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Japanese Racer Kakunoshin Ohta Set to Test with Meyer Shank This Week
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Highlights
- Kakunoshin Ohta to test for Meyer Shank Racing on October 1
- Test scheduled at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, first INDYCAR run
- Ohta holds three wins and four podiums in Super Formula Championship
- He competed in IMSA endurance races with Acura MSR this season
- Ohta’s IMSA best finish: fifth at TireRack.com Battle on the Bricks
- Meyer Shank Racing aims to bridge IMSA and INDYCAR driver development
Kakunoshin Ohta will make his first NTT INDYCAR SERIES appearance in a test with Meyer Shank Racing on Wednesday, October 1, at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.
The 26-year-old races in Japan’s Super Formula and currently sits third in the standings after four podiums, including three wins, underscoring pace and consistency in high-downforce machinery.
Ohta also runs IMSA endurance events with Acura MSR, sharing the No. 93 Acura ARX-06 in three endurance rounds, with three top-10s and a best of fifth at Indianapolis.
That result comes from the TireRack.com Battle on the Bricks, held September 21 on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course, strengthening his case as a dependable endurance option.
Ohta’s first INDYCAR test takes place October 1 at Mid-Ohio.
MSR’s dual footprint in IMSA and INDYCAR provides a pathway, using tests to gauge adaptability across types of motorsports, communication quality, and tyre management within Honda and Acura frameworks.
Team co-owner Mike Shank highlights the value of cross-program learning, noting the organisation can deploy resources across series to accelerate development and benchmark potential INDYCAR candidates.
For Ohta, the objective is straightforward: sample the car, understand tyre characteristics, and compare braking and aero behaviour with Super Formula and GTP machinery.
Three wins and four podiums place Ohta third in Super Formula.
Mid-Ohio’s mix of medium-speed corners and surface evolution offers a representative benchmark and is regarded among the best racing tracks for evaluating balance shifts, fuel save techniques, and out-lap execution.
Best IMSA finish this year: fifth at Indianapolis’ Battle on the Bricks.
That environment also tests communication discipline, from run-plan clarity to feedback precision, which is central to MSR’s evaluation process.
Strategically, the test aligns with broader auto racing industry trends, where teams leverage multi-series programs to widen talent pipelines and de-risk future driver selections.
MSR uses parallel IMSA and INDYCAR programs to accelerate driver development.
If the day proceeds smoothly, Ohta positions himself for potential future outings, whether further tests or race opportunities, as MSR assesses options for upcoming campaigns.
Visual Summary
Kakunoshin Ohta
makes his INDYCAR test debut at Mid-Ohio
🏆
3 Wins
4 Podiums
3 Wins
4 Podiums
Super Formula 2024
(3rd in championship)
(3rd in championship)
⏱️
3 Top-10s
3 Top-10s
IMSA Endurance
5th at Indy (Acura MSR)
5th at Indy (Acura MSR)
From Japan 🇯🇵
to Mid-Ohio 🇺🇸
to Mid-Ohio 🇺🇸
“I can’t wait to get behind the wheel of an INDYCAR.
Every lap will be a new experience for me.”
Every lap will be a new experience for me.”
– Kakunoshin Ohta
What’s Next?
Ohta’s debut INDYCAR test at Mid-Ohio could open the door to an American racing future — and it’s a bold move by Meyer Shank to unite IMSA & INDYCAR talent.
Ohta’s debut INDYCAR test at Mid-Ohio could open the door to an American racing future — and it’s a bold move by Meyer Shank to unite IMSA & INDYCAR talent.
Brian Thompson focuses on IndyCar Series news, from qualifying speeds at Indianapolis Motor Speedway to street-course race strategy. He delivers concise feature stories and technical breakdowns on chassis setups, tire choices, and championship standings for open-wheel enthusiasts.
