Souta Arao (荒尾創大, Arao Sōta, born 18 December 2005) is a Japanese racing driver who is currently competing in the 2024 Super Formula Lights for Toda Racing. He previously competed in the French F4 Championship & GB3 Championship.[1] He is a scholar of the Honda Racing School which formerly as Suzuka Racing School,[2] and part of the Honda Formula Dream Project.
| Souta Arao | |
|---|---|
 Arao in 2022 | |
| Nationality |  Japanese |
| Born | 18 December 2005 Tokyo, Japan |
| Super Formula Lights career | |
| Debut season | 2024 |
| Current team | Toda Racing |
| Car number | 2 |
| Starts | 9 |
| Wins | 0 |
| Podiums | 2 |
| Poles | 0 |
| Fastest laps | 0 |
| Best finish | TBD in 2024 |
| Previous series | |
| 2023 2022 | GB3 Championship French F4 Championship |
Career
editKarting
editArao started karting in 2012.[3] In 2021 he became OK vice-champion in the All Japan Kart Championship.[4]
Formula 4
editArao made his single-seater debut in 2022, competing in the French F4 Championship.[5][6] He started his season in strong fashion, getting a podium in the season opener at Nogaro and finishing fifth in Race 3.[7] More success came at the following round in Pau, where, having taken pole position and finished second in the first race, Arao achieved his first victory in car racing on Sunday, beating out championship leader Hugh Barter.[8] The next four rounds yielded a podium each, with a highest result of second at Spa-Francorchamps, before he won Race 1 at the season finale in Le Castellet.[9][10][11] He ended up third in the standings, four places ahead of fellow Red Bull Junior Yuto Nomura.[12]
GB3 Championship
editFor the 2023 season, it was announced that Arao would move up to the GB3 Championship, driving for Hitech Grand Prix alongside Alex Dunne and Michael Shin.[13][14] Throughout the season Arao struggled to achieve good results. His best race results were two fifth places in the final two round at Circuit Zandvoort and Donington Park, which moved him up to 17th in the standings.[15][16]
Super Formula Lights
editArao returns to Japan for 2024, as he will race in Super Formula Lights with Toda Racing.[17]
Red Bull Junior Team
editArao was a member of the Red Bull Junior Team[3][18] He was part of the academy from 2022 until the end of 2023.[citation needed]
Racing record
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Racing career summary
edit| Season | Series | Team | Races | Wins | Poles | F/Laps | Podiums | Points | Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | French F4 Championship | FFSA Academy | 21 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 9 | 227 | 3rd |
| 2023 | GB3 Championship | Hitech Grand Prix | 21 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 146 | 17th |
| 2024 | Super Formula Lights | Toda Racing | 18 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 43 | 7th |
| Super Taikyu - ST-Q | Team HRC |
Complete French F4 Championship results
edit(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | Pos | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | NOG 1 2 |
NOG 2 9 |
NOG 3 5 |
PAU 1 2 |
PAU 2 20† |
PAU 3 1 |
MAG 1 3 |
MAG 2 5 |
MAG 3 Ret |
SPA 1 4 |
SPA 2 5 |
SPA 3 2 |
LÉD 1 3 |
LÉD 2 9 |
LÉD 3 7 |
CRT 1 3 |
CRT 2 7 |
CRT 3 18 |
LEC 1 1 |
LEC 2 9 |
LEC 3 2 |
3rd | 227 |
Complete GB3 Championship results
edit(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | DC | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Hitech Grand Prix | OUL 1 Ret |
OUL 2 6 |
OUL 3 157 |
SIL1 1 Ret |
SIL1 2 Ret |
SIL1 3 WD |
SPA 1 13 |
SPA 2 Ret |
SPA 3 132 |
SNE 1 8 |
SNE 2 10 |
SNE 3 22 |
SIL2 1 13 |
SIL2 2 18 |
SIL2 3 C |
BRH 1 DNS |
BRH 2 14 |
BRH 3 Ret |
ZAN 1 5 |
ZAN 2 9 |
ZAN 3 173 |
DON 1 5 |
DON 2 13 |
DON 3 154 |
17th | 146 |
Complete Super Formula Lights results
edit(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Entrant | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | Pos | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Toda Racing | AUT 1 7 |
AUT 2 7 |
AUT 3 7 |
SUG 1 6 |
SUG 2 2 |
SUG 3 7 |
FUJ 1 4 |
FUJ 2 3 |
FUJ 3 6 |
OKA 1 6 |
OKA 2 6 |
OKA 3 5 |
SUZ 1 2 |
SUZ 2 5 |
SUZ 3 2 |
MOT 1 4 |
MOT 2 5 |
MOT 3 7 |
7th | 43 |
* Season still in progress.
References
edit- ^ Allen, Peter (23 September 2021). "French F4 reveals 22 drivers entered to race new car in 2022". Formula Scout. Retrieved 15 September 2022.
- ^ Wood, Ida (28 November 2021). "Takuma Sato chooses two Suzuka Racing School scholars for 2022". Formula Scout. Retrieved 15 September 2022.
- ^ a b "Souta Arao". Red Bull. Retrieved 15 September 2022.
- ^ "Souta Arao". www.gb-3.net. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
- ^ Wolff, Perceval (14 April 2022). "Your season guide to the 2022 French F4 Championship". F1 Feeder Series. Retrieved 21 December 2022.
- ^ "Red Bull will also have talents in French Formula 4 from 2022 onwards". www.gpblog.com. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
- ^ "Yuto Nomura and Souta Arao star in French F4 opener at Nogaro". Red Bull. Retrieved 21 December 2022.
- ^ "Brilliant Victory for Souta Arao in Pau F4". Red Bull. Retrieved 21 December 2022.
- ^ "Souta Arao grabs second in French F4 at Spa". Red Bull. Retrieved 21 December 2022.
- ^ "Souta Arao gets a podium in French F4 at Lédenon". Red Bull. Retrieved 21 December 2022.
- ^ "Arao & Nomura in the heat of Valencia French F4 action". Red Bull. Retrieved 21 December 2022.
- ^ "Arao wins in French F4 final in Paul Ricard". Red Bull. Retrieved 21 December 2022.
- ^ "Ayumu Iwasa remains with DAMS for second F2 season". www.motorsport.com. 12 December 2022. Retrieved 12 December 2022.
- ^ Wood, Ida (18 January 2023). "Arao and Montoya finally confirmed in their GB3 and F3 seats for 2023". Formula Scout. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
- ^ "Arao takes 5th in Race 1". Honda.Racing. 15 October 2023. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
- ^ "Arao finishes 5th in Race 1 and 17th in the s..." Honda.Racing. 23 October 2023. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
- ^ "Honda 2024 Motorsports Program Overview". Honda Racing. 19 January 2024. Retrieved 19 January 2024.
- ^ "Red Bull will also have talents in French Formula 4 from 2022 onwards". GPBlog. 13 April 2022. Retrieved 15 September 2022.
External links
edit- Souta Arao career summary at DriverDB.com
- Red Bull Driver Profile