Kakunoshin Ohta Bio
Kakunoshin Ohta, known in the paddock as Kaku, is a Japanese racing driver for Honda Motor Company. Born on 16 June 1999 in Shimogyō-ku, Kyoto, he competes across multiple top-tier series, including Super GT with Astemo Real Racing, the Super Formula Championship with docomo Team Dandelion Racing, and the IMSA SportsCar Championship with Acura Meyer Shank Racing. Since his single-seater debut in 2018, Ohta has built a reputation as a fast, technically refined driver with a growing list of accomplishments in Japanese and international motorsports.
Although his career began in domestic Formula 4 competition, Ohta has steadily climbed the ladder into factory-backed programs with Honda. He is recognized for his late-braking confidence, calm race craft under pressure, and the ability to extract performance across a wide range of machinery, from formula cars to GT prototypes.
Early Life and Background
Kakunoshin Ohta was born on 16 June 1999 in Shimogyō-ku, a district of Kyoto, Japan. Growing up in the historic city, he was introduced to motorsport culture through Japan’s vibrant karting and junior formula scene. Like many of his contemporaries, Ohta progressed through grassroots categories before earning a chance at single-seater competition.
His formative years were spent honing his craft in karts, where he developed the reflexes and race sense that would later define his driving style. The disciplined approach he showed as a teenager helped position him for selection into Honda’s development pathway, a key opportunity that shaped his early professional career.
Path to NASCAR
Ohta’s career has developed entirely within Japanese and international sports car and open-wheel racing rather than the NASCAR ladder system. He is not associated with the NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR Xfinity Series, or NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, and his documented results focus on Super GT, Super Formula, Super Formula Lights, Super Taikyū, and the IMSA SportsCar Championship. As a result, this section outlines the equivalent steps he took through the Japanese motorsport pyramid on his way to factory Honda drives.
Kakunoshin Ohta Career
Early Career (2018–2021)
Ohta made his single-seater debut in 2018 with a single round in the F4 Japanese Championship with MYST. The following year, he mounted a full-time campaign in the series with support from the Honda Formula Dream Project, scoring two wins and finishing sixth in the standings. In 2019, he also made a guest appearance in the French F4 Championship alongside Honda stablemate Ren Satō, securing one podium across three starts and winning the All-Japan Deciding Race in Japan Formula 4 at season’s end.
After briefly losing manufacturer backing in 2020, Ohta regained Honda support through the Honda Formula Dream Project for 2021. He completed his third F4 Japanese Championship season and finished fifth in the standings, setting the stage for a step up to Super Formula Lights in 2022.
Super Formula Lights Breakthrough (2022)
In 2022, Ohta joined Toda Racing for the Super Formula Lights championship. He immediately impressed, taking four wins and twelve podium finishes to end the year second in the standings behind only the returning Kazuto Kotaka. The campaign marked his arrival as a serious contender and earned him a promotion to Japan’s top open-wheel series.
Super GT Career (2021–Present)
Ohta began his Super GT career in the GT300 class with Team UpGarage, paired with veteran Takashi Kobayashi. He claimed a podium on debut at Okayama and added another later in the season to finish eighth in the standings as a rookie.
For 2023, he was promoted to the GT500 class with Modulo Nakajima Racing alongside Takuya Izawa. The following season, he moved to Real Racing, replacing Nobuharu Matsushita and racing with Koudai Tsukakoshi. His Super GT – GT500 record includes sixteen starts, three podiums, and a best championship finish of fourteenth, earned in his 2023 rookie GT500 campaign. He currently drives for Astemo Real Racing in the GT500 category with car number 8.
Super Formula Career (2023–Present)
Following his Super Formula Lights form, Ohta was promoted to docomo Dandelion Racing for the 2023 Super Formula Championship alongside Tadasuke Makino. After a quiet first half, he surged after the summer break, qualifying inside the top four in each of the final four rounds. He scored his first Super Formula podium at Suzuka and converted that momentum into his maiden series victory in the season finale, fending off Ritomo Miyata and Liam Lawson.
