As Motorsport.com reports, the championship leader of Japan's premier open-wheel series is looking across the Pacific for his next big challenge. Kakunoshin 'Kaku' Ohta arrives at the season-closing doubleheader at Suzuka holding the Super Formula points lead, yet the 27-year-old Honda factory driver already has his gaze fixed firmly on North America for the 2027 season.
Securing a ride in IndyCar is notoriously difficult due to tight budgets, limited seats, and largely finalized grids, but Ohta makes no secret of where his ambitions lie. He acknowledged the immense hurdles of breaking into the American open-wheel ranks while expressing his determination to make the jump as soon as possible. His American footprint is already expanding, having spent nearly two years working alongside Meyer Shank Racing since late 2024, which included a 104-lap IndyCar test at Mid-Ohio last October.
If there's some possibility to be able to race in IndyCar next season, I will for sure try to take it,
Behind the scenes, the movement is already underway. Contact has reportedly been established between Ohta and Dale Coyne Racing regarding one of the few remaining vacant seats on the IndyCar grid for next season, while rumors also link him to Honda’s planned chartered IndyCar entry slated for 2028.
Sports car opportunities are equally prominent on his radar. Ohta's American campaign included splitting an IMSA slate between Acura Meyer Shank Racing in GTP and Era Motorsport in LMP2, followed by two endurance outings this season with MSR's GTP entry that featured a second-place finish at the Six Hours of The Glen. Beyond open-wheel, prospective IMSA paths include GTP drives, with potential links to Heart of Racing’s Aston Martin Valkyrie GTP program.
As a works driver, his loyalties and primary obligations remain tied to his Japanese factory commitments in Super Formula and Super GT. Balancing those priorities alongside potential US appearances means a hybrid schedule or a partial campaign combining select IndyCar and IMSA rounds could provide the ultimate bridge across continents. For now, every potential avenue remains open as Ohta waits to see what doors might unlock. "If there's some possibility to be able to race in IndyCar next season, I will for sure try to take it," he said.
