Championship leaders Craft-Bamboo Racing ready for Fuji 24 Hour challenge

Jun 2
5 min read

2nd June 2026

Craft-Bamboo Racing heads to Super Taikyu’s biggest event as the ST-X class championship leaders
Jayden Ojeda and Tom Kalender will join Adderly Fong, Sun Jing Zu, and Jeffrey Lee in the #33 Mercedes-AMG GT3 for the highlight of Japan’s racing calendar
Following two consecutive wins, the team faces Fuji with an extra challenge: carrying 60kg of success ballast

Following a stellar start to the 2026 Super Taikyu season with back-to-back victories at Motegi and Suzuka, Craft-Bamboo Racing is now headed to the biggest event of the season – this weekend’s Fuji 24 Hour (June 5-7).

The ST-X championship leaders have confirmed a five-driver line-up for the standout event, but their early success has come at a cost, with the squad’s dominating form seeing the #33 Mercedes-AMG GT3 set to carry a massive 60kg of success ballast – making it the heaviest car in the field.

To overcome this added load over a full day and night of racing, the team has heavily focused on adapting its setup, with critical groundwork for the Fuji marathon laid during a mid-May testing program undertaken by Kakunoshin Ohta and Jeffrey Lee.

Ohta will not be behind the wheel for the Fuji 24 Hour itself, with the Japanese star granted leave by the team to compete in the prestigious Le Mans 24 Hour.

Stepping into the #33 are two exciting international additions: Australian young gun Jayden Ojeda – a full-time Supercars driver in his homeland – will reunite with Craft-Bamboo Racing following a strong GT World Challenge Asia campaign with the team last year and previous Super Taikyu appearances, including at Fuji. Also making a comeback to the team and venue is Ojeda’s fellow Mercedes-AMG Junior Driver, 18-year-old German sensation Tom Kalender, with the young champion rapidly building a reputation for immense pace having won the 2024 GT Masters title before becoming the youngest-ever driver to line up on the DTM grid in 2025.

They will share driving duties with the rest of the team’s seasoned core line-up: with his proven GT pace, former F1 development driver Adderly Fong anchors the entry alongside regular team stalwarts Sun Jing Zu and Jeffrey Lee, both of whom possess the experience and podium-contending pace required to navigate the complexities of a 24-hour multi-class race. For Lee, it will be his first time at the wheel for the 2026 season.

With a strong strategy in place, the team is fully focused on overcoming the weight penalty, executing a clean 24 hours, and extending their championship lead.

To watch the racing from Fuji and other upcoming events, visit the Super Taikyu YouTube Channel and the official series website at www.supertaikyu.com

For more information about Craft-Bamboo Racing, visit www.craftbamboo.com

Ryogen Taguchi | Team Manager Craft-Bamboo Racing

“The Fuji 24 Hour is the pinnacle of the Super Taikyu calendar and a true test of a team's operational strength. We arrive as championship leaders, which is exactly where we want to be, but carrying 60kg of success ballast for 24 hours will be a significant challenge. Thanks to the data gathered by Kakunoshin and Jeffrey during our mid-May test, we have a clear plan to adapt our setup. While we will miss Kaku and wish him the best at Le Mans, we are thrilled to welcome Jayden and Tom to the team. Combined with Adderly, JZ, and Jeffrey, we have an incredibly strong, balanced lineup to fight at the front.”

Jayden Ojeda Driver - #33 Mercedes-AMG GT3

“I am really looking forward to joining Craft Bamboo Racing for the Super Taikyu Fuji 24 Hour. I had the pleasure of doing this race with the team in 2024 and I am really looking forward to doing it again with them. The team has had an impressive start to the season so far, and hopefully we can continue that for this event. Me and my teammates have a great team behind us, and we look forward to the battle over 24 hours!”

Tom Kalender: Driver - #33 Mercedes-AMG GT3

“I am really looking forward to partnering up with Craft-Bamboo Racing again after racing with them last year at this event, and to race again with Jayden and Jeffrey. These guys are quick and to be part of such a super strong line-up is really great. I really enjoyed working with the whole team last year, and our target is definitely to win the race, especially after last year. I have been preparing with laps on the sim as well as watching onboards, alongside my usual sport and mental strength training. I am really looking forward to taking on this race and chasing a win.

Adderly Fong | Driver - #33 Mercedes-AMG GT3

“I am really excited to contest my first Fuji 24H. It will be fun to drive at such a beautiful track through both the day and the night. We will be carrying quite a lot of success ballast from our good results in the first two weekends. However, I think the nature of the track won’t make it penalise us too much in terms of overall race pace, as there are long straights and this is where the ballast will hurt least. It will also be fun to get to cooperate with Jayden and Tom for the first time, as well as working again with my two good friends Jeffrey and JZ.”

Jeffrey Lee: Driver - #33 Mercedes-AMG GT3

“A 24-hour race is about being consistent and reliable, more than pushing for one fast lap. We have 60kg of success weight, which is heavy, but we worked hard at the May test to understand how the car behaves with it. We have a very good mix of drivers – Adderly and JZ, plus the quick pace from Jayden and Tom. For me, the focus is just to keep the car clean, follow our plan, and make sure we finish Sunday in a strong position for the championship.”

Sun Jing Zu: Driver - #33 Mercedes-AMG GT3

“To be the championship leaders heading into this event is great, but we have a big challenge ahead. With the maximum extra weight in the car, we have to be smart. We cannot make mistakes, especially in the night with so much traffic on the track. We have proven our speed in the first two rounds. Now we must just keep our focus, take care of the car, and fight hard to defend our lead.”

2026 GT World Challenge Asia powered by AWS Championship calendar:

Round 1: 21-22 March – Motegi (2 x 4 Hours)
Round 2: 18-19 April – Suzuka (1 x 5 Hours)
Round 3: 5-7 June – Fuji (Fuji 24 Hour)
Round 4: 4-5 July – Sugo (2 x 4 Hours)
Round 5: 25-26 July – Autopolis (1 x 5 Hours)
Round 6: 24-25 October – Okayama (2 x 3 Hours)
Round 7: 14-15 November – Fuji (1 x 4 Hours)

ABOUT CRAFT-BAMBOO RACING

Craft-Bamboo Racing is an official performance team of Mercedes-AMG Customer Racing, competing on motorsport’s world stage in sprint and endurance events around the year. Enjoying a multitude of successes through numerous race programs, Craft-Bamboo Racing’s achievements are a testament to the team’s ability to push its boundaries.

The team has years of world championship experience and is truly a unique company in the global motorsports industry, bridging motorsport between Europe and Asia. With its headquarters in Hong Kong and workshops in Sepang and Silverstone, the company is uniquely positioned to deliver global race programs and marketing activations.