NK Racing confirms full-season entry with Uchiyama, Kondo and all-new Porsche 911 GT3 R 19.12.2022: Porsche Carrera Cup Japan champions NK Racing are stepping up to Fanatec GT World Challenge Asia Powered by AWS next season with the all-new 992-spec 911 GT3 R.

Porsche Carrera Cup Japan champions NK Racing are stepping up to Fanatec GT World Challenge Asia Powered by AWS next season with the all-new 992-spec 911 GT3 R.

Kiyoshi Uchiyama and Tsubasa Kondo are teaming up at all six rounds, starting at Chang International Circuit on May 12-14. The entry is also eligible to score points counting towards the Fanatec Japan Cup – a championship within a championship held at Fuji, Suzuka, Motegi and Okayama.



Both drivers and the team will be making their series debuts in Thailand, while Porsche’s latest iteration of the 911 GT3 R is also new next season.


However, the overall partnership is already well established: both drivers won their respective Porsche Carrera Cup Japan titles with NK Racing in 2020 and ’21, while Kondo was also runner-up earlier this year.



“We kept a close eye on SRO’s new Japanese series this year. It’s the only sprint GT championship for local teams but we are very ambitious and want to race further afield, so adding the two extra events in Thailand and Malaysia made the most sense,” said team manager Junichi Kanai.



“NK has achieved a lot of success with Porsche’s Cup car but we also know that stepping up with a brand-new GT3 will be challenging. We are not underestimating that. But, after seeing the success that other Japanese teams achieved this year, I believe our team and drivers have what it takes to compete on the regional stage.”
Fellow Japanese squad D’station Racing has already confirmed its return while others are set to do so in the new year.




2023 CALENDAR


May 13/14 // Chang International Circuit // 2x 1hr races
June 17/18 // Fuji International Speedway // 2x 1hr races (Fanatec Japan Cup)
July 15/16 // Suzuka International Circuit // 2x 1hr races (Fanatec Japan Cup)
July 22/23 // Motegi // 2x 1hr races (Fanatec Japan Cup)
August 19/20 // Okayama International Circuit // 2x 1hr races (Fanatec Japan Cup)
September 23/24 // Sepang International Circuit // 2x 1hr races


- Tom Hornsby, photo SRO