Maezawa Racing will make its return to SRO Motorsports Group Asia competition next weekend at Okayama International Circuit, the site of the Fanatec Japan Cup season finale on 23-25 August.
Significantly, Yusaku Maezawa – the Japanese entrepreneur and billionaire, famous for spending 12 days aboard the International Space Station in 2021 – will make his GT3 competition debut, partnered by 2022 GT World Challenge Asia Silver class Champion Naoki Yokomizo in the #555 Ferrari 488 GT3.
Maezawa made his competitive racing debut earlier this year, running in Ferrari Challenge Japan. He bounced back from a frightening crash at Sportsland Sugo to win the Coppa Shell Am class at Suzuka just a few short weeks later – his second class win of the year, following his maiden victory at Fuji Speedway in May.
Maezawa has a total of four podiums and currently sits third in the Coppa Shell Am points standings – though he will stand down from Ferrari Challenge in order to compete in Japan Cup.
His driving coach, Yokomizo, has won in each of SRO Asia’s previous two visits to Okayama – in 2022 with Yogibo Racing, and in 2023 for Maezawa Racing (then joined by Piti Bhirombhakdi). He previously won the 2012 SUPER GT GT300 Championship and 2013 Asian Le Mans Series GT Championship, and made his 24 Hours of Le Mans debut last year.
While the white and red #555 Ferrari and its drivers won’t be eligible to score any points as a late entry, Maezawa and Yokomizo shouldn’t be ruled out of contention for victory in either Japan Cup race.
Feature image © Maezawa Racing
