The 2026 Japanese F4 Championship delivered a season of remarkable comebacks, breakthrough victories and closely contested championship battles. Across seven rounds, 14 Champion Class races and 13 Independent Class contests, Ryo Shirasaki and Hirobon emerged as the respective Drivers’ Champions, while HYDRANGEA Kageyama Racing and TEAM 5ZIGEN secured the Teams’ titles.
Shirasaki produced one of the most impressive campaigns in the championship’s history, recovering from a scoreless opening round to claim eight victories and the Champion Class Drivers’ Championship. His success also represented a significant milestone, as the Kageyama Racing driver became the first Japanese F4 champion to emerge from outside the Toyota and Honda junior development programmes.
However, the Teams’ Championship remained unresolved until the final race at Mobility Resort Motegi. Kageyama Racing entered the finale 30 points behind TGR-DC Racing School, but Shirasaki’s double victory overturned the deficit and secured the title by just three points.
Meanwhile, Hirobon dominated the Independent Class, securing six victories and the championship with three races remaining. The TEAM 5ZIGEN driver established an unassailable advantage at Sportsland Sugo, although the battle for second between KENTARO and Yutaka Toriba continued until the final race.
The campaign also produced seven different Champion Class race winners and four Independent Class winners. While the two individual champions eventually established commanding advantages, the remaining championship positions and the Champion Class Teams’ title provided competitive battles throughout the season.
2026 Japanese F4 Round 1: Fuji Speedway: Toyota juniors establish early advantage
The season-opening Fuji Speedway round immediately established TGR-DC Racing School as the leading Champion Class outfit. Ryo Sakai secured both pole positions, although Buntaro Igarashi and Masana Muto ultimately shared the race victories.
Igarashi claimed the opening contest following a dramatic final lap, capitalising on a battle between Sakai and Leon Ochiai to move into the lead. Post-race penalties subsequently promoted Kenta Kumagai and Syo Momose to second and third.
Muto responded in Race 2, recovering from a difficult opening race to secure his maiden single-seater victory ahead of Haruto Nakai and Igarashi.
The results left Igarashi leading the standings with 40 points, seven ahead of Muto. Meanwhile, Shirasaki endured a disastrous opening weekend, finishing outside the points in Race 1 before retiring from Race 2.
In the Independent Class, Toriba produced a dominant performance. The HYDRANGEA Kageyama Racing driver secured both pole positions and victories, leaving Fuji with the maximum 50 points.
Summary of Results
Champion Class
- Race 1: Buntaro Igarashi — TGR-DC Racing School
- Race 2: Masana Muto — TGR-DC Racing School
Independent Class
- Race 1: Yutaka Toriba — HYDRANGEA Kageyama Racing
- Race 2: Yutaka Toriba — HYDRANGEA Kageyama Racing
Champion Class Drivers’ Championship after Round 1
- Buntaro Igarashi — 40 points
- Masana Muto — 33
- Kenta Kumagai — 30
- Yuzuki Miura — 20
- Haruto Nakai — 18
Independent Class Drivers’ Championship after Round 1
- Yutaka Toriba — 50 points
- Nobuhiro Imada — 26
- IKARI — 24
- Masayoshi Oyama — 23
- Hirobon — 15
2026 Japanese F4 Round 2: Okayama: Shirasaki launches championship recovery
Shirasaki transformed his campaign during the second round at Okayama International Circuit. Having failed to score at Fuji, the Kageyama Racing driver secured both pole positions and converted them into victories.
He controlled Race 3 ahead of Muto, with Ryo Sakai completing the podium. The following contest produced another dominant result, although Ryutaro Sakai provided one of the weekend’s highlights by overtaking Lu You De on the final lap to secure third.
At 15 years old, Ryutaro Sakai became the youngest podium finisher in Japanese F4 history.
Despite Shirasaki’s double victory, Muto retained the Drivers’ Championship lead through two runner-up finishes. He left Okayama with 69 points, 19 ahead of Shirasaki, while Igarashi dropped to third after failing to score.
The Independent Class also experienced a significant championship change. Hirobon claimed both pole positions and victories for TEAM 5ZIGEN, defeating KENTARO in both contests.
His 50-point weekend overturned Toriba’s early advantage, lifting him to 65 points and moving him three ahead of the Fuji double winner.
