Oliver Rasmussen will miss the first official Autobacs SUPER GT Series pre-season test at Okayama this week, and almost certainly the first race of the 2025 season, after injuries sustained in a Super Formula accident last week.
His co-drivers of the #31 apr Lexus LC500h GT300, Miki Koyama and Yuki Nemoto, will handle testing duties on Saturday and Sunday.
Rasmussen, who has signed a contract with Toyota Gazoo Racing this winter, crashed during the opening practice session of Super Formula’s race meeting at Suzuka. He hit the tyre barriers head-on at the exit of Degner Curve II, and sustained a broken thoracic vertebra.
“I have, since then, been well supported by Toyota Gazoo Racing who has helped me get the best conditions to fix my injury and start rehabilitation as fast as possible to get back on track,” Rasmussen wrote on his social media channels today.
“It is frustrating to start the season this way but I am delighted about the help and messages I have received over the weekend to stay strong and get through this hard period.”
No timetable for Rasmussen’s return to racing has been set, though his injury usually takes between two to three months of recovery.
Two other drivers have withdrawn from the SUPER GT Okayama test: Hisashi Wada at R’Qs Motor Sports will not run in his #22 Mercedes-AMG GT3, and F4 graduate Tosei Moriyama’s first test in the #62 HELM Nissan GT-R NISMO GT3 has been called off.
DSC’s coverage of the Okayama test may be limited due to all hands being on the 12 Hours of Sebring, however, the official SUPER GT YouTube Channel will have a live stream of timing and scoring available to follow.
Feature image © JRP
