TGM Grand Prix is in danger of dropping off the Super Formula grid as it struggles to find drivers with the requisite financial backing.
Team owner Kazuhiro Ikeda admitted during last weekend’s Suzuka finale that the Servus Japan-run outfit’s future in Japan’s top single-seaters hangs in the balance, amid an apparent lack of interest among international drivers bringing budgets.
With Juju Noda looking certain to leave the team, it would mean that TGM needs to find two drivers with the necessary backing to be able to commit to continuing in the series.
It’s estimated that a seat costs approximately 1.1 million euros for a season.
“Our financial situation means we have no option but to sign drivers that bring funding,” Ikeda told Motorsport.com.
“We’ve realised that it’s very difficult to raise sponsors in Japan with Super Formula in its current format. It will be very tough to find the funds to do it all over again for a third year.
“If that’s the case, it may be that we have to change what we are doing as a company, such as providing car maintenance [for another team] or engineering support.”
Juju, TGM Grand Prix
Photo by: Masahide Kamio
Should TGM drop off the grid, then it’s likely that the Super Formula grid would shrink to 19 cars, its lowest level since the 2021 season.
Ikeda clarified that TGM has until the end of November to inform series organiser JRP whether it intends to stay on the grid in 2025.
“If we can raise the funds, then we will continue, but if there is too much uncertainty, considering the health of the company, we may have to say we cannot continue,” he said.
TGM endured a difficult second season running as a fully independent team, having enjoyed Red Bull backing in 2022 when it competed under the ‘Team Goh’ banner in the first year following Servus Japan’s split with Team Mugen.
It started the season with Nobuharu Matsushita running alongside Noda, but replaced Matsushita with Honda factory driver Hiroki Otsu after the first three rounds.
Matsushita’s eighth-place finish in the opening round at Suzuka proved to be the only time the team scored points all season, leaving TGM ninth in the teams’ rankings.
Ikeda admitted this will have likely made TGM a less attractive option to prospective overseas candidates wanting to drive in Super Formula.
Nobuharu Matsushita, TGM Grand Prix
Photo by: Masahide Kamio
“Just like we look at a driver’s results when it comes to selecting drivers, they will also look at the team’s results to work out if they want to drive for a particular team,” he said.
Ikeda added that a lack of successful non-Japanese drivers in the series this year may have also served as a further deterrent.
“This is just my opinion, but drivers like [Theo] Pourchaire and [Nyck] de Vries coming here and having a difficult time could be something that international drivers with an interest in Super Formula have taken note of,” he said.
“They are probably doubting whether they can really get the results if they came here.”