Summary of Results
Champion Class
- Race 3: Ryo Shirasaki — HYDRANGEA Kageyama Racing
- Race 4: Ryo Shirasaki — HYDRANGEA Kageyama Racing
Independent Class
- Race 3: Hirobon — TEAM 5ZIGEN
- Race 4: Hirobon — TEAM 5ZIGEN
Champion Class Drivers’ Championship after Round 2
- Masana Muto — 69 points
- Ryo Shirasaki — 50
- Buntaro Igarashi — 40
- Kenta Kumagai — 40
- Yuzuki Miura — 34
Independent Class Drivers’ Championship after Round 2
- Hirobon — 65 points
- Yutaka Toriba — 62
- IKARI — 47
- Masayoshi Oyama — 43
- KENTARO — 36
2026 Japanese F4 Round 3: Fuji Speedway: Shirasaki takes championship lead
The championship returned to Fuji Speedway for Round 3, where Shirasaki continued his remarkable recovery.
Having arrived 19 points behind Muto, the Kageyama Racing driver secured another two pole positions and victories, extending his winning streak to four consecutive races.
However, the Fuji weekend proved far from straightforward. Megumu Suzuki challenged Shirasaki throughout Race 5 and attempted an overtake on the final lap, but Muto capitalised on their battle to snatch second.
Shirasaki retained the lead and secured victory ahead of Muto and Suzuki, who claimed his maiden Japanese F4 podium.
Race 6 produced another close contest. Ryo Sakai remained within striking distance throughout the race, but Shirasaki defended successfully and crossed the line just 0.283 seconds ahead. Momose completed the podium.
Shirasaki consequently moved into the championship lead with 100 points, 11 ahead of Muto.
Meanwhile, Hirobon and Toriba shared the Independent Class victories. Hirobon claimed Race 5 after a closely contested battle, while Toriba responded in Race 6, overcoming a five-second penalty to retain victory.
Their results left Hirobon leading the championship by nine points.
Summary of Results
Champion Class
- Race 5: Ryo Shirasaki — HYDRANGEA Kageyama Racing
- Race 6: Ryo Shirasaki — HYDRANGEA Kageyama Racing
Independent Class
- Race 5: Hirobon — TEAM 5ZIGEN
- Race 6: Yutaka Toriba — HYDRANGEA Kageyama Racing
Champion Class Drivers’ Championship after Round 3
- Ryo Shirasaki — 100 points
- Masana Muto — 89
- Kenta Kumagai — 48
- Ryo Sakai — 45
- Buntaro Igarashi — 44
Independent Class Drivers’ Championship after Round 3
- Hirobon — 108 points
- Yutaka Toriba — 99
- Nobuhiro Imada — 56
- KENTARO — 54
- Masayoshi Oyama — 52
2026 Japanese F4 Round 4: Suzuka: Shirasaki extends winning streak to six
Shirasaki continued his dominant form at Suzuka, securing another two pole positions before winning both Champion Class races.
The fourth round initially brought challenges from several rivals, particularly Ryutaro Sakai and Muto in Race 7.
However, Shirasaki controlled the race despite a late Safety Car, securing victory ahead of Ryutaro Sakai and Muto.
Race 8 produced another competitive battle as Ryo Sakai remained close to the leader. Nevertheless, Shirasaki gradually established an advantage before another Safety Car brought the race to a conclusion.
The Kageyama Racing driver secured his sixth consecutive victory, while Ryo Sakai finished second ahead of Shioda, who claimed his maiden podium.
Shirasaki consequently increased his championship advantage from 11 to 45 points, moving onto 150.
The Independent Class produced a different outcome. Hirobon claimed Race 7 after KENTARO and Imada encountered difficulties while fighting for the lead, before Imada responded with his maiden victory in Race 8.
Toriba failed to score in either race, allowing Hirobon to extend his championship advantage to 52 points.
