Rintaro Kubo (久保 凜太郎, Kubo Rintarō; born 18 September 1993) is a Japanese racing driver set to compete in the GT300 class of Super GT for Pacific Racing Team.
| Rintaro Kubo 久保凜太郎 | |
|---|---|
| Nationality |  Japanese |
| Born | 18 September 1993 Chiba Prefecture, Japan |
| Categorisation |  FIA Silver |
| Championship titles | |
| 2020 2020 2013 | Super Taikyu – ST-4 Toyota Gazoo Racing GR86/BRZ Cup Super FJ Motegi Series |
A Super FJ champion in his early career, Kubo has been a mainstay in the Japanese sportscar scene since 2015, and a factory driver for Subaru since 2024. A podium finisher in Super GT's GT300 class, he was also Super Taikyu and TGR GR86/BRZ Cup champion in 2020, the first driver to do so in a Subaru BRZ.
Career
editKubo made his single-seater debut in 2013, racing in the Super FJ Motegi Series, which he won after scoring three wins.[1] During 2013, Kubo also made one-off appearances in the Super FJ Suzuka and Fuji Series,[2][3] as well as Formula Challenge Japan for Le Beausset Racing Academy.[4]
The following year, Kubo remained with Le Beausset Motorsports to step up to the Japanese Formula 3 Championship.[5] Racing in the National class in his only season in the series, Kubo took five class wins en route to runner-up honors in the standings,[6] 27 points behind Hiroshi Koizumi.[7] Switching to sportscars for 2015, Kubo joined Team KTouch to race in Porsche Carrera Cup Japan,[8] in which he scored a lone win at Suzuka, as well as eight other podiums to end the year third in points.[9]
In 2016, Kubo made his debut in Super GT, as he joined Arnage Racing to compete in the GT300 class alongside Hideto Yasuoka.[10] After scoring a best result of 12th at Fuji, Kubo returned to the series for the following year, as he switched to apr alongside Koki Saga.[11] In his only season with the team, Kubo scored points at Okayama and Sugo, before taking his only podium of the year at Fuji en route to a 16th-place points finish.[12] Continuing in Super GT for 2018, Kubo joined Pacific with Gulf Racing for his third season in the series,[13] in which he scored a best result of sixth at Autopolis to end the year 17th in points.[14]
Switching to Super Taikyu for 2019, Kubo joined C.S.I Racing to race in the ST-4 class alongside Shinya Hosokawa.[15] In his first season in the series, Kubo scored a class win at Suzuka and two other podiums to help the team end the year third in points.[16] Returning to Super GT for 2020, Kubo joined Tsuchiya Engineering-ran Max Racing alongside Atsushi Miyake, with whom he scored a best result of 13th at Fuji.[17] In parallel, Kubo returned to Super Taikyu and C.S.I Racing, taking three class wins and one other podium to secure the ST-4 title at season's end.[18] Kubo also raced in the Toyota Gazoo Racing GR86/BRZ Cup, in which he became the first driver in series history to win the title driving a Subaru BRZ.[19]
Remaining with the team to continue in Super Taikyu the following year, Kubo mainly raced in the ST-Z class, scoring a lone win at Okayama as he helped the team end the year fifth in points.[20] Kubo then primarily raced in the Toyota Gazoo Racing GR86/BRZ Cup the following year as he continued his affiliation with Subaru,[21] as well as racing part-time in Super Taikyu for Tracy Sports, winning at Okayama and Suzuka in ST-3.[22] Remaining in the former for 2023 with team Team Takuty, Kubo scored a lone win at Motegi and rounded out the season sixth in points.[23] During 2023, Kubo also raced part-time in the Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie for Team HAL.[24]
Continuing in the Toyota Gazoo Racing GR86/BRZ Cup for Team Takuty in 2024, Kubo also raced with Subaru Tecnica International in select rounds of the Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie, as well as the 24 Hours of Nürburgring.[25] In parallel, Kubo raced with Porsche Team Ebi to race in the ST-Z class of Super Taikyu, taking a lone win at Suzuka and helping the team secure third in the ST-Z standings.[26] The following year, Kubo remained with Team Takuty to once again race in the Toyota Gazoo Racing GR86/BRZ Cup, as well as continuing his part-time program with Subaru in the NLS and the 24 Hours of Nürburgring.[27] Alongside that, Kubo remained with Porsche Team Ebi to continue racing in Super Taikyu in the ST-Z class.[28] Kubo scored his first podium by finishing third at Suzuka,[29] before following it up with a third-place finish at the Fuji 24 Hours and a second-place finish at the season-ending race at Fuji to end the year fifth in class.[30][31]
