2026 Season Update for KDE
It’s been a busy start to the season for all our KDE Management drivers across the globe. With drivers competing in both Asia, Europe and the US it’s been a mixed of testing and racing for our drivers, some of our drivers started the season already in January at Daytona in IMSA Michelin Pilot Chgallenge and MX5-Cup.
For Maddie and Bryson in the Hyundai BHA TCR factory program it was a great start to the season, Bryson and his teammate Mason had a strong podium finish to kick off the 2026 season, When Maddie and her co- driver Mark also had a very strong start in Daytona just falling shy of the podium, Justin Gravett in the MX5-Cup had his first taste of Daytona International speedway and it’s infield track, Justin had a very strong performance in a 40 plus car field but was unfortunately hit and taken out by another car at the bus stop early on in race one, with this he had to start from the back, but it did not take long before Justin was already up in the top 20 and kept moving up with a great strong first outing at Daytona. Justin is also competing in the SRO TC America series for Hyundai were he’s of to a real good start with several podium and other strong finishes that currently places him P3 in the Championship after 3 race weekends.
Samantha Tan has moved from GT3 to GT4 this season with the opportunity to drive together with Bill Auberlen, who’s the most successful driver in IMSA history over the last 30 years as a BMW factory driver. A fun side note is that Bill and myself was teammates back in the early 2000 driving for BMW PTG’s factory program in the BMW M3 GTR V8 with great success. Sam got up to speed quickly and did a great solid job, and ran very competitive lap times, but unfortunately several different mechanical issues made it for a tough day, but with lots learned for the rest of the season.
Chloe Chambers who has come onboard with KDE Management for the 2026 season with a few very strong years in F1 Academy and as a test driver with Mahindra in Formula E behind her, Chloe together with Nic and KDE has decided that sportscar racing is were Chloe will focus her efforts moving forward, Chloe has signed with the successful RAFA team in Lamborghini Trofeo USA series that runs under IMSA, and has had a few very strong performances in the first couple of races learning a new platform and tire. Every lap Chloe turns she’s getting faster and more consistent. She was showing a very good pace at the last race in Laguna without having a great result due to circumstantial things that either Chloe or her co-driver could control, but great start to the year with more to come.
Kelsey Pinkowski who’s racing in the Kyojo Cup in Japan for the second year has just begun her season a few weeks ago at Fuji international circuit, after several days of testing throughout the vinter months. Kelsey has made great progress from last year and has got closer to the top drivers who’s been racing for much longer than Kelsey, the progression over the last 6 months has been great after being part of the KDE karting camps over the vinter back in the US, working on the applications and being able to get close to the limit of the friction circle. Kelsey heading back over to Japan in July again to go chase more success the way the season has started.
Demitri Nolan has taken on the fierce, deep and talented field of GB4 in the UK, after just a couple of years of racing in the F4 series in the US, Demitri and Nic felt he had to go to Europe to challenge himself and to improve by racing against the best young drivers out there from all over the World. Demitri has done a successful test program over the winter starting in Spain already in February. And after the first couple of rounds at Silverstone and Oulton Park, Demitri keep progressing at a great pace running very close to the front runners race pace who has been racing in these cars and circuits for several years.
