
Photo: Formula Motorsport Ltd
Super Formula champion, Toyota protege and Formula 2 racer Ritomo Miyata will make his Formula 1 test debut this week.
The 25-year-old Japanese racer will drive for Haas at Jerez on January 15/16, as the team organises track time for its two new race drivers Ollie Bearman and Esteban Ocon, and Miyata, the beneficiary of a tie-up between the team and Toyota.
Three months ago, Toyota Gazoo Racing announced two partnerships with Haas. The first was a technical alliance, and the second was a driver development programme that would provide opportunities for Toyota-supported drivers – as well as engineers and mechanics – to take part in F1 tests for the team. Miyata will be the first driver to be involved in these tests.
“Thank you for giving me this opportunity,” said Miyata. “I’m really excited to work with the team and first time driving F1.”
At Jerez, the Haas VF-23 car from 2023 will be used under F1’s testing of previous car (TPC) rules – the first time that the team has operated such a programme. It has not been confirmed what Miyata’s run plan will be given Bearman and Ocon’s time with the trackside personnel will be taking precedence.
After winning the 2023 SF title and the Super GT sportscar series in the same year, Toyota moved Miyata away from Japan and to F2 as it looks to offer opportunities for its drivers to target F1.
He came 19th in the standings with Rodin Motorsport, his best results being two fifth places in Melbourne. All but one of the tracks on the calendar were new to him, and he concurrently raced an LMP2 prototype sportscar in the European Le Mans Series where he was third in the standings with two wins.
For 2025 he will switch to ART Grand Prix as he embarks on a second season in F2.