Ohta Lands Three-Race IMSA GTP Program, Exits SUPER GT

Kakunoshin Ohta will relinquish his Honda SUPER GT drive next year as he embarks on a three-race IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship schedule with the Japanese manufacturer’s support, including the Rolex 24 at Daytona.

Announced on Wednesday in a special Honda presentation in Tokyo, Ohta will take on a total of three events in the WeatherTech Championship.

His campaign will start with the Rolex 24, where he will pilot the No. 93 Meyer Shank Racing Acura ARX-06 alongside full-season drivers Renger van der Zande and Nick Yelloly, as well as endurance driver Alex Palou.

He will then join van der Zande and Yelloly for the Sahlens Six Hours of The Glen in June and the Battle on the Bricks at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in September.

The news follows Ohta’s participation in last month’s IMSA-sanctioned test at Daytona International Speedway, which was widely considered to be a precursor to a race drive aboard one of MSR’s two Acura LMDhs for at least the Rolex 24.

“I am very happy that my challenge to IMSA has been officially decided,” said Ohta. “I will live up to everyone’s expectations and continue to grow, not only in terms of results, but also for further advancement.

“I am looking forward to teaming up with the world’s top drivers and competing in the top category. I look forward to your support.”

Due to multiple clashes between the SUPER GT calendar and his new IMSA duties, Ohta will exit Honda team Real Racing after just a single season.

His place alongside Koudai Tsukakoshi aboard Real’s No. 17 Honda Civic Type-R GT will be taken by Shun Koide, who steps up from the GT300 class after two seasons driving the Honda NSX GT3 Evo22 for Team UpGarage.

Ohta and Tsukakoshi finished 10th in this year’s SUPER GT standings, rounding off their campaign with a second-place finish in last weekend’s Suzuka finale.

The rest of Honda’s SUPER GT roster sees no change: Naoki Yamamoto and Tadasuke Makino stay at Team Kunimitsu, while ARTA keeps Tomoki Nojiri, Nobuharu Matsushita, Hiroki Otsu and Ren Sato, with exact pairings across its two cars to be confirmed later.

Nakajima Racing meanwhile retains Takuya Izawa and Riki Okusa for a second season.

While tire manufacturers for each car were not announced, it is expected that Bridgestone will continue to supply Team Kunimitsu, ARTA and Real Racing, with Dunlop equipping Nakajima Racing, as per 2024.