Summary of Results
Champion Class
- Race 7: Ryo Shirasaki — HYDRANGEA Kageyama Racing
- Race 8: Ryo Shirasaki — HYDRANGEA Kageyama Racing
Independent Class
- Race 7: Hirobon — TEAM 5ZIGEN
- Race 8: Nobuhiro Imada — B-MAX ENGINEERING
Champion Class Drivers’ Championship after Round 4
- Ryo Shirasaki — 150 points
- Masana Muto — 105
- Ryo Sakai — 71
- Buntaro Igarashi — 68
- Masaki Hamabe — 48
Independent Class Drivers’ Championship after Round 4
- Hirobon — 151 points
- Yutaka Toriba — 99
- Nobuhiro Imada — 81
- KENTARO — 81
- DRAGON — 68
2026 Japanese F4 Round 5: Sugo: Maiden winners emerge as Hirobon secures title
Sportsland Sugo brought an end to Shirasaki’s six-race winning streak as changing weather conditions transformed the competitive order.
Ryo Sakai mastered a drying circuit during Race 9, choosing slick tyres while several leading contenders remained on wets. The Toyota junior recovered through the field to claim his maiden victory ahead of Ochiai and Kumagai.
Shirasaki struggled with his tyre choice and finished outside the points, bringing his remarkable winning sequence to an end.
However, Shioda emerged as another first-time winner in Race 10. Having secured both pole positions, the Bionic Jack Racing driver dominated the wet contest to claim victory ahead of Shirasaki and Nakai.
Despite failing to win, Shirasaki extended his championship advantage to 60 points over Ryo Sakai, who moved ahead of Muto.
The Independent Class produced the weekend’s most significant championship development. Hirobon secured both victories at Sugo, bringing his season total to six.
Toriba finished second in Race 9 but retired while attempting an overtake in the second contest. His retirement confirmed Hirobon as the Independent Class Drivers’ Champion with three races remaining.
TEAM 5ZIGEN also secured the corresponding Teams’ Championship.
Summary of Results
Champion Class
- Race 9: Ryo Sakai — TGR-DC Racing School
- Race 10: Soichiro Shioda — Bionic Jack Racing
Independent Class
- Race 9: Hirobon — TEAM 5ZIGEN
- Race 10: Hirobon — TEAM 5ZIGEN
Champion Class Drivers’ Championship after Round 5
- Ryo Shirasaki — 168 points
- Ryo Sakai — 108
- Masana Muto — 105
- Buntaro Igarashi — 76
- Kenta Kumagai — 63
Independent Class Drivers’ Championship after Round 5
- Hirobon — 201 points
- Yutaka Toriba — 117
- KENTARO — 111
- Nobuhiro Imada — 81
- Masayoshi Oyama — 74
2026 Japanese F4 Round 6: Autopolis: Shirasaki secures historic championship
The penultimate round at Autopolis delivered two additional first-time Champion Class winners and the confirmation of Shirasaki’s Drivers’ Championship.
Hamabe opened the weekend by securing his maiden pole position, narrowly beating Kumagai in qualifying. He subsequently converted that advantage into victory in Race 11, finishing ahead of Kumagai and Ryutaro Sakai.
Shirasaki could only manage sixth, but his championship lead remained comfortable after Muto and Ryo Sakai also encountered difficulties.
Kumagai responded on Sunday, converting pole position into his first Japanese F4 victory. The OTG MOTOR SPORTS driver controlled Race 12 despite a late Safety Car, while Shirasaki recovered to second ahead of Hamabe.
The result secured the Champion Class Drivers’ Championship for Shirasaki, who established an unassailable 83-point advantage with two races remaining.
Meanwhile, KENTARO dominated the Independent Class. The Field Motorsport driver secured both pole positions and converted them into victories, moving ahead of Toriba in the battle for second.
Although Hirobon remained the confirmed champion, only eight points separated KENTARO and Toriba heading into Motegi.
Summary of Results
Champion Class
- Race 11: Masaki Hamabe — TGR-DC Racing School
- Race 12: Kenta Kumagai — OTG MOTOR SPORTS
Independent Class
- Race 11: KENTARO — Field Motorsport
- Race 12: KENTARO — Field Motorsport
Champion Class Drivers’ Championship after Round 6
- Ryo Shirasaki — 194 points
- Masana Muto — 111
- Ryo Sakai — 108
- Kenta Kumagai — 106
- Masaki Hamabe — 102
Independent Class Drivers’ Championship after Round 6
- Hirobon — 201 points
- KENTARO — 161
- Yutaka Toriba — 153
- Masayoshi Oyama — 82
- Nobuhiro Imada — 81
2026 Japanese F4 Round 7: Motegi: Shirasaki completes double as Kageyama Racing claims Teams’ title
The season finale at Mobility Resort Motegi produced a dramatic conclusion to the Champion Class Teams’ Championship.
