Saihara Motorsports

(WIP)

Saihara Motorsports (JP: 最原モータースポーツ) is an ESPLAR racing team based in Osaka, Japan and headquartered in Nagahama, Japan. The team, founded in protest of Team Nitra's strict driver standards after the 2011 ESPLAR Elite Series season, is one of the most influential teams in ESPLAR and one of the most popular in the series.

History
Kazuichi Saihara was the surprise rookie champion in the 2011 ESPLAR Elite Series season, after beating his teammate Jose Antonio Arroyo to the title after the latter blew the engine during the Evanshire 700. Despite winning the title, Team Nitra were not happy about how Kaz performed in comparison to Arroyo, and refused to renew his one-year contract. In protest of Team Nitra's decision, Saihara started a new team in hopes of keeping his career alive, and he received global attention in what was perceived as, "an uprising against the main ESPLAR establishment teams."

Current
Saihara Motorsports are one of the top teams in ESPLAR, next to Greater Kanto Motorsports, Mylo-Kerrivan Motorsports, and the resurgent Scuderia Ferrari team. They have an ongoing rivalry with Greater Kanto Motorsports dating back to 2018.