Autobayng News Team
Toyota drivers Sho Tsuboi and Ryo Hirakawa will test for Haas at former Formula 1 venue Fuji during the championship’s summer break next month.
The test has been arranged as part of Haas’s technical co-operation with the Japanese manufacturer, which competes in the World Endurance Championship, Japanese Super Formula series and other categories.
Hirakawa will be first to drive the 2023-specification VF-23 on Wednesday 6th August. The Le Mans 24 Hours winner and two-times WEC champion has made four appearances in F1 practice sessions over the past 12 months and is due to do two more for Haas this year.
Tsuboi will make his debut in F1 machinery when he drives the car the following day. The 30-year-old had a stellar junior career in Japan, winning the country’s Formula 4 and Formula 3 titles and becoming part of Toyota’s young driver programme. He is the reigning Super Formula champion and has also won the country’s Super GT championship in three of the last four years.
The two-day session will be open to fans and run in accordance with F1’s Testing of Previous Cars regulations. Haas announced its technical collaboration with Toyota last October, giving the Japanese manufacturer the opportunity to give F1 test runs to its drivers. Toyota engineers will also be present to oversee the test.
Fuji held the first world championship Japanese grands prix in 1976 and 1977. It returned for a two-year stint on the F1 calendar in 2007 and 2008, during Toyota’s time as a manufacturer team.
“The significance of running our car at Toyota’s home circuit – where we first announced our partnership with Toyota Gazoo Racing last October – is quite special,” said Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu.
“To then give Sho Tsuboi his first outing in a Formula 1 car is equally satisfying considering his pedigree as a multiple champion. We’re obviously already familiar with Ryo’s talents and we look forward to his continued feedback into our programme.”
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