Kakunoshin Ohta, known as “Kaku” in the U.S., is quickly becoming a name to watch in North American motorsport after five races in the 2025 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. At just 26, Ohta is being heralded as Honda’s next big homegrown superstar on the international racing scene. Born and raised in Japan, he’s fluent in English thanks to an international school education, making his transition into the diverse IMSA paddock smoother than most.
Ohta drives for Acura Meyer Shank Racing in the premier GTP class, behind the wheel of the Acura ARX-06 powered by Honda’s state-of-the-art hybrid V6 engine. His IMSA campaign complements a flourishing career back home, where he races in Japan’s top single-seater series, Super Formula, and the Super GT GT500 class. 2025 has been a breakout year for him in Super Formula, with three wins and multiple podium finishes, ranking him third in the championship standings.
Behind his calm and methodical drive lies a fierce determination. Kaku openly expressed his ambition to expand beyond Japan early on, aiming to carve out an international career. His arrival and early performances in IMSA underline his readiness to rise to the challenge. The Meyer Shank Racing team supports his growth by providing crossover opportunities, highlighted by Ohta’s upcoming test in the IndyCar Series at Mid-Ohio.
With a rich motorsport pedigree nurtured by Honda’s famed development programs, a growing international presence, and impressive results on two continents, Kakunoshin Ohta represents a fresh and exciting chapter not only for Honda but for the global race fan base hungry for the next great talent. His journey just beginning, fans and insiders alike are watching closely, eager to see if Kaku will indeed become the next Japanese racing icon on the world stage.