TGR-DC Racing School entered the weekend with 232 points, 30 ahead of HYDRANGEA Kageyama Racing. Although the Drivers’ Championship had already been decided, the title-winning team remained uncertain.
Ryo Sakai secured both pole positions, but Shirasaki made the stronger start in Race 13 and moved into the lead. Sakai initially finished second, although a five-second jump-start penalty dropped him to 14th.
Yuta Suzuki consequently inherited second for Kageyama Racing, while Nakai completed the podium. The result reduced TGR-DC Racing School’s Teams’ Championship advantage to just seven points.
Shirasaki completed the turnaround in Race 14. Sakai initially defended his lead but ran wide exiting the final corner, allowing Shirasaki through. The newly crowned champion subsequently secured his eighth victory of the season ahead of Nakai and Sakai.
The result lifted Kageyama Racing to 252 points, three ahead of TGR-DC Racing School, securing the Teams’ Championship.
Meanwhile, Toriba won the Independent Class finale, but KENTARO’s second-place finish secured the championship runner-up position by one point.
Summary of Results
Champion Class
- Race 13: Ryo Shirasaki — HYDRANGEA Kageyama Racing
- Race 14: Ryo Shirasaki — HYDRANGEA Kageyama Racing
Independent Class
- Race 13: Yutaka Toriba — HYDRANGEA Kageyama Racing
Shirasaki’s journey to the 2026 Japanese F4 Championship title
Shirasaki’s championship campaign combined outright speed with an extraordinary recovery from a difficult opening round.
The Kageyama Racing driver began the season without scoring at Fuji, leaving him 40 points behind Igarashi. However, his response at Okayama immediately transformed his championship prospects.
Six consecutive victories across Okayama, Fuji and Suzuka established a commanding lead. During that period, Shirasaki repeatedly converted pole positions into victories while successfully defending against challenges from Muto, Ryo Sakai and several other leading contenders.
Although his winning streak ended at Sugo, Shirasaki maintained his championship advantage through second place in Race 10. He subsequently secured the title at Autopolis before returning to the top step twice at Motegi.
The Japanese driver ultimately finished with 244 points and eight victories from 14 races, establishing a 121-point advantage over his nearest championship rivals.
His achievement also carried historical significance. As the first Champion Class champion outside the Toyota and Honda junior programmes, Shirasaki demonstrated the potential of an independent team competing against Japan’s established manufacturer-backed development pathways.
Muto and Ryo Sakai finish level in battle for second
Although Shirasaki eventually established a commanding advantage, the championship battle behind him remained closely contested.
Muto began the season strongly, winning the second race at Fuji before securing consecutive runner-up finishes at Okayama. His consistency initially established him as the championship leader, although Shirasaki’s six-race winning streak subsequently transformed the standings.
The Toyota junior remained among the leading contenders throughout the campaign, but difficult weekends at Sugo and Autopolis prevented him from mounting a sustained challenge.
Ryo Sakai followed a different trajectory. Having claimed both pole positions at the opening round, he initially struggled to convert his qualifying pace into victories.
However, his performances improved as the season developed. He secured second place at Fuji and Suzuka before claiming his maiden victory in challenging conditions at Sugo.
Sakai also secured both poles at Motegi, although a jump-start penalty in Race 13 and an error while leading Race 14 prevented him from adding another victory.
Both drivers ultimately finished with 123 points, with Muto securing second in the final standings on countback. Their battle continued until the final weekend despite Shirasaki having already secured the championship.
Seven different Champion Class winners emerge across 14 races
Although Shirasaki claimed eight victories, six other drivers also reached the top step of the podium during the 2026 campaign.
Igarashi became the season’s first winner at Fuji, capitalising on a closely contested opening race. Muto subsequently secured victory in the second contest, giving TGR-DC Racing School a double-winning start.
However, Shirasaki’s six consecutive victories across Okayama, Fuji and Suzuka prevented any other driver from winning until Sugo.
