Super Formula
Yamashita set to miss Super Formula pre-season testing
Toyota’s Kenta Yamashita is set to miss next week’s sole Super Formula pre-season test as he continues his recovery from injuries sustained in SUPER GT testing last month.
Jamie Klein
Edited: Mar 2, 2023, 2:13 AM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Yamashita was hospitalised after suffering a major crash at the wheel of Rookie Racing’s Toyota GR Supra at Suzuka’s 130R corner on the opening day of private SUPER GT manufacturer testing in late January.
He was released from hospital the following day, but the damage to the car was severe enough to prevent Rookie from participating in February’s Okayama test.
Yamashita had been hoping to recover in time to participate in this week’s final group manufacturer SUPER GT test at Suzuka, as well as the two days of Super Formula running on March 6-7 that follow this weekend’s Fan Thanks Day event at the same track.
However, it’s understood that Yamashita will instead sit out both Suzuka tests, and is also likely to miss the opening official SUPER GT test at Okayama on March 11-12.
The 27-year-old is now targeting a return to the cockpit in time for the final SUPER GT test of the winter at Fuji Speedway on March 25-26.
Kondo Racing has not yet announced a replacement for Yamashita for the Suzuka Super Formula test, but Ukyo Sasahara appears to be the most likely candidate to step in.
Two-time race winner Sasahara is without a full-time drive in Super Formula this year after losing out on a place at TOM'S to Giuliano Alesi following his off-season switch from Honda to Toyota.
Read Also:
Yamashita’s SUPER GT team-mate Kazuya Oshima meanwhile is expected to pilot the #14 Rookie Toyota solo for both the Suzuka and Okayama tests.
Missing the Suzuka test comes as a major blow to Yamashita’s hopes of a return to form in Super Formula, as the two days of running mark the only chance for drivers to familiarise themselves with the upgraded SF23 package before the first round at Fuji in April.
Exact details of the Japanese driver’s injuries remain unclear, but he posted an image of himself undergoing rehabilitation on his Twitter account last week.
UPDATE: Rookie Racing has confirmed that Yamashita will sit out next week's official Okayama SUPER GT test, as well as the Fan Thanks Day event that follows this week's Suzuka test.
The team was in action at Suzuka on Wednesday with Oshima at the wheel for the #14 car's first run since Yamashita's accident, joined on track by the #19 Racing Project Bandoh Toyota and Honda's #99 development car.
The entire GT500 field, with the exception of the two NISMO Nissans that had their own private test at Okayama this week, are set to take part in the two-day Suzuka test that begins on Thursday.
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Sasahara becomes Super Formula development driver for Toyota test car
Next article Sasahara replaces injured Yamashita for Super Formula test
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Jamie Klein
Super Formula Fuji: Ayumu Iwasa wins as Kakunoshin Ohta misses chance to seal title
Super Formula
Super Formula
Fuji II
1 mo
Super Formula Fuji: Ayumu Iwasa wins as Kakunoshin Ohta misses chance to seal title
Super Formula Fuji: Igor Fraga wins while Kakunoshin Ohta closes on title
Super Formula
Super Formula
Fuji II
1 mo
Super Formula Fuji: Igor Fraga wins while Kakunoshin Ohta closes on title
More from
Kenta Yamashita
How Rookie lost its status as Toyota's top SUPER GT team
Super GT
Super GT Nov 22, 2023
How Rookie lost its status as Toyota's top SUPER GT team
Yamashita alarmed by lack of Kondo Racing progress
Super Formula
Super Formula
Fuji II
Jul 20, 2023
Yamashita alarmed by lack of Kondo Racing progress
Yamashita in tears after first Super Formula podium since 2020
Super Formula
Super Formula
Fuji
Apr 9, 2023
Yamashita in tears after first Super Formula podium since 2020
More from
Kondo Racing
‘The HANS saved my neck’ – Luke Browning on airborne Suzuka crash
Super Formula
Super Formula
Suzuka Testing
8 mo
‘The HANS saved my neck’ – Luke Browning on airborne Suzuka crash
F2 race winner Roman Stanek joins expanded Kondo Super Formula team
Super Formula
Super Formula
Motegi
8 mo
F2 race winner Roman Stanek joins expanded Kondo Super Formula team
Williams F1 junior O’Sullivan lands 2025 Super Formula seat with Kondo
Super Formula
Super Formula Dec 25, 2024
Williams F1 junior O’Sullivan lands 2025 Super Formula seat with Kondo
Latest news
Retaining Liam Lawson isn't enough – Red Bull must stop treating him like a failure
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1 5 h
Retaining Liam Lawson isn't enough – Red Bull must stop treating him like a failure
Yamaha may not be competitive immediately in MotoGP's 850cc era, says Pramac
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Qatar GP
8 h
Yamaha may not be competitive immediately in MotoGP's 850cc era, says Pramac
You Ask The Questions: Jack Miller
MotoGP
Qatar GP
You Ask The Questions: Jack Miller
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe