Inomata has improved his skills and refined his driving
The turning point for him was not the season opener, where he achieved his long-sought first victory, but the final round, which was held on a wet track all day (the HA36 Cup was held in conjunction with the second round). Shortly before that, he took part in a driving lesson given by a professional driver and learned the shortcomings of braking and load shifting, which he had not been aware of before. He was able to put them into practice and drive with confidence even in the slippery rain, and he achieved a complete victory in both categories, taking pole position and the fastest lap without giving up the lead even once during practice, qualifying, and the race.
Another noteworthy point is that in the Tohoku 660/HA36 Cup, he finished ahead of the first class, where he should have had a better start in MT. The Ebisu Circuit West Course, where the event was held, has few places to overtake, and the strict vehicle regulations make it extremely difficult to overtake a car once it has gotten out in front at the start.
“I tried a new way of starting at this point. I don’t think it was anything special, but I think I was the only one who did it, and as a driver, I didn’t tell my rival, Omori-san, about it either,”
says Inomata.
Inomata believes that the HA36 AGS is still in the process of evolution, both in terms of vehicle and driving, and will continue to compete in both categories this season, aiming for even greater heights, while also joining young drivers as Team NEXZAS to compete in the Tohoku 660 endurance race.
In 2023, there was also a major turning point in his personal life. Shortly before the final race, which Inomata recalls as a major turning point, he got married, and his wife witnessed the moment of victory at the Ebisu Circuit on the day of the race. His wife, who had never been involved in cars or racing, recognized his serious hobby, and after the awards ceremony, they took a commemorative photo with the team members. His wife gave him a racing suit as a present, and his goal for this season is to win both series in a row.
translated by DeepL
