PR campaign before the Japan GP
Just before the Japanese Grand Prix, Max Verstappen is attracting attention – not on the Formula 1 circuit in Suzuka, however, but at the Fuji Speedway. There, the reigning world champion took part in test drives for the Japanese Super GT series and drove a Nissan GT500.
During official Super GT test drives, Verstappen sat in the cockpit of a Nissan Z Nismo GT500 entered by the Nismo works team. The car was presented in eye-catching Red Bull livery.
The Dutchman completed several laps – but without focusing on lap times. It was more about developing a feel for the vehicle and its technology. Verstappen had to get used to the characteristics of a GT500 car, which is very different from a Formula 1 car.
The conditions in Fuji were anything but easy: heavy rain made the track challenging. Verstappen only completed a limited amount of testing and shared the car with Japanese driver Atsushi Miyake, among others.
At the same time, other vehicles were in action, including a Honda NSX GT3 in Red Bull colors, driven by Igor Fraga. Ukyo Sasahara was also spotted during the test drives.
The race in Fuji was not primarily a sporting preparation for the Japanese GP, but part of a Red Bull marketing campaign in Japan. Accordingly, the focus was on advertising shots and promotion.
Nevertheless, the test once again shows Verstappen’s versatility and his interest in different racing series.
The experience was not entirely new for the four-time world champion: Verstappen already tested a Honda GT racing car as part of an event in 2022. The current outing thus follows on from earlier excursions into Japanese motorsport.
Red Bull itself is also no stranger to Japan. In the past, the company has supported teams in Super GT and junior programs and has also been involved in Super Formula.
The cars in the GT500 class are based on the so-called Class 1 regulations, which are also used in the DTM. The cars with around 650 hp have highly developed aerodynamics and turbo engines – and therefore offer completely different driving dynamics to Formula 1 cars.