Red Bull officially revealed the new colours of the #37 KeePer TOM’s Lexus LC500 for the 2017 Autobacs Super GT Series, to be driven by Red Bull athlete Ryo Hirakawa and new co-driver Nick Cassidy.
It was unveiled with Hirakawa in attendance, together with a unique Japanese decorative truck known as a Decotora.
Red Bull’s announcement today is the culmination of months of speculation and intrigue surrounding the soft drink giant’s involvement in top-level Japanese motorsport.
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Having won four Formula 1 World Championships as owners of Red Bull Racing, and sponsoring champion racers from three-time MotoGP champion Marc Márquez, to World Rally Champions Sébastien Loeb and Sébastien Ogier, to Australian Supercars champions Shane van Gisbergen and Jamie Whincup, Red Bull now looks to expand their horizons in Japan in Super GT and Super Formula.
23-year-old Hirakawa is the first Japanese racing driver to be sponsored by Red Bull. He’ll drive the Red Bull KeePer LC500 with Cassidy, who moves over from the #36 au TOM’s LC500 for his sophomore campaign.
Red Bull will also sponsor reigning GP2 Series (now FIA Formula 2) champion Pierre Gasly in his rookie season in the Japanese Super Formula Championship.
