Champions Tsuboi, Sekiguchi Split Up in Toyota GT500 Shuffle

Recently-crowned Super GT champions Sho Tsuboi and Yuhi Sekiguchi will drive different cars next season following a driver lineup shuffle from Toyota Gazoo Racing.

Tsuboi will continue in the No. 36 TGR Team TOM’S Toyota GR Supra GT500 that he drove to the title this year, while Sekiguchi has been reassigned to TGR Team SARD.

Super Formula competitor Giuliano Alesi, who drove a Lexus RC F GT3 in Super GT last season, has been signed by Toyota as Tsuboi’s new co-driver for 2022.

Sekiguchi will partner Yuichi Nakayama in the No. 39 SARD machine, which like the No. 36 TOM’S car uses Bridgestone tires.

Nakayama’s 2021 co-driver Heikki Kovalainen is no longer on Toyota’s GT500 roster.

Another change in the Gazoo Racing camp sees Ritomo Miyata move across from TGR Team WedsSport Bandoh to TOM’S where he will compete alongside Sacha Fenestraz.

2017 champion and three-time runner-up Ryo Hirakawa will not be in Super GT next year as he concentrates on programs in the FIA World Endurance Championship, as part of Toyota’s Hypercar squad, and Super Formula.

Sena Sakaguchi, who filled in for Fenestraz at some of the rounds this year, will move into a full-time GT500 driving role next to Miyata’s former co-driver Yuji Kunimoto.

The other two pairings are unchanged, with Kazuya Oshima and Kenta Yamashita retained at Rookie Racing and TGR Team ZENT Cerumo carrying on with Yuji Tachikawa and Hiroaki Ishiura.

All of the Toyota GR Supras will continue with their current tire suppliers. The Bandoh car stays on Yokohamas while the rest of the entries are to run on Bridgestones.

Toyota’s GT300 driver lineups will be announced at a later date.