[LOOPRUNNER]

ZERO

This preseason test was supposed to be his start.

Inside the Crash

According to Honda engineers, the #100 car was running light on fuel and fitted with new Bridgestone slicks. No apparent mechanical failure. Just an aggressive throttle pickup mid-corner, on cold rubber, in cold air. It was enough.

One engineer reviewed the data: "There's a line he's supposed to ride at corner exit. He took it half a meter wide. It doesn't take much more than that."

Another added: "It wasn't recklessness. It was timing. He was just a bit too fast."

In the Garage

What's left behind is subtle: the helmet on the shelf. The empty radio slot. The race suit folded in the travel case and never unpacked.

"He still messages us," said a mechanic. "Sends photos of the ice pack taped to his shoulder. Makes fun of our pit stop times. He's still Tim. Just not here."

The #100 car remains under inspection. A spare chassis has been prepped. But the garage feels off-balance.

Concerns Beyond Bone

The concussion is what's drawing attention.

Super GT doesn't yet maintain a centralized protocol for head injuries. There are no baseline cognitive tests. No mandatory multi-week neuro evaluations. Approval to race lies with the JAF and the team doctor. But that system assumes symptoms disappear quickly.

They didn't.

Yu's response wasn't dramatic. But it was honest. His simulator times dropped. He noticed visual drift. Muscle fatigue. Minor things—but in GT500, a tenth of a second is the race.

"He didn't want to fake his way through the season," said one team member. "That's rare. Especially at 21."

Reactions Across the Paddock

Support came in quickly—and quietly.

Naoki Yamamoto posted a single line on MySpace:

"Wishing Tim full healing. These cars will wait for you."

TOM'S driver Ryo Hirakawa, another former Honda junior, added:

"The paddock's less sharp without you. Come back when you're ready."

A Career Interrupted, Not Ended

At 21, Yu had only just stepped out of the junior ranks. His rise wasn't meteoric, but it was convincing—GT300 results, TCR Asia outings, late-season NSX testing. His fluency in English and Japanese made him valuable in the data loop. His restraint made him reliable. And his calm under pressure made people watch.

He wasn't a star. Not yet. But he was becoming something more important: trusted.

"He's not here to go viral," said a Bridgestone engineer. "He's here to drive. And he's good."

Looking Ahead

There's no rush now. Honda hasn't confirmed whether Yu's contract extends into 2007. But sources inside HRC say he'll stay in the loop—sim work, data analysis, team shadowing. If the body allows, he'll test again before the year ends.

No replacement driver has been officially named. Candidates include Toshiki Oyu, a veteran from Formula Nippon, and Naoki Yamamoto. It may be a rotating seat for the first half of the year.

But in the paddock, there's no illusion that the gap can be filled.

"We can run the car," said Asano. "But we can't replace Tim. That's not how this works."

Final Words

Racing careers don't always crash. Sometimes they pause. 

but it did pause; forever.

Yu Out for Season Following Testing Crash at Okayama

Motorsport Insight | March 7, 2006
By Natsuki Hoshikawa, Staff Writer

Okayama, Japan — Team Kunimitsu driver Timothy Yu will miss the entire 2006 Super GT season following injuries sustained in a crash during a private test at Okayama International Circuit last week. The 21-year-old was airlifted to Okayama University Hospital on Wednesday afternoon after his Raybrig NSX-GT suffered a heavy impact on corner exit at Attwood Curve.

Yu sustained a fractured right clavicle, two broken ribs, and a mild concussion. Although initially listed in stable condition and conscious upon arrival at the hospital, further medical evaluation revealed complications that will prevent him from returning to racing in time for the start of the championship.

Team Kunimitsu confirmed his withdrawal from the 2006 campaign in a press release issued Monday afternoon.

"We regret to confirm that Timothy Yu will not participate in this season's Super GT series due to injuries sustained during preseason testing," the statement read. "While his recovery is progressing, the nature of the injuries and rehabilitation timeline make it impossible for him to race at full fitness this year."

What Happened at Okayama

The incident occurred during an early-phase tire and chassis setup session held privately by Team Kunimitsu and Honda Racing. Weather conditions were dry and cool, with ambient track temperatures in the low teens.

Sources within the team state that Yu had just begun an out-lap on fresh Bridgestone slicks and was building pace when he lost control under throttle coming out of Turn 11. The car rotated under load and struck the tire barriers in two stages — first with the rear, then the left side. The session was red-flagged immediately.

"There was no contact with another car and no indication of mechanical failure," said one engineer, who asked not to be named. "It was likely a case of cold tires, cold track, and throttle applied a bit early."

The Raybrig NSX was returned to the pits later that afternoon. Initial inspections revealed extensive damage to the rear suspension and side structure, though the survival cell remained intact. Honda has since transported the chassis to its R&D center in Tochigi for further analysis.

Recovery Timeline

Yu spent six nights at Okayama University Hospital before being released into outpatient care. While the fracture to his right collarbone is expected to heal without surgery, the team cited concerns over ongoing symptoms related to his concussion, including delayed reaction times and persistent fatigue.

Doctors overseeing his recovery advised against any high-speed physical activity for at least eight to ten weeks. As a result, any return mid-season would require not only medical clearance but also a testing window that no longer realistically exists.

"There's no benefit in rushing," a Honda team official told Motorsport Insight. "We want to see Tim fully healthy, whether that's later this year or next season."

Yu is currently resting at home in Yokohama and has not spoken publicly outside of a brief written message published via Team Kunimitsu's website.

"I want to thank everyone who's reached out — the team, the medical staff, and fans," he wrote. "I'm disappointed, of course, but I'm also grateful this wasn't worse. I'll be focusing on recovery and will be back when the time is right."

and so began looprunner.