Yogibo Racing, who first appeared on the racing scene in the 2021 Autobacs SUPER GT Series, are returning to Japan’s premier sports car racing series this season.
This third year team was founded by pioneering team director Misato Haga, who in 2008, became the first woman to manage a championship-winning SUPER GT team when she led MOLA to the 2008 GT300 class titles.
They first appeared in 2021 as part of GT300 team Yogibo Drago Corse, with Haga joining the team founded by Honda racing legend Ryo Michigami. After that first season, Yogibo Racing spun off into an independent team and entered GT World Challenge Asia with a Ferrari 488 GT3. They won two races, and driver Naoki Yokomizo finished third in the overall drivers’ championship.
Now, they have their sights set on an ambitious return to the GT300 class. Yogibo Racing will field the number 27 Honda NSX GT3 Evo22, and they’ll receive technical support from top-tier motorsport firm Servus Japan, best known for their work with ARTA (Autobacs Racing Team Aguri) over the previous 15 years.
Driving the #27 Yogibo NSX are 22-year-old Reimei Ito, and 21-year-old Yugo Iwasawa, two rookie graduates of the FIA F4 Japanese Championship.
Ito finished second the 2019 Mobility Resort Motegi Super FJ championship, then won a scholarship from Dunlop to step up to FIA F4. He won his first race in the series in 2021 and finished third in the season championship standings. In 2022, Ito competed in F4, Super Taikyu, and the Toyota GR86/BRZ Race series.
Iwasawa won the Super FJ title at Motegi ahead of Ito in 2019, and secured his own promotion to FIA F4 in 2020. In 2021, he won a scholarship to drive for Bionic Jack Racing under the guidance of two-time SUPER GT GT300 drivers’ champion, Shinichi Takagi, and in 2022, he recorded his first podiums and finished fifth in the standings.
Also working with Team Director Haga is veteran driver Shogo Mitsuyama, who has been appointed as an Advisor. Mitsuyama last raced in SUPER GT with Yogibo Drago Corse, and was the 2002 GT300 championship runner-up.
A tyre supplier will be announced at a later date.
“Starting this season, we have acquired the right to enter the SUPER GT series and will be able to compete as a new team,” said Haga. “The off-season has been very tough, and I would like to thank everyone involved for their cooperation in making this new entry possible.”
“We have appointed two young drivers who competed in FIA F4 last year. My role is to create an environment that brings out the talent of these young and promising drivers, to grow together, and to manage the team toward victory. As team manager, I will do my best to lead the team to victory by utilizing my experience. I look forward to your continued support for Yogibo Racing this season!”