Ryo Sakai ended that sequence through his successful tyre strategy in Race 9, while Shioda followed with a dominant wet-weather performance in Race 10.
Autopolis then produced another two first-time winners. Hamabe converted pole into victory in Race 11, while Kumagai secured his breakthrough success the following day.
Shirasaki returned to winning form at Motegi, completing the season with another two victories.
Beyond the race winners, several drivers demonstrated strong podium potential. Ryutaro Sakai reached the podium at Okayama, Suzuka and Autopolis, while Nakai secured second and third at Motegi.
Momose, Megumu Suzuki, Yuta Suzuki and Ochiai also recorded notable podium finishes, demonstrating the competitiveness of the field beyond the championship’s leading drivers.
Kageyama Racing overturns 30-point deficit to secure Teams’ Championship
The Champion Class Teams’ Championship produced a considerably closer contest than the Drivers’ classification.
TGR-DC Racing School initially established an advantage through Igarashi and Muto, while Shirasaki’s scoreless opening weekend left Kageyama Racing with considerable ground to recover.
However, six consecutive victories allowed the independent outfit to move ahead at Suzuka. TGR-DC subsequently regained the lead at Sugo and extended its advantage to 30 points following Autopolis.
The championship therefore remained open heading into Motegi, where Shirasaki’s results proved decisive.
His Race 13 victory reduced the deficit, while another win in Race 14 brought Kageyama Racing the points required to move ahead.
With only the highest-finishing car from each team contributing to the Teams’ Championship in each race, Shirasaki’s two victories added 50 points. TGR-DC Racing School collected 17 across the weekend, leaving Kageyama Racing three points ahead.
The team ultimately secured the championship with 252 points, completing a second consecutive Teams’ title and a historic Drivers’ and Teams’ double.
Hirobon dominates Independent Class to secure early championship
The Independent Class produced another dominant individual campaign, with Hirobon securing six victories and the Drivers’ Championship before the final two rounds.
The TEAM 5ZIGEN driver began the season with 15 points at Fuji, where Toriba secured both victories. However, Hirobon immediately responded at Okayama, claiming two wins and moving into the championship lead.
He added another victory at the second Fuji meeting before winning Race 7 at Suzuka. His subsequent runner-up finish in Race 8, combined with Toriba’s double retirement, increased his championship advantage to 52 points.
Hirobon completed the decisive step at Sugo, securing another two victories. Toriba initially limited the damage by finishing second in Race 9, but his retirement from Race 10 eliminated his remaining title hopes.
The championship leader consequently secured the Drivers’ title with three races remaining, having accumulated 201 points.
Although he did not contest Autopolis or Motegi, his six victories and consistent performances across the opening five rounds ensured that his advantage remained unassailable.
Hirobon completed the championship 22 points ahead of KENTARO, securing his second Independent Class title following his previous success in 2021.
KENTARO defeats Toriba by one point in Independent Class runner-up battle
While Hirobon secured the title early, the battle for second remained unresolved until the final race.
Toriba began the season with two victories at Fuji, establishing himself as the early championship favourite. He added another success during the second Fuji round, although his difficulties at Suzuka and Sugo allowed his rivals to close.
KENTARO initially built his campaign through podium finishes. He secured runner-up results at Okayama and Fuji before adding another podium at Suzuka.
However, Autopolis proved decisive. The Field Motorsport driver claimed both pole positions and victories, adding 50 points and moving ahead of Toriba.
The pair entered Motegi separated by eight points, setting up a final confrontation for the runner-up position.
Toriba produced a strong qualifying performance and successfully defended against KENTARO to secure his fourth victory of the season.
However, KENTARO’s second-place finish added another 18 points, increasing his total to 179. Toriba finished on 178, leaving him just one point behind his rival.
The result demonstrated the importance of consistency throughout the campaign, with KENTARO securing second despite recording two fewer victories than Toriba.
Four different Independent Class winners across 13 races
Hirobon emerged as the most successful Independent Class driver with six victories, although Toriba and KENTARO also played important roles in shaping the championship.
Toriba secured four wins, including the opening double at Fuji and the season finale at Motegi. His performances frequently placed him among the leading contenders, but retirements during the middle stages compromised his championship challenge.
