2026 Tamiya Championship Series: three US champions punch their ticket to Japan

Photo: Red RC (source)

2026 Tamiya Championship Series: the US national final delivers

The Tamiya Championship Series wrapped up its 31st edition of National Finals this weekend at SCOR Raceway in Anaheim, California. No fewer than 126 drivers and 202 entries across 8 classes took part in this round, the benchmark event for fans of the Japanese brand on US soil.

Three titles came with a “ticket to Japan” — a direct qualification for the Tamiya World Championships taking place in November at the brand’s headquarters. Brian Shook took the GT-2 class, Tom Aakre dominated M-Chassis, and Justin Bamberger claimed the GT Pro Spec title, raced on Porsche Cup replica bodies.

This edition also carried a special flavour with the return to the mic of Scotty Ernst, a well-known voice on the US Tamiya scene: exactly 30 years ago, in 1996, he won the 4WD class at the 2nd edition of these same finals, driving a TA-03.