fourth in last year’s standings, and will combine his SUPER GT program with a Super Formula Lights campaign with Honda backing.

”I don’t have much experience of sports car racing, so I’ll aim to learn as much as I can from the team’s ace driver Kobayashi and do my best to be ready for the first race and allow the team to fight for the championship,” said Shimbara.

Nomura becomes the third successive Honda-backed driver to join Real in GT500 having driven for UpGarage in GT300 after Kakunoshin Ohta and Shun Koide.