In 2024, Ohta remained with Dandelion Racing and delivered a strong season highlighted by back-to-back wins at the Suzuka finale, including a pole-to-flag victory in race one and a defensive drive in race two. He closed the year fourth in the championship. Across his Super Formula career, he has recorded thirty starts, six wins, eight podiums, one pole, and one fastest lap, with a best championship result of third in 2025.
IMSA SportsCar Championship (2025–Present)
After testing the Acura ARX-06 at the IMSA-sanctioned Daytona test in November 2024, Ohta was confirmed for a partial 2025 IMSA SportsCar Championship campaign with Acura Meyer Shank Racing. He shares the No. 93 Acura ARX-06 with Renger van der Zande and Nick Yelloly for the Rolex 24 at Daytona, the Six Hours of the Glen at Watkins Glen, and the Battle of the Bricks at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, joined by Alex Palou for the Rolex 24 only.
Driving Style and Strengths
Ohta is regarded for his precise braking technique and his composure in wheel-to-wheel combat, traits that have served him well in both formula and GT machinery. His ability to manage tire degradation across long stints has been a defining strength, particularly during his late-2024 Super Formula surge at Suzuka. Working alongside experienced teammates and engineers within Honda’s factory program has helped him refine his strategic awareness and consistency.
Notable Races and Milestones
Signature moments in Ohta’s career include his maiden Super Formula victory in the 2023 season finale at Suzuka, his double win at Suzuka to close the 2024 Super Formula season, and his selection for Acura Meyer Shank Racing’s endurance program. He also captured a podium on his Super GT debut at Okayama and earned the 2022 Super Taikyū ST-Z class title, an important early championship on his resume.
Kakunoshin Ohta Career Wins
Ohta’s competitive record spans Japanese formula racing, Super GT, and the IMSA SportsCar Championship. His most prominent victories have come in Super Formula, where he has built a reputation as a specialist in high-pressure, late-season performances. He has also added a Super Taikyū class title and consistent podium finishes in Super GT to his growing list of accomplishments.
Super Formula Highlights
Across his Super Formula career, Ohta has recorded six wins and eight podiums from thirty starts, with one pole and one fastest lap. His first series victory came in the 2023 season finale at Suzuka, while his most recent wins were his back-to-back successes at Suzuka in 2024. He finished the 2024 campaign fourth in the standings and improved to third in 2025.
Other Wins and Performances
In Super Formula Lights, Ohta scored four wins and twelve podiums in 2022 with Toda Racing, finishing as runner-up in the championship. In 2019, he recorded two victories in the F4 Japanese Championship, one podium in French F4, and a win in the All-Japan Deciding Race. He is also a former Super Taikyū ST-Z class champion from 2022.
| Series | Wins | Podiums | Poles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Super Formula | 6 | 8 | 1 |
| Super Formula Lights | 4 | 12 | 0 |
Kakunoshin Ohta Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public sources do not provide verified details about Ohta’s parents or any broader racing lineage within his family. His rise to factory Honda status has been framed as a merit-based journey through Japan’s junior single-seater categories.
Personal Life
Ohta maintains a relatively private personal life away from the circuit. There is no publicly confirmed information available regarding a spouse, children, or marital status.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season is shaping up as Ohta’s most expansive campaign to date. In Super Formula, he continues with docomo Team Dandelion Racing and sits inside the championship’s top three through the early rounds, with a best finish of third in the standings supported by consistent points scoring and improved qualifying pace. His work with engineer and teammate Tadasuke Makino has helped him refine his race-day execution.
Alongside his Super Formula commitments, Ohta is contesting selected rounds of the 2025 IMSA SportsCar Championship with Acura Meyer Shank Racing, including the Rolex 24 at Daytona, the Six Hours of the Glen, and the Battle of the Bricks at Indianapolis. These endurance outings mark his first regular GTP-class program and offer valuable experience with hybrid prototype machinery.
In Super GT, Ohta continues to develop within the GT500 class at Astemo Real Racing, working to convert the team’s race pace into stronger championship results. With multiple championships and prototype campaigns running in parallel, 2025 represents a defining year in Ohta’s progression toward a full international sports car career.