For 2026, Kubo remained in the Toyota Gazoo Racing GR86/BRZ Cup with Team Takuty,[32] as well as racing in the ST-Z class of Super Taikyu for Kokusai Group Sports Team.[33] In addition, Kubo also remained with Subaru Tecnica International to race in the 24 Hours of Nürburgring,[34] as well as select races in the GT300 class of Super GT for Pacific Racing Team.[35][36]
Karting record
editKarting career summary
edit| Season | Series | Team | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | CIK-FIA Asia-Pacific Championship — KF2 | Sugiyama Racing | NC |
| 2010 | CIK-FIA Asia-Pacific Championship — KF2 | Sugiyama Racing | 17th |
| Macau International Karting Grand Prix — SKF | Robot Racing | 17th | |
| 2011 | Karting World Championship — KF1 | Sugiyama Racing | 34th |
| 2012 | Karting World Championship — KF1 | Sugiyama Racing | 42nd |
| Sources:[37][38] | |||
Racing record
editRacing career summary
edit| Season | Series | Team | Races | Wins | Poles | F/Laps | Podiums | Points | Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Super FJ Motegi Series | Robot Tochigi Le Beausset PFC | 6 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 82 | 1st |
| Super FJ Suzuka Series | Robot Le Beausset Formula Academy | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 20 | 9th | |
| Super FJ Fuji Series | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||||||
| Formula Challenge Japan | Le Beausset Racing Academy | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | NC | |
| 2014 | Japanese Formula 3 Championship – National | Tochigi Le Beausset Motorsports | 15 | 5 | 7 | 5 | 10 | 97 | 2nd |
| 2015 | Porsche Carrera Cup Japan | Team KTouch Porsche | 10 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 166 | 3rd |
| 2016 | Super GT – GT300 | Arnage Racing | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | NC |
| 2017 | Super GT – GT300 | apr | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 17 | 16th |
| 2018 | Super GT – GT300 | Pacific with Gulf Racing | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 17th |
| 2019 | Super Taikyu – ST-4 | C.S.I Racing | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 90.5‡ | 3rd‡ |
| 2020 | Super GT – GT300 | Max Racing | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | NC |
| Toyota Gazoo Racing GR86/BRZ Cup | 1st | ||||||||
| Super Taikyu – ST-4 | C.S.I Racing | 5 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 129‡ | 1st‡ | |
| 2021 | Super Taikyu – ST-Z | C.S.I Racing | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 73.5‡ | 5th‡ |
| Super Taikyu – ST-4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 129.5‡ | 2nd‡ | ||
| 2022 | Toyota Gazoo Racing GR86/BRZ Cup | Recaro Racing Team | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 24th |
| Team Takuty | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Super Taikyu – ST-1 | Tracy Sports | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 128‡ | 3rd‡ | |
| Super Taikyu – ST-3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 99‡ | 3rd‡ | ||
| 2023 | Toyota Gazoo Racing GR86/BRZ Cup | Team Takuty | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 36 | 6th |
| Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie – SP3 | Team HAL | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | NC | |
| Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie – VT2-R+4WD | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | NC | ||
| 2024 | Toyota Gazoo Racing GR86/BRZ Cup | Team Takuty | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 16th |
| Super Taikyu – ST-Z | Porsche Team EBI | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 82‡ | 3rd‡ | |
| Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie – SP4T | Subaru Tecnica International | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | NC | |
| 24 Hours of Nürburgring – SP4T | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | N/a | 1st | ||
| 2025 | Super Taikyu – ST-Z | Porsche Team EBI | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 76.5‡ | 5th‡ |
| Toyota Gazoo Racing GR86/BRZ Cup | Team Takuty | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 11th | |
| Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie – SP4T | Subaru Tecnica International | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | NC | |
| 24 Hours of Nürburgring – SP4T | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | N/a | 2nd | ||
| 2026 | Super Taikyu – ST-Z | Kokusai Group Sports Team | ‡ | ‡ | |||||
| Toyota Gazoo Racing GR86/BRZ Cup | Team Takuty | ||||||||
| Super GT – GT300 | Pacific Racing Team | ||||||||
| 24 Hours of Nürburgring – SP4T | Subaru Tecnica International | N/a | |||||||
| Sources:[39][37] | |||||||||
† As Kubo was a guest driver, he was ineligible for championship points.
‡ Team standings.
