Souta Arao (荒尾創大, Arao Sōta, born 18 December 2005) is a Japanese racing driver set to compete 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 |
| Previous series | |
| 2023 2022 | GB3 Championship French F4 Championship |
Career edit
Karting edit
Arao started karting in 2012.[3] In 2021 he became OK vice-champion in the All Japan Kart Championship.[4]
Formula 4 edit
Arao 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 edit
For 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 edit
Arao returns to Japan for 2024, as he will race in Super Formula Lights with Toda Racing.[17]
Red Bull Junior Team edit
Arao was a member of the Red Bull Junior Team[3][18] He was part of the academy from 2022 until the end of 2023.
Racing record edit
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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 |
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 |
* Season still in progress.
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 | MOT 1 |
MOT 2 |
MOT 3 |
AUT 1 |
AUT 2 |
AUT 3 |
SUG 1 |
SUG 2 |
SUG 3 |
FUJ 1 |
FUJ 2 |
FUJ 3 |
OKA 1 |
OKA 2 |
OKA 3 |
SUZ 1 |
SUZ 2 |
SUZ 3 |
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 2023-11-10.
- ^ Wolff, Perceval (2022-04-14). "Your season guide to the 2022 French F4 Championship". F1 Feeder Series. Retrieved 2022-12-21.
- ^ "Red Bull will also have talents in French Formula 4 from 2022 onwards". www.gpblog.com. Retrieved 2023-11-10.
- ^ "Yuto Nomura and Souta Arao star in French F4 opener at Nogaro". Red Bull. Retrieved 2022-12-21.
- ^ "Brilliant Victory for Souta Arao in Pau F4". Red Bull. Retrieved 2022-12-21.
- ^ "Souta Arao grabs second in French F4 at Spa". Red Bull. Retrieved 2022-12-21.
- ^ "Souta Arao gets a podium in French F4 at Lédenon". Red Bull. Retrieved 2022-12-21.
- ^ "Arao & Nomura in the heat of Valencia French F4 action". Red Bull. Retrieved 2022-12-21.
- ^ "Arao wins in French F4 final in Paul Ricard". Red Bull. Retrieved 2022-12-21.
- ^ "Ayumu Iwasa remains with DAMS for second F2 season". www.motorsport.com. 12 December 2022. Retrieved 2022-12-12.
- ^ Wood, Ida (2023-01-18). "Arao and Montoya finally confirmed in their GB3 and F3 seats for 2023". Formula Scout. Retrieved 2023-11-10.
- ^ "Arao takes 5th in Race 1". Honda.Racing. 2023-10-15. Retrieved 2023-11-10.
- ^ "Arao finishes 5th in Race 1 and 17th in the s..." Honda.Racing. 2023-10-23. Retrieved 2023-11-10.
- ^ "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