KENTARO claimed two victories, both at Autopolis. His double-winning weekend transformed the battle for second and ultimately proved decisive in securing the championship runner-up position.
Imada completed the list of winners after claiming victory at Suzuka. The B-MAX ENGINEERING driver successfully defended against Hirobon to secure his maiden win of the season.
Other drivers also demonstrated strong performances. Oyama completed the season fourth with 84 points, narrowly ahead of Imada on 81.
DRAGON finished sixth with 80, while Akamatsu and Saito secured further podiums during the campaign. IKARI, WILLIAM and Nakashima also made significant contributions to the competitive Independent Class field.
TEAM 5ZIGEN secures Independent Class Teams’ Championship
TEAM 5ZIGEN secured the Independent Class Teams’ Championship through Hirobon’s dominant performances during the opening five rounds.
The organisation initially trailed HYDRANGEA Kageyama Racing after Toriba’s double victory at Fuji. However, Hirobon’s consecutive victories at Okayama moved the team into the lead.
Further successes at Fuji, Suzuka and Sugo strengthened its advantage, with the title mathematically secured following Hirobon’s sixth victory in Race 10.
TEAM 5ZIGEN consequently finished the championship with 201 points despite not competing at Autopolis or Motegi.
However, the battle for second continued throughout the final two rounds.
Field Motorsport capitalised on KENTARO’s double victory at Autopolis before his runner-up finish at Motegi lifted the team to 179 points.
HYDRANGEA Kageyama Racing finished third with 178, just one point behind Field Motorsport, while B-MAX ENGINEERING completed the leading four with 147.
AKILAND RACING rounded out the top five on 130 points, followed by Rn-sports, Eagle Sports and Bionic Jack Racing.
Final 2026 Japanese F4 Champion Class Drivers’ Championship standings
The official final classification confirms Shirasaki as champion with 244 points. Muto and Ryo Sakai finished level on 123, while Kumagai and Hamabe completed the leading five.
- Ryo Shirasaki — HYDRANGEA Kageyama Racing — 244 points
- Masana Muto — TGR-DC Racing School — 123
- Ryo Sakai — TGR-DC Racing School — 123
- Kenta Kumagai — OTG MOTOR SPORTS — 106
- Masaki Hamabe — TGR-DC Racing School — 104
- Soichiro Shioda — Bionic Jack Racing — 92
- Buntaro Igarashi — TGR-DC Racing School — 78
- Ryutaro Sakai — MITSUSADA RACING — 70
- Syo Momose — HFDP with B-Max Racing Team — 68
- Haruto Nakai — B-MAX ENGINEERING — 67
- Megumu Suzuki — PONOS RACING — 61
- Yuta Suzuki — HYDRANGEA Kageyama Racing — 55
- Yuzuki Miura — TGR-DC Racing School — 52
- Lu You De — AKILAND RACING — 38
- Leon Ochiai — Eagle Sports / Falcon Motorsport — 32
- Kazuma Kurosawa — HFDP with B-Max Racing Team — 31
- Ryusho Nakazato — HYDRANGEA Kageyama Racing — 23
- Ryoki Minoura — B-MAX ENGINEERING — 14
- Tomoki Terashima — TGR-DC Racing School — 11
- Sena Yamamoto — Falcon Motorsport — 10
- Miki Onaga — OTG MOTOR SPORTS — 6
- Rikuto Toyoshima — Dr. Dry Racing Team — 5
- Masaki Murata — ZAP SPEED — 1
Final 2026 Japanese F4 Independent Class Drivers’ Championship standings
Hirobon completed the season with 201 points, 22 ahead of KENTARO. Toriba finished third, just one point behind the runner-up, while Oyama and Imada completed the leading five.
