Haas to run Toyota’s Tsuboi and Hirakawa in F1 test at Fuji

The Haas F1 team has confirmed that Toyota Gazoo Racing drivers Sho Tsuboi and Ryo Hirakawa will take part in a two-day test at Fuji Speedway during Formula 1’s upcoming summer break in August.

The test, scheduled for August 6–7, will mark a significant step in the ongoing technical collaboration between Haas and the Japanese manufacturer.

The session will be conducted under F1’s Testing of Previous Cars (TPC) regulations and feature the 2023-specification Haas VF-23. It will also be open to the public, giving Japanese fans a rare second opportunity this year to see F1 machinery in action on home soil.

Tsuboi to Make F1 Debut, Hirakawa Returns

Ryo Hirakawa, a Le Mans 24 Hours winner and two-time WEC champion with Toyota, will kick off the test. He has already driven in four F1 free practice sessions over the past year and is scheduled for two more FP1 outings with Haas before the end of the 2024 season.

The following day, Sho Tsuboi will step into F1 machinery for the first time.

The 30-year-old Japanese driver boasts an impressive domestic racing résumé, with titles in Formula 4, Formula 3, and Super Formula, as well as multiple Super GT championships. His run at Fuji marks a long-awaited opportunity to showcase his skills at the pinnacle of motorsport.

Toyota engineers will be on-site to support the test, which takes place at the same venue where Haas and Toyota Gazoo Racing first announced their collaboration in October 2023.

Komatsu: “Quite Special” to Run at Toyota’s Home Track

Haas Team Principal Ayao Komatsu expressed his excitement about the test, highlighting both the symbolic value and the opportunities it presents for the drivers and fans alike.

“I’m naturally very excited that in our first season running the team’s TPC program we’re able to enjoy two days running at Fuji Speedway in Japan,” said Komatsu.

“The significance of running our car at Toyota’s home circuit – where we first announced our partnership with TOYOTA GAZOO Racing last October, it’s quite special. To then give Sho Tsuboi his first outing in a Formula 1 car is equally satisfying considering his pedigree as a multiple champion."

“We’re obviously already familiar with Ryō’s talents and we look forward to his continued feedback into our program. The fact that we’re running the VF-23 and the test is open to fans – that’s a great thing too."

“We know the passion Japanese fans have for Formula 1, so to get a second run in the country there this year after April’s Japanese Grand Prix is fantastic.”

Deepening Haas – Toyota Ties

The Fuji test is part of Haas’s broader strategy to deepen ties with Toyota Gazoo Racing through shared technical development and talent evaluation.

The arrangement has opened new pathways for Toyota-affiliated drivers to gain experience in F1 environments – something the manufacturer hasn’t had since its own exit from F1 in 2009.

• Read also: Gene Haas survives milestone run up the hill at Goodwood

Fuji Speedway, which hosted Formula 1’s Japanese Grands Prix in 1976, 1977, 2007, and 2008, will now play host to two of Japan’s top racing exports as they take on a rare opportunity in modern Grand Prix machinery.

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