The 2021 Super GT GT300 class assembled one of the most varied GT3 fields in world motorsport, and Team Up Garage's No. 18 Honda NSX GT3 EVO was among its more distinctive entries. Veteran Takashi Kobayashi shared the car with Teppei Natori, a young driver already building credentials across European and Japanese formulae. Spark Model documents that pairing in resin at 1:43.
The NSX GT3 was developed by JAS Motorsport in collaboration with HPD, and is based directly on the second-generation Honda NSX (NC1) road car. Its 3.5-litre twin-turbocharged V6 is derived from the road car's Sport Hybrid SH-AWD powertrain, though in GT3 trim the system drives the rear wheels only through a 6-speed sequential gearbox. An evolved EVO specification arrived in 2019 with revised aerodynamics, updated suspension geometry and improved brake cooling; the 2021 Super GT entries ran this EVO variant.
UP Garage, Super GT and a Rising Talent
Team Up Garage takes its name and its primary sponsorship from UP Garage, a well-established Japanese retail chain specialising in auto parts and used-parts — a brand with genuine resonance across the JDM aftermarket community, not just racing circles. For 2021, the team paired Takashi Kobayashi, an experienced Super GT campaigner across multiple seasons, with Teppei Natori, whose career trajectory through European single-seaters had already attracted attention. The combination of a recognisable JDM brand and a driver with an expanding international profile gives the No. 18 entry a relevance beyond its grid position.
Spark Model's 1:43 Resin Execution
Spark Model reproduces the No. 18 car using their standard 1:43 resin construction, which pairs cast-resin bodywork with photo-etched metal detail parts. Livery graphics are applied via tampography, allowing the UP Garage branding and the car's colour scheme to be reproduced with the precision that resin surfaces afford. This particular car represents one of very few scale models of this specific team entry, making Spark's release the primary way to document the car in a collection.
Placing It in a Collection
At 1:43, this model sits naturally alongside Spark's broader Super GT GT300 series, including the No. 8 ARTA NSX GT3 and the No. 360 Buzz Racing B-MAX entry from the same 2021 season. Collectors building a Honda GT3 shelf will find it complements any Acura NSX GT3 EVO entries from IMSA. For those following Teppei Natori's career, it marks an early chapter of a still-developing story in miniature form.
