Kakunoshin Ohta to Participate in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship

Kakunoshin Ohta, Honda driver and graduate of the Honda Formula Dream Project (HFDP), will compete in the IMSA^*1 WeatherTech SportsCar Championship (IMSA) in the premier GTP class in 2025.

Ohta will participate as fourth driver for the Acura Meyer Shank Racing team’s No. 93 car to compete in IMSA, the premier sports car racing series in North America. He will be driving the Acura ARX-06, an LMDh^*2 car developed and supplied by Honda Racing Corporation USA (HRC US), which is responsible for Honda’s motorsports activities in North America. Ohta will compete in a total of three races, including the 24 Hours of Daytona.

In addition, HRC US engineers will join the team as race engineers for the No. 93 car starting in the 2025 season, with HRC US taking on a larger role in the team and aiming to train engineers and advance technology through racing.

Ohta gained a scholarship at the Suzuka Circuit Racing School (now Honda Racing School Suzuka^*3 <HRS>) in 2018, and after graduating from the Honda Formula Dream Project (HFDP), a Honda driver development program, began his racing career in 2023, in Japan’s top categories, Super Formula^*4 and the SUPER GT^*5 GT500 class.

Regarding his entry into IMSA, Ohta began his training using a driving simulator at the HRC US facility in Indianapolis in October 2024, and in November, he drove the Acura ARX-06 at the official IMSA test held at the Daytona International Speedway, gaining real-life experience. In recognition of his performance in Japanese races and on the track, he had been selected to participate in the 2025 season.

Honda Racing Corporation (HRC), which is responsible for Honda’s motorsports activities, aims to nurture racing drivers who aspire to win in the world’s top categories, and will continue to support young aspiring drivers to challenge the world, through positioning Japan’s top categories, such as Super Formula and SUPER GT, as a path to world-class competition.

^{*1 IMSA: International Motor Sports Association
*2 LMDh: Le Mans Daytona h / Sports prototype category that competes in the GTP class
*3 Racing driver / rider development school operated by Honda Mobilityland Corporation and Honda Racing Corporation
*4 Organized and operated by Japan Race Promotion (JRP) Inc.
*5 Organized and operated by GTA Co.,Ltd}

■Comment of Kakunoshin Ohta

“I am very happy that my challenge to IMSA has been officially decided. 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.”

■Comment of Koji Watanabe, Honda Racing Corporation (HRC) President

“HRC’s desire to see Japanese drivers compete on the world stage matched Ohta’s strong desire to challenge the world, resulting in his entry into the IMSA. We hope that Ohta will do his best as a representative of Japan. HRC will continue to support his challenge, and abundant talents and their passion to go global.”

■Comment of Takuma Sato, HRC Executive Advisor

“We are delighted that HRS graduate Ohta is taking on the challenge of IMSA, as North American races such as IMSA and IndyCar are truly a global challenge, attracting top-class competitors from all over the world. Ohta’s success in Super Formula and SUPER GT proves that he has the ability to compete on a global level. We sincerely hope that he will take advantage of this opportunity to make further progress. We also hope that his challenge will give hope to many young drivers and help pave the way for them to reach the world stage, and we would like to contribute to the creating such an environment.”

■Kakunoshin Ohta Highlights

Release: https://global.honda/en/topics/2024/ce_2024-12-11eng.html