- Hirobon — TEAM 5ZIGEN — 201 points
- KENTARO — Field Motorsport — 179
- Yutaka Toriba — HYDRANGEA Kageyama Racing — 178
- Masayoshi Oyama — AKILAND RACING — 84
- Nobuhiro Imada — B-MAX ENGINEERING — 81
- DRAGON — B-MAX ENGINEERING — 80
- Shoichiro Akamatsu — Eagle Sports — 78
- Makio Saito — AKILAND RACING — 74
- IKARI — Bionic Jack Racing — 69
- WILLIAM — HELM MOTORSPORTS — 60
- Isao Nakashima — Rn-sports — 58
- Kentaro Kojima — Rn-sports — 46
- Masayuki Ueda — Rn-sports — 35
- Go Shimizu — ZAP SPEED — 30
- Yasuhiro Shimizu — ART TASTE RACING — 20
- Yuichi Sasaki — DayDream Racing — 20
- Hiroshi Sugiyama — Rn-sports — 7
- Shuhei Sato — AKILAND RACING — 4
- Shigeto Nagashima — Buzz Racing — 3
- Kazuhiro Kanayama — Team Hashimoto Group — 2
- YUGO — N-SPEED — 2
- Hachiro Osaka — Dr. Dry Racing Team — 2
Final 2026 Japanese F4 Champion Class Teams’ Championship standings
HYDRANGEA Kageyama Racing secured the championship with 252 points, finishing three ahead of TGR-DC Racing School. OTG MOTOR SPORTS completed the leading three, while Bionic Jack Racing and HFDP with B-Max Racing Team rounded out the top five.
- HYDRANGEA Kageyama Racing — 252 points
- TGR-DC Racing School — 249
- OTG MOTOR SPORTS — 106
- Bionic Jack Racing — 92
- HFDP with B-Max Racing Team — 74
- MITSUSADA RACING — 70
- B-MAX ENGINEERING — 69
- PONOS RACING — 61
- AKILAND RACING — 38
- Eagle Sports — 22
- Falcon Motorsport — 10
- TEAM 5ZIGEN — 10
- Dr. Dry Racing Team — 5
- ZAP SPEED — 1
Final 2026 Japanese F4 Independent Class Teams’ Championship standings
TEAM 5ZIGEN claimed the Independent Class Teams’ Championship with 201 points, finishing 22 ahead of Field Motorsport. HYDRANGEA Kageyama Racing completed the podium, while B-MAX ENGINEERING and AKILAND RACING secured fourth and fifth.
- TEAM 5ZIGEN — 201 points
- Field Motorsport — 179
- HYDRANGEA Kageyama Racing — 178
- B-MAX ENGINEERING — 147
- AKILAND RACING — 130
- Rn-sports — 108
- Eagle Sports — 78
- Bionic Jack Racing — 69
- HELM MOTORSPORTS — 60
- ZAP SPEED — 30
- DayDream Racing — 20
- Buzz Racing — 3
- Team Hashimoto Group — 2
- N-SPEED — 2
- Dr. Dry Racing Team — 2
A remarkable season concludes with Shirasaki and Hirobon on top
The 2026 Japanese F4 Championship delivered a campaign defined by changing momentum, breakthrough victories and championship battles that remained competitive into the closing rounds.
Shirasaki produced the season’s outstanding Champion Class performance, recovering from a scoreless opening weekend to claim six consecutive victories and establish a substantial championship advantage.
Although Sugo interrupted his winning streak, he recovered at Autopolis to secure the Drivers’ Championship before completing another double victory at Motegi. His eight wins and 244 points made him the dominant force in the category, while his success ended the established dominance of Toyota and Honda junior drivers.
However, the Teams’ Championship remained considerably closer. Kageyama Racing entered the final round 30 points behind TGR-DC Racing School, but Shirasaki’s Motegi double transformed the standings and delivered the title by just three points.
Meanwhile, Hirobon secured the Independent Class championship through six victories across the opening ten races. His commanding advantage also delivered the Teams’ title to TEAM 5ZIGEN, allowing the organisation to celebrate both honours before the final two rounds.
Behind him, KENTARO and Toriba provided a closely contested battle for second. Although Toriba won the season finale, KENTARO secured the runner-up position by just one point.
The season also showcased several emerging talents, with Igarashi, Muto, Ryo Sakai, Shioda, Hamabe and Kumagai securing Champion Class victories, while Imada joined Hirobon, Toriba and KENTARO among the Independent Class winners.
With 27 races across two classes, the championship provided a competitive platform for developing single-seater drivers and established competitors alike. Shirasaki and Kageyama Racing ultimately completed a historic Champion Class double, while Hirobon and TEAM 5ZIGEN emerged as the Independent Class champions.
