Ohta Left “So Surprised” by First Sebring Experience

Photo: Mike Levitt/IMSA

Kaku Ohta admitted that he was left “so surprised” following his first laps of Sebring International Raceway as part of his expanded IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship program with Era Motorsport.

The Honda Racing Corporation-contracted driver took part in the recent IMSA-sanctioned test at the Florida airfield circuit in Era’s No. 18 Oreca 07 Gibson that the Japanese driver will drive for two LMP2 races, including next month’s Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring.

It comes in addition to his previously confirmed GTP program with Meyer Shank Racing that will include the Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen and Battle on the Bricks at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, in a three-race program that began with last month’s Rolex 24 at Daytona.

The 25-year-old was left impressed with the nature of the 3.7-mile circuit, in what was unlike anything else Ohta had previously experienced in his racing career.

“I was so surprised by the track, it’s a crazy track,” he told Sportscar365. “I could feel the bumps all around the track, and the car jumping everywhere, especially at Turn 1 and the last corner.

“I never felt these kinds of bumps in Japan, or even at Daytona. I was really surprised by it.

“It affects the car balance as well, it’s very easy to lose the rear at the apex.

“You have to be careful with the line you choose. You can use one line on one lap, and then the next lap you are just a tire’s width out and it’s completely different with the bumps.

“The first corner is really fast with the LMP2, you are almost just lifting, and always feel like you are losing the rear.

Ohta added: “The other challenge is the visibility at night. I did the Fuji 24 Hours and Rolex 24, and Daytona was a bit darker than Fuji, but it was still easy enough to see the apex and the other cars.

“But at Sebring, I couldn’t even see the car to my inside or outside. It’s like ‘oh my God, where am I?’

“It took me ten or 15 laps to get used to it. I was so surprised by that too.

“But I am the Gold-ranked driver in the car, so I have to fight the other Gold [and Platinum]-rated drivers in the final two hours, but it’s so hard to recognize which is the car coming up behind you.

“I’m a little bit nervous about that, but overall I love the track.”

Ohta will team up with David Heinemeier Hansson and Bronze-rated Tobias Lutke for Sebring, and is expected to pair up with Lutke for the Road America round as well in August.

Reflecting back on his run in the No. 93 Meyer Shank Racing Acura ARX-06 at Daytona, Ohta said the outcome, punctuated by mechanical issues, was “so disappointing.”

“Before Daytona I spent a lot of time in America doing simulator work and testing, learning all about the specific IMSA regulations, like the FCY, I had to remember everything,” he said.

“To be honest, the race felt really long after we had the trouble. We had to change the entire gearbox and we lost nearly 40 laps.

“It meant there was no more pressure and I could get the experience, which was at least positive.”

Jamie Klein contributed to this report

John Dagys

John Dagys is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Sportscar365. Dagys spent eight years as a motorsports correspondent for FOXSports.com and SPEED Channel and has contributed to numerous other motorsports publications worldwide. Contact John