Each top-class debutant Kimura within the #100 Group Kunimitsu Honda and Ota within the #64 Nakajima Racing NSX-GT had been singled out for reward by Saiki in his post-race press convention following the penultimate spherical of the season.
Kimura was drafted in to affix the Kunimitsu squad alongside Tadasuke Makino for Autopolis and the season finale at Motegi after Naoki Yamamoto was sidelined for the ultimate two races of 2023 within the wake of his big accident at Sugo final month.
Whereas Kimura struggled in qualifying, the Russian-Japanese was capable of grasp on to ninth all through a mammoth 45-lap stint, holding off the three-stopping NISMO Nissan pushed within the closing phases by Tsugio Matsuda all the way in which to the end.
“Within the latter half of his stint, he was caught by Tsugio, however he was operating laptimes that had been much like the main group,” mentioned Saiki of Kimura.
“I’m positive that was nice observe and expertise for him. On prime of that, he managed to defend from Tsugio’s assaults all the way in which to the end, so I believe he can have grown lots because of that have.
“It was an awesome drive and one which he can construct upon for the final race of the season and subsequent yr.”
Though the Nakajima automotive of Ota and Izawa failed to attain in eleventh place, Saiki mentioned he was impressed by Ota’s tempo within the closing phases.
“The #64 automotive was operating related lap instances to the highest three in the direction of the top, so I ponder if Dunlop has seen some mild on the finish of the tunnel,” famous Saiki.
“Ota was actually constant for the ultimate 25 or 30 laps. It feels just like the younger drivers are actually coming alongside leaps and bounds.”
Writer’s view: Kimura and Ota well-placed for 2024
Because the SUPER GT foolish season hots up, Honda’s younger weapons appear to be they may very well be in line for promotions ought to the marque carry out one other GT500 reshuffle.
Ota has hit kind on the proper time, each in SUPER GT and Tremendous Formulation, and there have been options that he may very well be headed for a seat in one of many Bridgestone-shod vehicles after serving a one-year apprenticeship on Dunlops.
Such a transfer wouldn’t be unprecedented: Makino was plucked from Nakajima Racing after just one full season of GT500s when a emptiness at Group Kunimitsu arose in 2020 following the departure of Jenson Button from the sequence after solely two seasons.
In the meantime, Kimura’s sudden alternative to deputise for Yamamoto has instantly thrust his identify into the combination of Honda GT500 candidates for 2024.
Whereas the Russian-Japanese driver prompt at Autopolis that his destiny is dependent upon how he performs within the ultimate spherical of his Tremendous Formulation Lights marketing campaign subsequent month, it’s simple to think about him getting a berth someplace amid persistent paddock rumours that a number of of the present Honda GT500 contingent might not be round subsequent yr.
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