Cozzolino Steps Down From PONOS Ferrari Drive

Kei Cozzolino has parted ways with the PONOS Racing SUPER GT team.

As of Friday, the Italian-Japanese veteran’s name was no longer listed on PONOS’ official website and social media pages in relation to its twin efforts in SUPER GT’s GT300 class and the SRO Japan Cup with Ferrari machinery.

In SUPER GT, his place aboard the No. 45 Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo alongside Takuro Shinohara is set to be taken by Shintaro Kawabata for the remainder of the season.

There was no explanation of the switch from the team, which did not make any official comminication beyond sharing Kawabata’s social media posts announcing his arrival.

Cozzolino had been part of the PONOS GT300 project since its inception in 2024, scoring a best finish so far of second that year at Sportsland Sugo alongside Lilou Wadoux.

The 38-year-old’s sudden departure follows a troubled start to the team’s 2026 campaign, with no points scored in the first two races of the year.

Kawabata, meanwhile, returns to regular GT300 duties for the first time since 2021.

That year, Kawabata and Shinohara drove together for the Hitotsuyama Racing squad at the wheel of an Audi R8 LMS Evo, scoring a win together at Motegi.

Kawabata is familiar with current Ferrari GT3 machinery from Japan Cup, winning last year’s title aboard a Hitotsuyama-run 296 together with Akihiro Tsuzuki.

Cozzolino’s place in PONOS’ Japan Cup effort has been taken by gentleman driver Yusuke Yamasaki, who drives alongside team owner Yorikatsu Tsujiko.

The change has resulted in the car moving from the Pro-Am to the Am class.

In addition to SUPER GT and Japan Cup, Cozzolino was a key pillar of PONOS’ foray into the LMP2 class of the Asian Le Mans Series last winter.

Cozzolino has been approached by Sportscar365 for comment.