Complete Formula Challenge Japan results
editComplete Japanese Formula 3 results
edit(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Team | Engine | Class | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | DC | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Tochigi Le Beausset Motorsports | Toyota | N | SUZ 1 9 |
SUZ 2 10 |
MOT 1 9 |
MOT 2 12 |
MOT 3 8 |
OKA 1 10 |
OKA 2 13 |
FUJ1 1 8 |
FUJ1 2 Ret |
MOT 1 10 |
MOT 2 11 |
SUG 1 Ret |
SUG 2 8 |
FUJ2 1 12 |
FUJ2 2 Ret |
2nd | 97 |
Complete Super GT results
edit| Year | Team | Car | Class | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | DC | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Arnage Racing | Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3 | GT300 | OKA 18 |
FUJ 12 |
SUG Ret |
FUJ 16 |
SUZ 16 |
CHA 15 |
MOT 26 |
MOT 19 |
NC | 0 |
| 2017 | apr | Toyota Prius apr GT | GT300 | OKA 10 |
FUJ 12 |
AUT Ret |
SUG 10 |
FUJ 3 |
SUZ Ret |
CHA 11 |
MOT 12 |
16th | 17 |
| 2018 | Pacific with Gulf Racing | Porsche 911 GT3 R | GT300 | OKA 16 |
FUJ1 17 |
SUZ 15 |
BUR 16 |
FUJ2 15 |
AUT 6 |
SUG 11 |
MOT 12 |
17th | 5 |
| 2020 | Max Racing | Lexus RC F GT3 | GT300 | FUJ 16 |
FUJ 13 |
SUZ 20 |
MOT 26 |
FUJ 19 |
SUZ WD |
MOT 15 |
FUJ 24 |
NC | 0 |
| 2026 | Pacific Racing Team | BMW M4 GT3 Evo | GT300 | OKA | FUJ |
SEP |
FUJ |
SUZ |
SUG |
AUT |
MOT |
References
edit- ↑ "久保凛太郎、SFJもてぎシリーズで王座獲得". as-web.jp (in Japanese). 4 September 2013. Retrieved 11 March 2026.
- ↑ "SFJ:第4戦鈴鹿クラブマン決勝結果". fmotor.jp (in Japanese). 7 July 2013. Retrieved 11 March 2026.
- ↑ "久保凛太郎、SFJ富士シリーズ第4戦で初PP獲得". as-web.jp (in Japanese). 27 August 2013. Retrieved 11 March 2026.
- ↑ "FCJ:第11戦鈴鹿決勝結果". fmotor.jp (in Japanese). 9 November 2013. Retrieved 11 March 2026.
- ↑ "JF3:第1戦鈴鹿公式予選 Nクラスの前年王者#22高星がコースレコードを更新してPP獲得！". fmotor.jp (in Japanese). 12 April 2014. Retrieved 11 March 2026.
- ↑ "JF3:第8戦富士決勝 総合は高星明誠、Nクラスは久保凛太郎が優勝". fmotor.jp (in Japanese). 12 July 2014. Retrieved 11 March 2026.
- ↑ "2014 全日本F3 チャンピオンズ". scivi.air-nifty.com. 11 October 2014. Retrieved 11 March 2026.
- ↑ "PCCJ:ポルシェ カレラカップ ジャパン 2015 - 第1-2戦 公式予選レポート". fmotor.jp (in Japanese). 5 April 2015. Retrieved 11 March 2026.
- ↑ "ポルシェ カレラカップジャパン2015・第9戦鈴鹿、決勝レポート". motorcars.jp (in Japanese). 2 September 2015. Retrieved 11 March 2026.
- ↑ "Arnage Racingが16年体制発表。久保凛太郎を起用し安岡とコンビ". as-web.jp (in Japanese). 1 March 2016. Retrieved 11 March 2026.
- ↑ "GT300 Season Preview: Mother Chassis". dailysportscar.com. 3 April 2017. Retrieved 11 March 2026.
- ↑ "Autobacs Racing Roars To Double Victory At Fuji 300km". dailysportscar.com. 6 August 2017. Retrieved 11 March 2026.
- ↑ "スーパーGT：GULF PORSCHE、2018年は久保凜太郎＆石川京侍の新鋭コンビ起用". as-web.jp (in Japanese). 1 February 2018. Retrieved 11 March 2026.
- ↑ "【SUPER GT第7戦 オートポリス】予選上位のNSX-GT勢が沈み、決勝は1号車 KeePer TOM'S LC500（平川亮/ニック・キャシディ組）が優勝". car.watch.impress.co.jp (in Japanese). 21 October 2018. Retrieved 11 March 2026.
- ↑ "S耐:第1戦鈴鹿公式予選 ST-Xクラスの浜野彰彦／星野一樹／藤波清斗組がポールポジション". fmotor.jp (in Japanese). 23 March 2019. Retrieved 11 March 2026.
