Nojiri, who’s a manufacturing facility driver for Honda, received behind the wheel of the title-winning RB16B at Mobility Resort Motegi on Saturday as a part of the Sakura marque’s annual end-of-the-year celebrations.
Nojiri’s maiden run in a grand prix automotive was described by Honda as a “reward” for the 34-year-old, who gained back-to-back titles in Tremendous Formulation driving for Group Mugen in 2021-22.
Carrying Pink Bull’s well-known blue-and-black livery this yr, he was in competition for the championship till the very finish and will have clinched a 3rd consecutive crown had he not missed the Autopolis spherical in Might resulting from a collapsed run.
Nojiri’s F1 run follows feedback that he could be involved in taking over a brand new problem overseas, however he later clarified that Tremendous Formulation and SUPER GT proceed to excite him – and he’s not satisfied whether or not any abroad class will provide him the identical stage of enjoyment.
The RB16B he drove at Motegi took Max Verstappen to his maiden F1 title in 2021 following a season-long battle with Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton, which culminated in a dramatic – but in addition controversial – showdown in Abu Dhabi.
He’s scheduled to drive the automotive once more between 8:55am and 9:15am on Sunday as a part of the “Pink Bull Racing Honda RB16B x TEAM MUGEN SF23 Particular collaboration. This can even see Pink Bull/Honda junior Ayumu Iwasa, who will staff up with Nojiri at Mugen subsequent yr, finishing a number of laps of Motegi within the SF23.
Nojiri is once more set for a twin marketing campaign in Japan in 2024, coupling a drive with Mugen in SF with one other marketing campaign in SUPER GT with ARTA.
He might have a brand new team-mate within the latter championship subsequent yr, amid query marks over Toshiki Oyu’s future at Honda following a turbulent marketing campaign in each sequence this yr.
