K2 R&D LEON Racing (K2 R&D Co. Ltd.) have confirmed their entry into the 2022 Autobacs Super GT Series, with a refreshed driver lineup for their #65 LEON Pyramid Mercedes-AMG GT3.
27-year-old Takuro Shinohara will join 2018 GT300 Drivers’ Champion and ace driver Naoya Gamou, and the team will continue to be managed by second-generation team director, Haruki Kurosawa. Shinohara recently completed his first full Super GT campaign with Audi Team Hitotsuyama, and won his first race at Mobility Resort Motegi in November.
“I am very grateful to be able to join K2 R&D LEON Racing in 2022,” said Shinohara. “I will learn a lot from Director Kurosawa and Gamou, and aim to become the series champion. I’m really happy, and looking forward to be a part of this great team.”
The undisputed 2020 TCR Japan Series champion will join forces with 32-year-old Gamou, a perennial GT300 front runner who has won five races and amassed 43 top-ten finishes since joining the team at the end of the 2014 season.
The team will also retain Bridgestone as their tyre partner for 2022, continuing a partnership that began in 2016.
“In 2021, we had good results at the beginning and the end, but we continued to struggle in the middle of the year,” said director Kurosawa. “In 2022, we want to be strong even in the middle of the season and make sure we accumulate points for the championship.”
“We also have a new driver, Takuro Shinohara, and we are very excited about him. Naoya Gamou is mature, fast, and experienced. With our ace driver Gamou at the helm, we will work with our long-time partner Bridgestone to further develop our tires, and we will do our best to achieve our ultimate goal of winning the championship.”
Gamou and the departing Togo Suganami finished sixth in the 2021 GT300 Drivers’ Championship, with second-place finishes at the first round at Okayama, and the last round at Fuji Speedway.
