CarGuy MKS Hosts Audition Test at Sepang

CarGuy MKS Racing held a multi-day shootout test at Sepang International Circuit earlier this week as it seeks to finalize its driver lineup for the new SUPER GT season.

Sportscar365 has learned that the GT300 team tried out no fewer than seven prospective drivers in a Ferrari 296 GT3 equipped with non-confidential Michelin tires in what appears to have been an audition to replace GT500-bound Rikuto Kobayashi.

Among the auditionees was Kiyoshi Umegaki, despite the fact he was announced by Toyota to be driving for CarGuy MKS this season last month.

It was expected that Umegaki would partner Zak O’Sullivan aboard the No. 7 Ferrari this season, with the British driver’s place in the team understood to be secure, but the test raises inevitable questions about whether there could be a late surprise.

O’Sullivan was not present for the test due to a clashing commitment.

Besides Umegaki, CarGuy MKS tried out Kohei Hirate, Reimei Ito, Shintaro Kawabata, Hiyu Yamakoshi, Itsuki Sato and Masataka Inoue over the course of the test.

Cerumo Toyota signing Kobayashi also took part in the test as a reference driver.

Ito, who served as the third driver for the LM Corsa Lexus team last year and has links to CarGuy MKS through his previous involvement with Yogibo Racing, was quickest of the drivers that ran on Tuesday with a best time of 2:04.047.

On Wednesday, Kobayashi was fastest with a 2:03.334, followed by Ito with a 2:03.823.

Sometime Hitotsuyama Audi driver Kawabata, who won last year’s SRO Japan Cup in a Ferrari for the same team, was second behind Ito on Tuesday, 0.250 seconds behind.

Hirate, the 2016 GT500 champion, was driving a 296 GT3 for the first time following the conclusion of his relationship with Nissan at the end of last season, and was third-fastest on Wednesday.

Yamakoshi and Sato both have predominantly single-seater backgrounds, having raced in the Formula Regional European Championship and Japanese Formula 4 respectively last year, although Sato also raced in Porsche Carrera Cup in Japan last year.

However, Yamakoshi — third-fastest on Tuesday — is already confirmed to race in FIA Formula 3 this season, and date clashes would realistically rule him out of a full-time SUPER GT program.

Sportscar365 has contacted CarGuy MKS boss Misato Haga for comment.