Apr Feels Drivers “Never Fully Got to Grips” with LC500h

Photo: Toyota

Apr team boss Hiroto Kaneso believes the inexperience of the team’s drivers was the leading factor behind what he admitted was the team’s “worst” SUPER GT season in the third year of using the hybrid-powered Lexus LC500h in GT300.

Rookie Oliver Rasmussen, moving across from the FIA World Endurance Championship, and Toyota junior Miki Koyama were paired up aboard the No. 31 Lexus for the 2025 season as part of all-new driver pairing for the car’s third season.

While Kazuto Kotaka and Jin Nakamura finished sixth overall in 2024 with a pole position and a best finish of third, Rasmussen and Koyama ended up with a best result of 12th in Round 2 at Fuji en route to 23rd out of 28 crews in the GT300 class.

Apr’s best performance came at Sugo, where Rasmussen was running in the top five before suffering terminal damage in a collision with the D’station Racing Aston Martin of Tomonobu Fujii — which the Danish driver felt cost the team a podium chance.

Kaneso believes neither Rasmussen nor Koyama, who had only raced sporadically in GT300 with R’Qs Motor Sports and Anest Iwata Racing prior to this season, were able to adapt quickly enough to the LC500h’s specific demands.

“With the hybrid system this is not an easy car to drive, and I would say they never fully got to grips with it characteristics,” Kaneso told Sportscar365.

“They have both steadily been getting better. But this championship is not a place to practice, it’s a place to fight, and I think that’s where we lost out.

“Even with inexperienced drivers, they are still required to adapt quickly and perform to a high level. It’s not a category where you can practice much. You have to be on it right away. It’s a very difficult environment in that sense.

“I don’t think either of them are the type of driver who can just adapt immediately; they are the type who grow steadily while working hard, and it’s taken them time.

“I knew from the start it would be difficult, and I guess it was a reminder that you can have seasons like this one where nothing goes according to plan. I think it’s been the worst result we’ve ever had as apr, that’s something we can’t hide.

“Now we are discussing with various stakeholders how to make sure this doesn’t happen again next season.”

Asked if that would involve the use of more experienced drivers from within the Toyota stable, Kaneso replied: “That’s part of the discussion, but nothing is decided yet.”

Kaneso denied that minor rule changes for the GTA-GT300 cars this year, including a reduction of front tire size, had a negative bearing on car performance.

“The car itself is the same, and the tire maker, as are the people within the team,” he said. “The only thing that changed since last year is the driver lineup.”

Kaneso clarified that apr will use the Lexus LC500h again next season with Bridgestone tires, but admitted a change of tire maker could be on the cards for its other car, the No. 30 Toyota GR86 GT, after a disappointing campaign with Michelin tires.

Veteran Manabu Orido and gentleman driver Hiroaki Nagai managed a single points finish all season aboard the No. 30 car, coming home 13th at Sugo.

It comes amid speculation the No. 30 could revert to using Yokohamas next year.

“The Michelin tire is good when it rains, but it basically hasn’t rained all season, and speaking honestly, the Michelin slick is not well suited to SUPER GT,” said Kaneso.

“I don’t think it’s down to Michelin’s abilities, but when you have a tire war, the distance from Japan and the costs are a big issue for them.

“We haven’t decided what tire manufacturer to use next year yet, but at the very least we need to do something to shore up the No. 30 car.”

Source: Sports Car 365