What to look forward to in SUPER GT and Super Formula 2023

The new Dallara SF23 is being introduced in Super Formula. The series is confident that the reduction in downforce and dirty air should translate into more exciting racing. There is one pre-season test scheduled in early March at Suzuka before the season gets underway at Fuji in April. Defending champion Tomoki Nojiri and Team Mugen will have their work cut out to maintain the level of dominance they enjoyed in the final two seasons of the SF19 era.

Liam Lawson is joining Nojiri at Mugen after two seasons of FIA F2. He is aiming to use this season as a springboard to a Formula 1 seat in 2024. Raoul Hyman and Kakunoshin Ota are his two confirmed opponents for Rookie of the Year honours. Oata impressed in the Suzuka test last month for Dandelion Racing. Hymen had a tougher time at B-Max Racing but is determined to make the most of his chance.

Sasahara will drive for Toyota in 2023. He was dropped by Honda for 2021 and given an eleventh-hour reprieve last year. Sasahar tested both Super Formula and Super GT cars this winter with TOM’S.

Honda has a two-car team in Super GT’s GT500 class for the first time since 2006. ARTA and Mugen will have a second car. Mugens will take care of both Aguri Suzuki”s NSX-GTs entered by Agursu. Honda has split up its driver line-ups and paired Toshiki Oyu and Hiroki Otsu with Nojiri and Fukuzumi.

Sho Tsuboi and Ritomo Miyata will drive for Toyota in the #36 car. The team has been reshuffling its driver line-ups since Sacha Fenestraz's departure.

Impul won the Nissan GT500 title last year. It was the first crown in 27 years for the team made famous by Japanese racing legend Kazuyoshi Hoshino and the iconic blue Calsonic livery. Hshino's son Kazuki won a debate on whether to keep the traditional #12 plate or take up the right to use #1.

Ren Sato will join Nakajima Racing in 2023. Ren Oyu left the team after two seasons of working with Naoki Yamamoto. Satos will work with engineer Yuki Katoh. Yoki Katah guided Alex Palou to third place in 2019.

B-Max Racing will have a second car for the first time since 2020. Matsushita has been the team's sole driver for last two seasons. Hyman is a rookie but has the speed and experience to push Matsusushiti forward.

Apr is preparing to unveil a new GTA-GT300 version of the Lexus LC500 for the Super GT class. It will be unveiled at the Tokyo Auto Salon in mid-January. It is set to bring back the LC 500 to the class three years after it was replaced as the Toyota GT500 base model by the GR Supra.

Teppei Natori is likely to be back on the grid after a year away. He had an encouraging rookie season at Honda squad Team UpGarage in 2021. Nateri has strengthened his ties with Nissan and was called up to the company's GT500 audition test at Fuji last month.