- ↑ "GTNET Motor Sports On Pole Position At Suzuka Super Taikyu 5 Hours". dailysportscar.com. 23 March 2019. Retrieved 11 March 2026.
- ↑ "SUPER GT : quatre Lexus RC F GT3 dont une en Michelin". endurance-info.com (in French). 7 February 2020. Retrieved 11 March 2026.
- ↑ "D'station Racing Wins Super Taikyu Autopolis 5 Hour Race". dailysportscar.com. 14 December 2020. Retrieved 11 March 2026.
- ↑ "ブリヂストン TOYOTA GAZOO Racing 86／BRZ Race第7戦もてぎ レースレポート". as-web.jp (in Japanese). 27 November 2021. Retrieved 11 March 2026.
- ↑ "S耐第6戦岡山でGRスープラのST-Z初優勝をもたらしたFABULOUS GRMI GT4。一年の最後に笑顔". as-web.jp (in Japanese). 18 November 2021. Retrieved 11 March 2026.
- ↑ "少数派のBRZの戦い、GR 86が多数を占める中で…GR86/BRZ Cup". response.jp (in Japanese). 29 November 2022. Retrieved 11 March 2026.
- ↑ "HELM Motorsports Crowned ST-X Champions as Porsche Centre Okazaki Wins Suzuka S-Tai Finale". dailysportscar.com. 29 November 2022. Retrieved 11 March 2026.
- ↑ "Team Takutyが井口と久保の2台体制で東京スバル、千葉スバルとTGR GR86/BRZ Cupに挑戦". as-web.jp (in Japanese). 1 April 2026. Retrieved 11 March 2026.
- ↑ "久保凜太郎がニュルブルクリンク耐久シリーズに自ら挑戦。「思い切ってニュルに来て良かった」". webcartop.jp (in Japanese). 6 April 2026. Retrieved 11 March 2026.
- ↑ "Subaru Announces Unchanged GT300 Effort". sportscar365.com. 11 January 2024. Retrieved 11 March 2026.
- ↑ "Miki Koyama Makes Super Taikyu History As apr Lexus Wins At Suzuka". dailysportscar.com. 29 September 2024. Retrieved 11 March 2026.
- ↑ "Subaru Reveals Revamped BRZ for GT300 Effort". sportscar365.com. 10 January 2025. Retrieved 11 March 2026.
- ↑ "Porsche Team EBIが2025年スーパー耐久参戦体制を発表。718ケイマン継続投入で新たな取り組みも". as-web.jp (in Japanese). 12 March 2025. Retrieved 11 March 2026.
- ↑ "Porsche Team EBI 2025スーパー耐久第2戦鈴鹿 レースレポート". as-web.jp (in Japanese). 7 May 2025. Retrieved 11 March 2026.
- ↑ "Porsche Team EBI 2025スーパー耐久第3戦富士24時間 レースレポート". as-web.jp (in Japanese). 9 June 2025. Retrieved 11 March 2026.
- ↑ "Seven x Seven Racing Takes 2025 Championship With Fuji 4H Victory". dailysportscar.com. 20 November 2025. Retrieved 11 March 2026.
- ↑ "トヨタ陣営がひしめくGR86・BRZ Cup 2026に３台のスバルで挑む！ ３名のドライバーが狙うはBRZでの王座奪還だ". webcartop.jp (in Japanese). 10 March 2026. Retrieved 11 March 2026.
- ↑ "Super Taikyu Series Entry List Announced, Look Ahead To 2026". dailysportscar.com. 10 March 2026. Retrieved 11 March 2026.
- ↑ "Subaru Reveals New Engine for GT300 Challenger". sportscar365.com. 8 January 2026. Retrieved 11 March 2026.
- ↑ "BMW Returns to GT300 Grid With Pacific Racing". sportscar365.com. 17 February 2026. Retrieved 11 March 2026.
- ↑ "注目のPACIFIC ウマ娘 NAC BMWのカラーリング発表。疾走感ある爽やかなカラーに6名のウマ娘のイラストが躍る". news.yahoo.co.jp (in Japanese). 27 March 2026. Retrieved 1 May 2026.
- 1 2 "Rintaro Kubo | Racing career profile | Driver Database". www.driverdb.com. Retrieved 9 March 2026.
- ↑ "Kubo Rintaro". kartcom.com. Retrieved 9 March 2026.
- ↑ "Rintaro Kubo Results". motorsportstats.com. Retrieved 9 March 2026.
External links
edit- Rintaro Kubo career summary at DriverDB.com