The 2025 AUTOBACS SUPER GT season will begin in less than one month. The other day, this year’s first SUPER GT Official Tests were held at the Okayama International Circuit, where the opening round of the season will be held (April 12th, 13th), and at the tests we interviewed seven drivers who are the focus of particular attention in the GT500 class. Here we introduce their comments, as they look forward to the opening round. The seventh driver we interviewed was Kazuto Kotaka who, based on his record as a leading performer in the GT300 class in recent years, has now been selected as the TOYOTA Gazoo Racing GT500 class Reserve Driver to be on call for all rounds throughout this season.
Kazuto Kotaka TOYOTA Gazoo Racing GT500 Reserve Driver
−−For 2025 you have been given a new role, can you tell us how you feel having now experienced the Official Tests at Okayama? Due to factors such as the weather, I ended up not driving in the Okayama Tests. The original plan was that if the track surface was dry for all the tests and if the （No. 19 WedsSport ADVAN GR Supra） team’s tests went according to plan, then I would drive if there was any time left over. Basically, at the tests this time I was just taken along (by the team) in a reserve role. This year marked the start of a single reserve driver role for the whole of TGR (TOYOTA Gazoo Racing), and in fact I was given a chance to do some driving a few times in the GT500 GR Supra at the tests in Sepang and in the makers (manufacturers) tests held the other day at Fuji Speedway. −−What was your impression of the TOYOTA GR Supra GT500, and your reaction to it? Since I have driven in Super Formula, I found there was no problem for me regarding its speed, and I was able to get used to it right away. But when I drove it as a hako (touring car), I admit that I felt it was indeed too fast. The downforce is tremendous, and so is the grip. When you think of it in terms of an extension of the GT300 cars, I find there is something a bit different about it. Since the LC500h (GT300 class car No. 31) I drove last year had an overall weight of almost 1400 kilograms (*), the sharpness and lightness and the feeling of the downforce (with the GR Supra) are completely different. Because the LC is equipped with a hybrid system, that makes it the heaviest of all the GT300 class cars. When I first debuted as a regular driver with the Muta MC86 (2020 model No. 6 ADVICS muta MC86), I think its overall weight was about 1100 kg, which means an increase of more than 200 kg. So, with the 1400 kg chassis and the difference in downforce, as well as the difference in weight and the power output of the engine also have to be considered. In that sense, you can’t really think of it in the same way as a hako (touring car) type machine. *With the GT300 class No. 31 apr LC500h GT, the addition of the hybrid system and the resulting performance adjustment brought the overall weight to 1378 kg by the final round of the series. −−Now will you tell us about your expectations for this season as a reserve driver for TGR? This season I may be called on to drive if one of the regular drivers has to withdraw, and I also might have the opportunity to participate as an extra driver in one of the longer races. I also think that I will be taken along as reserve driver for the WedsSport (car No. 19) for the opening round. However, I don’t know at this point if I will be called on to drive in the race (*). But, with the opening round, as with all the rounds after that, if I am called on to replace one of the regular drivers, whenever that may happen, in order to be able to contribute to whichever team that may involve and whenever, I will make sure to be well prepared for each round. *Because two drivers are registered for the opening round.
