Izawa to race for Honda at Suzuka

Current leader of the Japanese Super GT Championship, Takuya Izawa, will compete in his home event of the WTCC, at Suzuka on September 22.

Izawa will be at the wheel of a Honda Civic WTCC car prepared and run by Honda Racing Team JAS.

A 30-year old from Tokyo, Izawa trained at the Suzuka Circuit Racing School and graduated top of his class in the SRS-F Formula category in 2002. After a few seasons in the German Formula Renault championship he returned to Japan where he emerged as a race winner in Formula 3 championship. From 2008 he’s dividing his racing activity between Super GT and Formula Nippon (now Super Formula).

In the current season, Izawa and his team-mate Takashi Kogure are point leaders in the GT500 class, driving a Honda HSV car for Team Kunimitsu.

Commenting on his WTCC debut, Izawa said: “I wish to thank everyone at Honda, Honda Racing Team JAS and everyone involved in the WTCC for the opportunity to race at Suzuka. I was able to join the JAS Team for a test in Portugal last year, and the sheer professionalism I experienced really inspired me. I am excited to join the championship as well as compete with all its world-class drivers at Suzuka. I would imagine that getting results will be difficult in such a top level racing series, but competing in a touring car on a circuit that I grew up on is a new adventure for me, and I am certain that this experience will help me build my future career. I am truly thrilled about the prospect and hope to deliver a great performance for all WTCC fans.”