Jin Nakamura: ‘F3 an exciting challenge’ with Hitech TGR

Jin Nakamura is gearing up for the next phase: FIA Formula 3 with Hitech TGR. After getting his first season of racing in Europe last year, competing in the Formula Regional European Championship, this year he steps up to tackle what he calls ‘an exciting challenge’.

Ahead of the new racing season, he sat down to talk about his move, hopes for the 2026 campaign and how working with Hitech has been so far.

“I’m very happy to be joining Hitech in Formula 3,” he began. “I’m excited to be joining a Championship racing on a Formula 1 weekend. It’s going to be a tough season, a big challenge. All of the drivers are good and have a lot of skill but I’m looking forward to it.

“Our relationship is going well. Everyone’s been really nice and I want to thank Hitech for the support. I have experience racing in Japan, but the team is supporting me a lot in my future.”

Something that he believes will help his adaptation to the Championship is previous experience racing in Dallara-built single-seater cars.

Nakamura and the rest of the grid got three tests after the end of last season to begin their preparation for this year, and those experiences have encouraged him so far.

Picking out the main factor that will be his biggest focus ahead of the new season, the Hitech TGR driver says adaptability on a race weekend and getting up to speed as quickly as possible is the challenge.

“Having raced in Japan, where the car was also built by Dallara, it’s similar. There are some differences, like the tyres for example, but generally I felt the car was similar to what I’ve experienced.

“It was so nice to drive, enjoyable to drive across all three of the post-season tests and it was good to get that experience driving the car.

“The big thing will be adapting to the tracks and the car with the short time in Practice on a race weekend. That will be important for everyone, and with only 40 minutes, I have to do a lot of work on the sim at the factory for preparation.

“The most important thing will be what I can do off the track to find solutions in order to be fast. Off track work is the big area for me.”

Over the break, Nakamura has been racing on his own sim at home and visiting the Hitech factory in efforts to be as up to speed as possible heading to pre-season testing.

He has even moved to be closer to the team, a decision that he says has streamlined his preparations for F3 and will bring benefit when the racing begins in Melbourne.

“I’ve moved to Milton Keynes, my apartment is 20 minutes away from Hitech. I have a gym there and will have my sim to practice over the winter. I can go to Hitech any time I need to drive on the sim and use the gym. It will be a nice lifestyle over the winter.”