Honda factory driver and former SUPER GT champion Tadasuke Makino will compete in the 2026/27 Asian Le Mans Series (ALMS), joining PONOS Racing for its second consecutive campaign in the championship. The Japanese driver will race the team’s #45 Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo alongside Takuro Shinohara and team owner Yorikatsu Tsujiko.
The announcement completes an all-Japanese driver line-up as PONOS Racing prepares to switch from LMP2 to GT3 machinery for the upcoming season. The team previously confirmed its participation when the 47-car entry list was published earlier in October, although only Shinohara and Tsujiko were named at the time.
Makino’s arrival follows a successful appearance with PONOS Racing at September’s Suzuka 1000km, where he helped secure sixth overall. The 2020 SUPER GT GT500 champion will now return to GT3 competition as the team prepares for the six-race ALMS season, which begins at Circuit Paul Ricard on 13–15 November.
Makino completes PONOS Racing’s all-Japanese 2026/27 ALMS line-up
Makino joins PONOS Racing with extensive experience across international single-seater competition and Japanese motorsport. The 29-year-old previously competed in the FIA Formula 2 Championship before returning to Japan, where he established himself among the leading drivers in SUPER GT and Super Formula.
His most notable achievement came in 2020 when he secured the SUPER GT GT500 Championship alongside Naoki Yamamoto. Makino has remained competitive in the category, subsequently finishing runner-up in the championship in both 2024 and 2025.
Despite his association with Honda, Makino will compete in Ferrari machinery for PONOS Racing’s ALMS programme. His addition strengthens the team’s line-up alongside Shinohara, who has represented PONOS in SUPER GT’s GT300 category since 2025, and Tsujiko, who combines his driving responsibilities with overseeing the team’s operations.
The trio will compete in the GT3 category against an international field featuring established endurance racing teams and several major manufacturers. Their programme will also bring together drivers with different levels of experience, combining Makino’s factory racing background with Shinohara’s GT3 knowledge and Tsujiko’s experience as a team owner and competitor.
Suzuka 1000km performance provides foundation for ALMS debut
Makino’s confirmation follows his first competitive appearance for PONOS Racing at the 2026 Suzuka 1000km in September. The Honda factory driver joined Shinohara and Seita Nonaka in the #45 Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo for the Intercontinental GT Challenge event, marking his first competitive outing in GT3 machinery for seven years.
The trio delivered a competitive performance throughout the weekend, qualifying second overall before finishing sixth in the race. The result also made PONOS Racing the highest-finishing Japanese team in the 50th edition of the endurance event.
Although the team encountered mechanical difficulties during the race, the crew recovered to complete the event among the leading competitors. The performance demonstrated the Ferrari’s competitiveness against established international GT3 teams and provided Makino with an opportunity to become familiar with the car ahead of his ALMS programme.
Makino had already developed a relationship with PONOS Racing earlier in 2026, having joined the organisation as an adviser for its SRO Japan Cup activities. His subsequent participation at Suzuka marked the beginning of their competitive partnership, which will now extend into a full international endurance racing campaign.
The experience could prove valuable as Makino adapts to the demands of the ALMS, particularly given the importance of driver changes, traffic management and consistent performance across four-hour races.
PONOS Racing switches from LMP2 to GT3 for 2026/27 ALMS season
PONOS Racing will return to the ALMS after making its championship debut in the LMP2 category during the 2025/26 season. The Japanese squad initially planned to compete in partnership with K2 R&D before establishing an arrangement with United Autosports.
The programme provided the team with valuable experience in international prototype racing, although its second campaign will feature a substantially different approach. Rather than continuing in LMP2, PONOS has elected to compete in the GT3 category with its Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo, a car it already operates in other championships.
The decision also allows the team to draw on its existing experience in Japanese GT competition as it prepares for another international programme. Its driver line-up will be supported by a predominantly Japanese operational structure, including engineers, mechanics and other team personnel.
PONOS Racing has confirmed that it will compete with the #45 Ferrari on Michelin tyres, marking a change from its domestic GT racing programmes, where it has previously used Pirelli.
The team’s second ALMS campaign will therefore provide an opportunity to build on the experience gained in LMP2 while competing in a category more closely aligned with its existing racing activities.
Tsujiko targets GT3 victories during second ALMS campaign
PONOS Racing team owner and driver Tsujiko welcomed the team’s return to the championship, emphasising the importance of applying the lessons learned during its inaugural season.
“Continuing on from last season, I am very happy that we are able to compete in the Asian Le Mans Series again this year,” Tsujiko said. “We gained a lot of valuable experience from participating in the LMP2 class last season, but we will be taking on a new challenge in the GT3 class.”
The Japanese businessman also highlighted the team’s decision to assemble a predominantly domestic driver and operational structure, expressing confidence that its personnel could compete against established international opponents.
“This time, we will be participating with a team structure with Japanese members at its core. Not only the drivers, but I also want to show the experience and ability of all the people supporting the team, and I’m personally looking forward to seeing how far we can go as we fight on a global stage.”
Although PONOS Racing will face substantial competition, Tsujiko has made clear that the team intends to challenge for strong results rather than simply complete the season.
“I hope we can use our respective strengths and experience, come together as a team to reach the upper ranks, and ultimately aim to fight for victory.”
The programme will also provide another opportunity for PONOS Racing to strengthen its international presence as it continues developing its endurance racing operations.
ALMS prepares for unusual European winter season
The 2026/27 Asian Le Mans Series will feature an unusual European-based calendar, with six four-hour races taking place across three double-header weekends. The championship will operate under the Winter Le Mans Series format after organisers relocated the season from its traditional Asian and Middle Eastern venues.
The official entry list features 47 full-season cars across three categories, comprising two Hypercars, 16 LMP2 entries and 29 GT3 cars. PONOS Racing will face competition from teams including Manthey, AF Corse, Team WRT, Garage 59, GetSpeed and Winward Racing.
The season will begin at Circuit Paul Ricard in France on 13–15 November 2026, with two four-hour races opening the championship. The series will then travel to Circuito de Jerez in Spain on 15–17 January 2027 before concluding at the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve in Portugal on 19–21 February.
The GT3 field includes eight manufacturers, with Ferrari represented by five entries. PONOS Racing will therefore face significant competition within its own manufacturer ranks, as well as against Porsche, Mercedes-AMG, Aston Martin, McLaren, Ford, Lamborghini and BMW.
For Makino, the championship represents an opportunity to expand his international endurance racing experience while maintaining his involvement in Japanese motorsport. Meanwhile, PONOS Racing will aim to build on its first season in the championship and translate its existing GT3 experience into competitive results against a substantial international field.
With its three-driver line-up now complete, the Japanese squad will turn its attention towards the opening double-header at Circuit Paul Ricard as it prepares to begin its second Asian Le Mans Series campaign.
