The two-time Formula 1 world champion is one of many international stars from Honda’s two- and four-wheeled motorsport team set to appear at Sunday’s celebration, which will mark the first Thanksgiving Day since the opening of Japan’s borders following the COVID -19 pandemic.
Verstappen is set to take part in a special demonstration with last year’s Red Bull RB16B alongside teammate Sergio Perez, while AlphaTauri pair Pierre Gasly and Yuki Tsunoda will pilot the 2020-spec AT01.
On Saturday, between practice sessions on a rain-soaked Motegi, Honda revealed that Verstappen had found time to try out the NSX-GT development car, which was not fitted with an ‘Type S’ body. of 2022.
The Dutchman was also pictured in conversation with two-time SuperGT champion Naoki Yamamoto.
Max Verstappen, Honda NSX-GT
Photo by: Honda
Max Verstappen, Honda NSX-GT
Photo by: Honda
Verstappen is not expected to drive the NSX-GT on Sunday, but Honda’s five GT500 cars will be in action, with the marque’s 10 top Super GT drivers all featuring on an extensive roster of drivers and participating drivers.
MotoGP riders Marc Marquez and Takaaki Nakagami, two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Takuma Sato, World Superbike star Xavi Vierge and Suzuka 8 Hours winner Tetsuta Nagashima will also be in attendance.
This year marks the first time Honda has been able to hold its Thanksgiving Day celebration at Motegi since 2019, although it held a scaled-down event at Suzuka earlier this year without any riders or international riders attending.
Verstappen, Perez and Tsunoda will all make their first appearances, while Gasly returns for a second outing after his first in 2018, the first year the team then known as Toro Rosso used Honda engines.
Max Verstappen, Honda NSX-GT
Photo by: Honda
