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TGM Grand Prix Explores Driver Changes Following Matsushita’s Departure

TGM Grand Prix has disclosed that it entered negotiations with former Formula 1 driver Daniil Kvyat to potentially fill the Super Formula seat left open after Nobuharu Matsushita’s exit. Initially, the Honda-powered TGM team had enlisted ex-Formula 2 driver Matsushita alongside Juju Noda for the first three races of the season. However, Matsushita was subsequently dropped due to financial constraints.

In his place, Hiroki Otsu was introduced for the fourth round of the season at the Fuji circuit, and he has since been confirmed to race for TGM for the remainder of the year. Before making this decision, TGM’s head, Kazuhiro Ikeda, indicated that the team was in talks with an unnamed international driver for Matsushita’s seat prior to an in-season test.

Ikeda later revealed to Motorsport.com that the driver under consideration was Kvyat. Nevertheless, he explained that the imposition of sanctions by Japan against Russia following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine caused significant obstacles that ultimately made a deal unfeasible. “As a Japanese team, we are unable to employ him,” Ikeda stated. “He can obtain a visa and enter Japan, but he is unable to work and receive a salary.”

He elaborated that the team could not offer Kvyat direct payment, and without a salary, Kvyat felt it would be pointless to accept a position. “I asked him to discuss it with his sponsors, but the hurdles were too great,” Ikeda added.

Kvyat previously expressed interest in competing in Super Formula, having shown potential for a role with Nakajima Racing during off-season tests at Suzuka, which ultimately did not materialize late in the negotiation process. Eager to diversify his racing schedule alongside commitments in the Lamborghini World Endurance Championship, Kvyat had been testing the Dallara SF23 through his association with the Abu Dhabi-based A2RL series.

Ikeda remarked that the choice to appoint Otsu for the rest of the season was motivated by a desire to restore TGM’s performance back to its 2023 levels. Otsu had previously raced for the Servus Japan-run team at Fuji as a substitute for the injured Toshiki Oyu and garnered praise for his insightful technical feedback during that stint.

“We felt we had lost our way with the set-up, and that’s why we called up Otsu, to try and return to what we had in the middle of last year,” Ikeda said. “He knows how the car should feel, so we wanted to utilize his experience. Additionally, we didn’t want to keep changing the driver, as that is not beneficial for the fans or the championship.”

Otsu’s performance has shown promise, finishing 15th in last month’s Motegi race, although TGM has struggled to secure points since Matsushita’s eighth-place finish during the season opener at Suzuka back in March.

Future Prospects

The TGM Grand Prix team is eager to bolster its competitiveness in the Super Formula series, with developments still unfolding regarding driver lineups and overall strategy as the season progresses.

Source
www.motorsport.com