Japanse driver Nirei Fukuzumi will make his debut at the Nürburgring 24 Hours driving for KCMG in the #47 Mercedes-AMG GT3, marking the team’s return to the event after three years. 29‑year‑old Fukuzumi has not raced outside Japan since his Formula 2 campaign in Europe, as he now competes in Super GT and Super Formula. But for this iconic race, he and the team make their comeback as they take on the Green Hell together.
From Japan to the Nordschleife: Fukuzumi’s first 24-hour challenge
Fukuzumi will drive the Nürburgring-Nordschleife for the first time ever. “I don’t have much experience here, so I’m still learning.” But the KCMG driver already feels attached: “It’s a very special track for me.”
He shares the car with two former winners of the Nürburgring 24 Hours: Jesse Krohn and David Pittard. “They have won before, they are good teachers for me,” he explains to GT REPORT. But that’s not the only thing they teach him. “I don’t have much experience in GT3 cars, so I have to learn everything. But they are very kind to me, it’s good to have these teammates.”
The driver, who is affiliated with Toyota Gazoo Racing in both Super Formula and Super GT, is not the only Japanese driver in the team. Alongside Pittard and Krohn, Naoya Gamou is the second driver from Japan. “I’m having a very good time with him. I’ve known him for a long time, but this is my first time being teammates. It’s good. We are both racing in Japan, but he is driving GT3 cars, so I can also ask him how to drive GT3.”
Fukuzumi has his targets set for the race. “My target is to finish.” He also knows what the team expects. “They want to win, but most importantly, finish.”
Eyes set on a European comeback
Despite this being the only track he will drive on in Europe after not having raced there since 2018 in Formula 2, the Japanese driver already feels in love. “I want to go back to Europe to race. If I have a chance to race here, I would like to do it.”
KCMG brought Fukuzumi back to Europe for this year’s Nürburgring 24 Hours, giving the Japanese driver his first chance to race the Nordschleife. “They gave me the opportunity to race here.”
The Mercedes driver would also recommend other Japanese drivers to race in Europe. “We only have five to six tracks in Japan, but every track is quite small and quite short.”
Because of the type of tracks Japan has, he believes Europe is better for developing as a driver. “European circuits are amazing.”
When asked which one he likes the most, he says: “I really love Spa.”
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