TGM Grand Prix is in peril of withdrawing from Super Formula competition because of difficulties find drivers with the vital financial support.
Team owner Kazuhiro Ikeda admitted eventually weekend's Suzuki Final that the longer term of the Servus Japan-led team in Japan's top single-seaters hangs within the balance amid an apparent lack of interest from international drivers contributing budgets.
With Juju Noda certain to go away the team, this may mean TGM needs to search out two drivers with the vital support to be committed to continuing the series.
It is estimated that one place costs around 1.1 million euros per season.
“Our financial situation means we have no choice but to sign drivers who bring in funds,” Ikeda told Motorsport.com.
“We realized that it is rather difficult to draw sponsors in Japan with Super Formula in its current format. Finding the funds to do all of it another time within the third 12 months might be very difficult.
“If that happens, we may have to change what we do as a company, such as providing car maintenance [for another team] or engineering support.”
Juju, TGM Grand Prix
Photo: Masahide Kamio
If TGM drops out of the sector, it is probably going that the Super Formula automobile pool might be reduced to 19 cars, which might be the bottom level for the reason that 2021 season.
Ikeda explained that TGM has until the top of November to tell series organizer JRP whether it intends to stay on the grid in 2025.
“If we can raise the funds we will continue, but if there is too much uncertainty given the health of the business, we may have to say we cannot continue,” he said.
TGM has endured a difficult second season as a completely independent team, having fun with the support of Red Bull in 2022 because it competed under the 'Team Goh' banner in the primary 12 months following Servus Japan's split from Team Mugen.
The season began with Nobuharu Matsushita running alongside Noda, but after the primary three rounds Matsushita was replaced by Honda factory rider Hiroki Otsu.
Matsushita's eighth-place finish in the primary round at Suzuka proved to be the one time the team scored points all season, leaving TGM ninth within the team rankings.
Ikeda admitted that this may likely make TGM a less attractive option for potential overseas candidates trying to drive in Super Formula.
Nobuharu Matsushita, TGM Grand Prix
Photo: Masahide Kamio
“Just as we look at driver performance when it comes to selecting drivers, they will also look at team performance to determine whether they want to drive for a particular team,” he said.
Ikeda added that the shortage of successful non-Japanese drivers on this 12 months's series may additionally have acted as a further deterrent.
“It's just my opinion, but the drivers like it [Theo] Pourchaire i [Nyck] “De Vries coming in and going through some difficult times may be something that international drivers interested in Super Formula take note of,” he said.
“They probably doubt they will really get results if they come here.”
