In 2019, the RECARO RACING TEAM was launched. The building of the TOYOTA GAZOO 86/BRZ Race Professional Series team also began at that time. Two cars were entered, an 86 and a BRZ. The two drivers were Kota Sasaki, who has extensive racing experience and a proven track record, and Hiroki Arai, who made a unique debut in rally races. We also invited Juichi Wakisaka as a team producer to learn the basics of team building. The challenges of entering the pro class were far tougher than expected with its gathering of drivers active in Formula and Super GT, as well as specialists in one-make races. Unfavorable results continued.
In 2020, an experienced driver from the Subaru works team who had won this race, Takuto Iguchi, joined the team for its second season. To further strengthen the team, veteran driver Tetsuya Tanaka, who has strong ties to RECARO product development, joined the team at the same time. With three professional drivers, Tanaka, Sasaki, and Iguchi, the team entered three cars in the professional class, which is rare in this race. In the Tokachi event, Iguchi won the lead in a fierce battle, and successfully claimed the team's first victory, fulfilling the promise he made when he joined the team.
In 2021, the third year of the project, RECARO established a new system to implement team management in-house, as it was previously outsourced to an external racing factory. We have a great group of mechanics with a firm understanding of the direction the team is headed and who are willing to take on forthcoming challenges together. The third driver to join after Sasaki and Iguchi was Takashi Kogure, a long-time Honda ace who has reached the pinnacle of the Super GT500 series.
In 2022, the forth year, the race changed to GR86/BRZ Cup and the new model, new GR86 and new BRZ were launched. RECARO RACING TEAM participated with 4 race cars and drivers. The forth driver was Rintato Kubo.
In 2023, we changed the team organization, selected professional driver, Takashi Kogure only for professional series and other gentleman drivers for clubman seiries.
In 2024, Tsubasa Kondo joined the team. THe team continue the partnership with FUJI SUBARU and DUNLOP motorport, and also support SUBARU ,motorsport.
In 2025, the sevens year, the team particpates GR86/BRZ Cup professional series with professional drivers, Takashi Kogure, Tsubasa Kondo and Kota Sasaki. Aso the team entry to the Clubman series with a gentleman driver, Masahiro Ehara. Tsubasa Kondo who has achieved annual champion on this race in the past shows his outstanding performance to the team and encourage us to move step forward. THen we continue partnership with a special SUBARU dealer, "FUJI SUBARU" to run the team in adiition to support SUBARU's human resource development program. The team is steadily growing to be the best in motorsport and to show how we, RECARO brand can be trustworthy at motorsport segment.
Takashi Kogure is a professional driver with experience at the pinnacle of Japanese racing in Super GT and Formula. His experience and track record are top-notch. Above all, his approach to racing and way of thinking about things are on another level. Unlike top-category races with fine-tuned racing machines, these one-make competitions require driving techniques specific to production-based cars. For drivers who have reached the top of their game, it can be a bit unsettling. Kogure takes on these races with everything he’s got, showing the team his elite process and thinking. Takashi Kogure is a major catalyst for this team to grow stronger and reach the same stage as other great teams.
Fuji Subaru who is in charge of our race car maintenance since 2021. The first year, the just stored our race cars. The second year, they took the roll of race car maintenance. The third year, they improved their maintenace skills and maintained the best condition of race cars through the year. Staffs of their technical service center who manage human resource development and improvement of technical skills in the company works for the team. The all learn the importance of teamwork, time management, unique race mechanic skills, and so on. Now Fuji Subaru is an essential partner for the team to grow stronger.
Gentleman drivers, Toshihito Funai and Masahiro Ehara who have been participating at this race officially join our team in 2023.
This race is based on the concept of participatory motorsports. By learning about motorsports at the same time as competing with these gentleman drivers, we can understand more about how customers enjoy motorsports.
We will continue to walk this challenging path with these wonderful staff.
Motorsports give us the chance to meet a wide range of people and learn many things from them. Motorsports nurture people and teach us what makes cars so appealing.
And finally, motorsports create the future of cars and seats.
The RECARO RACING TEAM will continue to study and participate in motorsports activities in order to pass on the DNA of RECARO—the DNA it inherited from the company’s founding—to the future.
Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions about our products or services.
The RECARO service team or your local RECARO partner will be happy to assist you.
