Tomibayashi Hails “Amazing” Pacific M4 After Strong Start

Pacific Racing’s Yusuke Tomibayashi has described the team’s new BMW M4 GTE EVO as “amazing” after making a strong start in last week’s official Okayama pre-season test.

The Michelin-shod Pacific BMW was making its very first outing in the two-day test, having not taken part in any private testing, but impressed out of the box as Tomibayashi topped Friday afternoon’s second session with a best lap of 1:25.798.

It proved enough for tenth overall across both days out of the 28 cars present, just under nine tenths slower than the pace-setting LM Corsa Lexus LC500 GT.

While not wishing to get carried away by the team’s performance, Tomibayashi said he was encouraged by how the BMW — understood to be a used chassis, but not the same one that raced with Team Studie in 2024 — performed in its first run.

“The team did a great job getting the car ready for the test despite the lack of time, and even though we had some concerns, we didn’t end up having any [reliability] issues and the car seems to be in good shape,” Tomibayashi told Sportscar365.

“Of course, even setting the top time [in Session 2], we don’t know what everyone else is doing, even what fuel they are running with, so I don’t want to be overly optimistic.

“But for now, my first impression of the car itself and of the Michelin tire is very good.”

Comparing the M4 to the Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo that he drove for Pacific for the last two seasons, Tomibayashi added: “The AMG was a really good car, I liked it a lot personally, but I feel the BMW is strong in some different aspects.

“The car itself is much newer, so there are things like having a hand clutch, and even just the fact that the AMG was normally aspirated and this car is a turbo.

“So each car has its own strengths. I wouldn’t say that one is necessarily better than the other, but the BMW is amazing in its own way. It’s easy to drive, it’s quiet, and it’s cool inside the cockpit. So it has many really good qualities.”

Last year, Pacific’s Mercedes-AMG started the year strongly with a fifth place at Okayama but didn’t breach the top ten again for the remainder of the season.

Asked about his goals this year with the BMW, Tomibayashi pointed to the fact that Michelin is only supplying one other car in the GT300 class, the Shade Racing Lexus RC F GT3, as a potential ace up the team’s sleeve as it targets higher finishes.

“Of course we are hoping for a chance to win,” said Tomibayashi. “Michelin doesn’t supply many teams, so that could be an advantage for us.

“When the conditions suit us perfectly, I’m convinced we’ll be able to fight for the top positions. Michelin has been putting in a lot of effort with tire development, so if we can fight for a win, that would be the ideal scenario.

“At the minimum I’d like to be on the podium at least once this year, to score points in every race and then fight for the top positions when the chance allows.”

Tomibayashi, 29, is going into his fifth season in SUPER GT, having spent two years at Team Mach in 2022-23 aboard the team’s Toyota 86 Mother Chassis before pairing up with veteran Ryohei Sakaguchi for the past two seasons at Pacific.

With Sakaguchi stepping down from driving duties in favor of a sporting director role this year, Tomibayashi becomes the team’s lead driver alongside youngster Yuta Fujiwara, who raced the Pacific Mercedes-AMG in the three-hour races at Fuji and Autopolis last year before replacing Sakaguchi for the season finale at Motegi.

“Because I still have Sakaguchi-san here, I can still be a little at ease and helps me focus on trying to drive as quickly as possible,” said Tomibayashi. “I also want to try and help Fujiwara to develop as a driver to raise the overall level of the team.

“As the A-driver, it’s up to me to lead the team, but I’ll also be trying to raise our level. So it feels a little different from what I have been doing up to now.”