With only a few days before SUPER GT teams arrive at Okayama International Circuit for the first race of the 2025 season, PONOS Racing has made a driver change, hiring last year’s GT300 Championship runner-up Takuro Shinohara on Tuesday to replace Ferrari factory driver Lilou Wadoux.
It is understood that Wadoux and PONOS Racing mutually agreed to separate following the final pre-season test at Fuji Speedway. Wadoux, who became the first woman since 1995 to finish on the podium in JGTC/SUPER GT, was set to return to PONOS Racing this season and prioritise her GT300 commitments alongside European Le Mans Series and IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup programmes.
As it stands, apr’s Miki Koyama will be the only woman on the grid in 2025. DSC has reached out to a Ferrari spokesperson for comment.
In her place, Shinohara gets a reprieve after facing the prospect of not being on this year’s SUPER GT grid. The 30-year-old driver, who has three career GT300 wins, is coming off his most successful season. Shinohara and co-driver Naoya Gamou scored back-to-back victories at Fuji Speedway and Sportsland Sugo, which helped propel K2 R&D LEON Racing to second in the championship behind JLOC’s Takashi Kogure and Yuya Motojima.
He was replaced in the offseason by Togo Suganami, who returned to LEON Racing after a three-year absence from the team. With prospects of a SUPER GT return dwindling, Shinohara stayed at Team ZeroOne in the Super Taikyu Series ST-Z class, and also agreed to join Porsche Center Okazaki for this year’s Suzuka 1000km.
Ironically, Shinohara’s win at Sportsland Sugo came after overtaking Wadoux for the class lead in the second half of a rain-affected race.
Feature image © GTA
