Taito Kato is gearing up for a thrilling step up to F3 in 2026, bringing with him a wealth of experience gained through his successful career in junior single-seater categories. The Japanese driver made a remarkable start to his motorsport journey, clinching the 2024 French F4 title and then finishing seventh in the 2025 Formula Regional European Championship (FRECA) with ART Grand Prix.
In addition to his European campaign, Kato competed in the Formula Regional Middle East Championship earlier this year and delivered a strong performance, finishing fifth at the prestigious Macau GP.
“I’m really happy to be working with ART Grand Prix as they are like my family,” Kato said to F3, reflecting on his journey with the French team. “This year we have been working together in FRECA, and we built a good relationship. I am looking forward to working with the team as well and I think we can do a good job next year.”
First taste of F3
Kato had his first experience with F3 machinery at the post-season tests in Jerez, Barcelona, and Imola, and he was impressed by the step up in performance.
“The F3 car was really impressive. It’s much faster than the FRECA car, it has much more grip and much more power,” he said. “It’s a higher level as well, as it’s really tight in lap time between P1 and P10, so you can’t make a mistake.”
Kato highlighted the intensity of Formula 3, especially the challenges of managing the car’s grip and downforce, which made it a completely different experience from his previous categories.
“So it’s a lot more intense than FRECA, but it’s really good. The car was amazing, much more grip, especially Qualifying over one lap. I was able to adjust to the car, so I think next year we can be really good.”
Learning the ropes
While the new car presented challenges, Kato was quick to recognise the learning opportunities ahead, particularly when it came to tyre management, which he noted as a key area of focus.
“What surprised me about the F3 car was the downforce and cornering speed, but the amount of grip available to me in the tyre definitely caught me off guard,” he explained. “The team have a lot of information and data, so they gave me a lot of information and helped me a lot on how to use the tyres, how to warm up the tyres, and how to do tyre management.”
Despite the learning curve, Kato remains confident in his development, acknowledging that the tests provided a solid foundation for the upcoming season.
“But for sure I am a rookie next year, so I am still learning from the tests into the race weekends for the future,” he added.
Building strong relationships with teammates
Kato will be joining ART Grand Prix as part of a rookie line-up alongside Kanato Le and Maciej Gładysz. Kato shared his thoughts on his relationships with both drivers, noting the growth in his connection with Le, who initially was more reserved but improved as the season progressed.
“Maciej is a really good guy,” Kato said. “Kanato has always been this shy guy, but Maciej is a really happy guy. Kanato has been getting better and better since FRMEC this year. He was really shy and I could not have conversations with him, but by the end of the season it was okay. The last round was quite good, we have a good relationship, and I think next year will be really good with him.”
Kato also spoke highly of Gladysz’s speed, expressing his eagerness to work alongside the talented driver in 2026.
“Maciej, a really good guy, he’s quick actually. I am looking forward to working with him and the team.”
Preparation for the challenge ahead
As Kato prepares for the 2026 F3 season, he is focusing on physical training to ensure he is ready for the demands of driving a bigger, more powerful car. The Japanese driver is keen to make the most of his preparation as he targets success in his debut F3 campaign.
“My target is to win races,” Kato stated. “I think we will improve each round with the team and finally we will have to target getting the Championship. But for now, let’s focus on getting the race win.”
With his strong work ethic, commitment to learning, and the backing of ART Grand Prix, Kato is determined to hit the ground running in the 2026 F3 Championship. As he continues to develop both his driving skills and his physical fitness, the Japanese driver has his eyes firmly set on race wins—and ultimately, the Championship—when the Formula 3 season kicks off.
