Haas completes its two-day Testing Previous Cars run at Fuji Speedway with two Toyota-backed drivers, as F1 returns to the circuit.
In association with Toyota, Haas announced a two-day TPC programme in August at Fuji circuit. The track last hosted F1 in 2008 when it used to share the hosting rights with Suzuka. But financial constraints left them in a lurch, when Honda stepped in to keep the race in Suzuka.
After Toyota signed a deal with Haas, a return was always possible and they utlised the TPC programme. It is the first time that a modern F1 car has hit the Fuji circuit. The American outfit used the VF23 machinery, driven by reserve Ryo Hirakawa and Super Formula/Super GT champion Sho Tsuboi.
Hirakawa continued his run with Haas after previous outings on Day 1, while Tsuboi got his first chance in a F1 car on Day 2. The event was open to public, as team principal Ayao Komatsu paid a visit too. But no credible information was made public about the run plan and or test times.
The American outfit, though, continued its run of giving Japanese drivers a test drive. The run for Hirakawa and Tsuboi comes after a surprise test outing of former F1 driver and current WEC driver, Kamui Kobayashi, back in June at France’s Paul Ricard circuit.
Here’s videos: https://www.instagram.com/haasf1team/?hl=en
https://x.com/HaasF1Team/status/1953033225816653851
https://x.com/HaasF1Team/status/1953046708251734378
https://x.com/HaasF1Team/status/1953097392217096609
https://x.com/HaasF1Team/status/1953103015591743955
https://x.com/HaasF1Team/status/1953153149004329242
https://x.com/HaasF1Team/status/1953175388143653225
https://x.com/HaasF1Team/status/1953388219178836243
https://x.com/HaasF1Team/status/1953457117379068186
https://x.com/HaasF1Team/status/1953481526995243389
https://x.com/HaasF1Team/status/1953523013195808939
Here’s info on Kamui Kobayashi testing with Haas