Pacific, which has run Ferrari machinery in conjunction with CarGuy in SUPER GT's GT300 class for the past two seasons (pictured above), appeared on the full-season entry list released by the Japanese championship last week, but with its car model and drivers yet to be announced.
Now the squad has announced that it will run a Yokohama-shod Mercedes this season, effectively confirming that Ferrari will be absent from the SUPER GT grid for the first time since 2020.
Motoki Jinno continues to serve as team boss, while maintenance is handled by Gifu Prefecture-based Nakanihon Automotive College.
SUPER GT veteran Ryohei Sakaguchi spearheads the driver line-up for the #9 car, moving across from Arnage Racing. He previously drove for Pacific in 2015-16, when it ran McLaren and then Porsche machinery.
Sakaguchi is joined by Chinese racer Liang Jiatong, who has experience in categories such as International GT Open and Lamborghini Super Trofeo.
Shintaro Kawabata, who previously drove for the Hitotsuyama Audi squad, will serve as third driver.
Elsewhere, R'Qs Motor Sports has announced its plans for the 2023 season. Veteran duo Hisashi Wada and Masaki Jyonai continue together in the team's Arnage-run Mercedes, joined by new third driver in the form of Masaki Kano.
Kano shared the Arnage Toyota 86 Mother Chassis entry with Sakaguchi for the majority of last season.
