Rosenqvist gets 2018 Super GT drive with Lexus

Rosenqvist was strongly tipped to join Japan’s premier sportscar series, and reportedly tested for Lexus at Fuji last month.

The Swede will drive for Lexus-affiliated squad Team LeMans, the same outfit for which he raced in Super Formula last year.

He takes the place vacated by Italian Andrea Caldarelli, who announced his decision to leave the Super GT series after six seasons and three victories earlier this month.

The announcement confirms that Rosenqvist will no longer race in Super Formula, with Formula E and Super GT becoming the two primary programmes for the 2015 European F3 champion.

Toyota, however, has yet to reveal Rosenqvist’s Super Formula replacement, potentially opening up an opportunity for F1 outcast Pascal Wehrlein.

The German driver has revealed that he considered the possibility of driving in Super Formula and remains open to racing in the series alongside his DTM commitments.

European F3 frontrunner Maximilian Gunther and Renault junior Oliver Rowland have also been linked to one of the two remaining seats on the 2018 Super Formula grid.

Elsewhere, Kamui Kobayashi will combine his WEC and Super Formula duties with a full-season drive in Super GT.

The former F1 driver will race alongside 2016 champion Heikki Kovalainen at Lexus Team Sard.

Meanwhile, James Rossiter will return to Super Formula as a replacement for Andre Lotterer, with his decision to exit Super GT setting off a chain reaction.

His place at TOM’S will be taken over by Yuhi Sekiguchi, who moves over from Bandoh. The 2011 Japanese F3 champion, in turn, will be replaced by GT300 graduate Kenta Yamashita.

Finally, Nissan GT Academy driver Jann Mardenborough has been replaced by Ryo Hirakawa at Team Impul in Toyota’s Super Formula line-up.

Lexus Super GT line-up: