Media Information
14 February 2024
Immediate release“G FORCE DRIVER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM” Launches
Growing Talented Teenage Racing Drivers with G Force Engineering-Two Selections from Oceania, One from Switzerland for this seasonG Force Engineering, led by President and CEO Masaru Okazawa, is set tolaunch the G FORCE DRIVER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM aimed at nurturingjunior drivers to hone their talents as racing drivers and step up to a higher levelof international racing stage.
In the 2024 program, three drivers have been selected: Sebastian Manson fromNew Zealand, Jesse Lacey from Australia, and Michael Sauter from Switzerland.
They will compete in the 2024 FORMULA REGIONAL JAPANESECHAMPIONSHIP (FRJ).
While the three drivers will be divided into two teams for entry, Masaru Okazawa,
representing G Force Engineering, will take the helm as supervisor, drawing
from his extensive experience as a member of Team Goh in numerous
international races including the Le Mans 24 Hours, as well as his achievements
in domestic top-tier categories like SUPER GT and SUPER FORMULA.
Driving coaching will be provided by Seiji Ara, a Le Mans winner who continues
to excel in events like SUPER GT, while Hiroshi Yuchi, a renowned racing car
designer and engineer in Japan, will serve as the chief engineer. Leveraging
exceptional engineering expertise developed in international racing, G ForceEngineering aims to provide various approaches to equip teenage drivers
competing in mid-level formula races with the necessary elements foradvancement.
The FRJ season will kick off with pre-season joint testing at Suzuka on February
21, where Sebastian and Jesse will make their debut on Japanese circuits. Twoweeks later, on March 9-10, the FRJ opening weekend will feature three races
at Suzuka Circuit, marking the beginning of the 2024 season and setting thestage for Sebastian, Jesse, and Michael's battles on Japanese circuits.
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Sebastian Manson“I am extremely excited for the amazing opportunity that has been presented.
Japan has always been a country I have wanted to experience. I believe they
have some of the best tracks in the world. I can’t wait to compete in Formula
Regional Japan. This will be the highlight of my career so far. I’m looking forward
to embarking on it and working with G Force Engineering.”
Jesse Lacey"I'm incredibly thrilled about competing in Formula Regional in Japan this season.
I'm eagerly anticipating the exhilarating races at iconic tracks such as Suzuka.
It's an honor and a privilege to drive for G FORCE DRIVER DEVELOPMENT
PROGRAM, and I'm excited to meet and work with the entire team."
Michael Sauter“First of all, I’m grateful for all the supporters, team members and staffs, that I
got this fantastic opportunity. I’m looking forward to the races on amazing tracks
and to the opponent drivers. I was 11 years old as I visited Suzuka Circuit at thefirst time in 2015. I couldn’t imagine at that time, that I would come back toSuzuka for a Formula race. It’s going to be a challenging season for me andsurely a really exciting time with a wonderful team and the best surroundings. I’ll
do my best to fight for the championship.”XXX

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Attachment 1

2024 G FORCE DRIVER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM DRIVERS

Sebastian Manson
Nationality:
Date of Birth:
Height:Weight:Blood Type:Team：
Car Number:

New Zealand European
7 February 2008
185cm
70kg
O Positive
Birth Racing Project (BRP)55I am a 15-year-old racing driver from New Zealand who is a student at Saint
Kentigern College, I have studied 1 year of Japanese within my school
curriculum. I have been racing since I was six years old. I started in karting andhave competed in New Zealand, Australia, and Italy. I moved to car racing at theage of 12 and I am competing in a third season of Formula Ford. I enjoy hobbies
such as sim racing, going to the gym and other motorsport-based activities. I
have some interest in nutrition and diet.
Career Highlights
11x Race win South Island Formula ford 2023
3x SIFF 2023 Round wins & Pole
3x Race wins North Island Formula Ford 2023
1x Round win & Pole NIFF
3x wins & 6x Podium Formula Ford winter series 2023
3x wins in 2022 Winter series
4th in 2022 NIFF championship
4th in 2022-2023 National Formula Ford championship3x Test Days in Formula regional Tattus under guidance of m2 competition
Competed in Ferrari Academy Oceania and Pacific scouting making Top 6 2023
Youngest to Get selected for Motorsport New Zealand elite Driver academy 2022

3Media Information

Jesse Lacey
Nationality:
Date of Birth:
Height:Weight:Blood Type:Team：
Car Number:

Australian
14 December 2006
168cm
66kg
O Positive
Bionic Jack Racing
53

BORN TO RACE
Jesse's racing heritage runs deep as a third-generation racer. Born into theLacey family, which boasts a storied history in Speedway racing, including
multiple Australian championships, his destiny was always to be on the racetrack.
His racing journey commenced in 2016 when he was just 9 years old, andremarkably, in his debut year, he clinched the Australian Karter of the Yearaward in the Cadet 9 category. Fast forward six years, and Jesse took on theworld's finest drivers, emerging victorious. His international racing debut inOctober 2019 saw him rise above 150 competitors, securing pole position in his
first race. Jesse went on to achieve a remarkable triumph by winning theprestigious Sahi Trophy, prevailing over 100 racers hailing from various cornersof the globe.
FERRARI DRIVER ACADEMY 2021
In 2021, Jesse was the winner of the Australian and NZ FDA talent search, andas a result he flew to Italy and attended the Ferrari driver academy in October.
He competed against 3 other candidates selected from all over the world. Thewinner would receive a contract with Ferrari in 2022 to drive a Formula Four in
the Italy Championship. Jesse was the youngest of the 4 drivers, and the least
experienced. While he was not the eventual winner for 2021, he pitted himself
extremely well against some incredibly talented young men. The experience wasamazing, and it has only made him more committed.
2023 US F4 CHAMPIONSHIP
in 2023, securing a remarkable 4th place finish in the US F4 Championship in
his first attempt at 16 years of age. Jesse claimed an impressive total of 6
podiums,1 race win, 3 second and 2 third place finished, including 2 poleposition and alap record
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Michael Sauter
Nationality:
Date of Birth:
Height:Weight:Blood Type:Team：
Car Number:

Swiss
5 October 2004
168cm
57kg
A positive
Birth Racing Project(BRP)
5Michael was born in 2004 and be3sides racing I am currently doing anapprenticeship as a car body repairer. To be physically fit, I do fitness in myspare time, play tennis and ski during the winter break.
Michael’s great-grandfather, Kurt Sauter was a Swiss racing and sports car
manufacturer. With his self-designed and manufactured racing sports cars heachieved good results in national as well as international races.
74 years later, his great-grandson, Michael Sauter, is now driving a Formula 4
Mono-post race car in the family team and continues the tradition.

CARREER HIGHLIGHTS
2023 FIA Formula Regional Japanese Championship
Spot-participation at Motegi Round
2023 FIA F4 CEZ Championship2022 ADAC Formula 4 13th in Overall rating
2021 ADAC Formula 4 Vice Rookie Champion
2012 Started the karting
3rd place at the 1st race5