Meyer Shank Racing to Debut Kakunoshin Ohta in IndyCar Test at Mid-Ohio
Meyer Shank Racing (MSR) will provide Kakunoshin ‘Kaku’ Ohta with his inaugural IndyCar test on Wednesday at Mid-Ohio. Ohta, who has been competing with MSR in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship as the third driver in the No. 93 Acura ARX-06 GTP, has garnered attention for his strong performances alongside Renger van der Zande and Nick Yelloly.
The 26-year-old Japanese driver has been gaining valuable experience in North America, supplementing his endurance racing with stints in LMP2 with Era Motorsport. Meanwhile, he is currently making waves in the Japanese Super Formula championship. Ohta holds third place in the standings and has clinched three victories this season—more wins than any other driver—with two races remaining in the series.
Ohta’s test coincides with his preparation for an upcoming Super Formula doubleheader at Fuji, scheduled alongside the IMSA Petit Le Mans season finale. During the test, Ohta will experience Honda’s 750 hp twin-turbo hybrid V6 engine in MSR’s Dallara DW12.
Mike Shank, team principal of MSR, expressed enthusiasm about the opportunity for Ohta, stating, “We love giving drivers the chance to learn and expand their skill set, and we’re very fortunate we can do that because we participate in these two high-level racing series.”
It’s important to note that Ohta’s test is exploratory; MSR has already secured Felix Rosenqvist and Marcus Armstrong as full-time drivers for the 2026 season. Ohta expressed his gratitude for the opportunity: “I’m so excited to drive an Indy car and very thankful to Mike for giving me this opportunity. Getting to experience different types of Honda and Acura-powered cars is so valuable, and I can’t wait to see how it compares to what I’m driving now.”
