Miyata Keen for More Chances in WEC After Debut Podium

Ritomo Miyata is hoping to get more chances to drive in the FIA World Endurance Championship after his late call-up from Kessel Racing at Fuji resulted in a debut podium.

The 24-year-old Super GT and Super Formula race winner is on the Toyota Gazoo Racing WEC Challenge mentorship program and has spoken of a desire to compete in Europe.

After being drafted in to replace Ferrari factory driver Daniel Serra who became unavailable for family reasons, Miyata brought the No. 57 Ferrari 488 GTE Evo into the GTE-Am top three by overtaking Iron Dames driver Rahel Frey on the brakes into Turn 1.

A 10-second penalty for Corvette Racing then handed the Kessel lineup of Miyata, Takeshi Kimura and Scott Huffaker second, before they were moved back to third for a 10-second penalty that Miyata conceded for speeding into a Full Course Yellow period.

Nonetheless, the Super Formula points leader felt satisfied with his performance considering the short-notice nature of the drive, which had fortuitous timing considering his aspirations of appearing in a Europe-based series next year.

“I don’t know what I can drive next season, but I hope all the WEC teams know my name,” Miyata told Sportscar365.

“I want to get more chances in World Endurance. I want to say thank you so much to Toyota Gazoo Racing because [Kessel is] a Ferrari team, but TGR gave me support.”

Miyata started preparing for Fuji on the Wednesday before the race, once he received confirmation that he would be standing in for Serra.

Kessel’s Bronze-rated driver Kimura orchestrated the substitution by asking Toyota for its blessing to get Miyata on board. It’s understood that this was swiftly approved by multiple layers of management including Toyota Motor Corporation president Koji Sato.

“[It was] decided that I will drive this weekend on the Wednesday,” said Miyata. “But I had a Super GT test at Motegi on Tuesday and Wednesday.

“After driving, I checked the Ferrari manual, so I was very busy this week. It’s the first time I drive with Ferrari and Michelin and in the WEC. Everything was for the first time.

“It was also the team and Scott’s first time driving the [GTE] Ferrari at Fuji. I knew the Fuji track, but they knew the car’s performance. So they told me how to drive and how to use the tire, and I told them how to drive at Fuji. It’s all for one, and one for all.

“We always did things step-by-step. Finally, we got a podium, so I’m really happy.”

Miyata leaned on his co-drivers to get acquainted with the Ferrari during his first race outing aboard one of the Italian manufacturer’s cars.

Before joining Toyota’s GT500 lineup in 2020, he raced for two Super GT seasons in the GT300 class behind the wheel of a Lexus RC F GT3 but had never driven a GTE.

“I asked my co-drivers and all of them told me that the Ferrari has downforce, and that you should use the downforce,” said Miyata.

“So I tried to feel it, and I used it a lot. I kept [doing] consistent laps. The Ferrari has less downforce than GT500. But I felt it was very similar.

“The GTEs don’t have ABS but in Japan, most ABS cars brake with carbon brakes but the Ferrari does not. So I had a very different braking feel.

“That was the difficult thing for me, but I [took it] step by step.”

Following his impromptu WEC debut, Miyata’s focus will switch back to his pursuit of a potential championship double in Super Formula and Super GT.

He has two races to defend an eight-point lead over Liam Lawson in Super Formula and is four points off the top spot in GT500 alongside his Toyota co-driver Sho Tsuboi with three rounds to go.