Ohta Set to Add LMP2 Outings to Acura GTP Program

Kakunoshin Ohta has revealed that he is set for two additional IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship races in an LMP2 car next year on top of his already-confirmed three-race GTP program for Acura Meyer Shank Racing.

Ohta, who belongs to HRC’s roster of factory drivers in Japan, was confirmed for three races earlier this month in MSR’s No. 93 Acura ARX-06: the Rolex 24 at Daytona, Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen and the Battle on the Bricks at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

However, further WeatherTech Championship races appear to be on the cards for the Super Formula race winner as he builds his international sports car racing experience.

“The people who watched me test [at the IMSA-sanctioned Daytona test in November], many of them expected that I would only do the Rolex 24,” Ohta told Sportscar365. 

“But finally I will race three races in the GTP car, and I will race an LMP2 for two races. In total it will be five races, three in GTP and two in LMP2, so I am really happy.”

One of Ohta’s extra races is likely to be the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring, while the second outing could come at either Canadian Tire Motorsport Park or Road America, the only other two races on the LMP2 schedule that he would be available for.

An appearance in the season-closing Motul Petit Le Mans is ruled out due to a clash with his Super Formula program in Japan.

While the LMP2 team with which Ohta will race has not been announced, the Kyoto-born driver took part in a test with Era Motorsport at Daytona earlier this month.

Era has yet to name its full-season lineup beyond Bronze-rated Tobias Lutke, who will be joined for the Rolex 24 by Paul-Loup Chatin, Ryan Dalziel and David Heinemeier Hansson.

At Daytona, Ohta will share the HRC US-operated No. 93 Acura with full-season drivers Renger van der Zande and Nick Yelloly, as well as IndyCar star Alex Palou.

The 25-year-old described joining MSR as a “huge honor” but admitted he still has a lot of work ahead of him to feel fully prepared for his IMSA debut.

“I still need to learn more,” said Ohta. “The important thing is to reduce the kind of mistakes that could cause a retirement. 

“For now it’s already possible for me to drive fast, on a similar level to the other drivers, but I am still learning some things in terms of technique. I still need to improve on that side, because the GTP car is really difficult to drive. 

“[The November test] was ok, I was fast, but I need to reduce my mistakes. It’s very easy to lock up. I also need to make more use of the switches on the steering wheel.”

Ohta has gained experience this season of communicating in English by taking part in some Super Taikyu races with Craft Bamboo Racing this year, but he also admits there is further room for improvement on this side.

“I would say 80 to 90 percent the communication on the radio is ok,” said Ohta. “It’s just when a difficult moment happens, like some kind of emergency.

“In an emergency situation, that’s when the communication issues come out. But in normal practice, it’s ok for me right now.”