Ryō Hirakawa
Ryō Hirakawa (平川亮, Hirakawa Ryō, born 7 March 1994) is a Japanese racing driver, best known for winning the 2017 Super GT Series.
| Ryō Hirakawa | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Ryō Hirakawa in 2017 | |
| Nationality |  |
| Born | 7 March 1994 Kure, Japan |
| Super Formula career | |
| Debut season | 2013 |
| Current team | Itochu Enex Team Impul |
| Car number | 20 |
| Starts | 36 |
| Wins | 1 |
| Poles | 2 |
| Fastest laps | 2 |
| Best finish | 5th in 2018 |
| Previous series | |
| 2012 2010–12 2010 | All-Japan Formula Three Formula Challenge Japan Formula BMW Pacific |
| Championship titles | |
| 2012 2012 2017 | All-Japan Formula Three Porsche Carrera Cup Japan Super GT |
Career
Karting
Born in Kure, Hiroshima, Hirakawa began his racing career in karting at the age of eleven and raced in various local championships, progressing to the KF2 category in 2009, finishing 32nd in the Asia-Pacific Championship.[1][2]
Formula Challenge Japan and Formula BMW Pacific
In 2010, Hirakawa graduated to single–seaters into the Formula Challenge Japan mono-series. He finished two of the eleven races on the podium and finished sixth in the series standings.[3] Hirakawa also contested the final rounds in Formula BMW Pacific, joining the Asia Racing Team.[4][5]
He remained in Formula Challenge Japan for two further years, finishing both years as runner-up; he took one win in 2011 and five wins in 2012.[6][7]
All-Japan Formula Three
In 2012, Hirakawa stepped up to the All-Japan Formula Three Championship with the RSS team.[8] He dominated the first half of the championship, taking seven wins and taking the championship title with it.[9] During the season he also appeared in the Macau Grand Prix.[10]
Super Formula
Hirakawa made his debut in the Super Formula Championship in 2013 with Kygnus Sunoco Team LeMans. At 19 years of age, Hirakawa was the youngest driver in the championship
In 2014, he scored his first Super Formula podium finish in the July 13 race at Fuji Speedway, finishing second after running off track while leading on the final lap. Kazuki Nakajima claimed the race victory.
In 2015, he remained with Team LeMans, to be joined by ex-Formula 1 driver Kamui Kobayashi. Hirakawa finished eighth in the championship for the second consecutive season, but did not claim a podium finish. Hirakawa left the series for the 2016 season, focusing on his commitments in Super GT and his new challenges in the European Le Mans Series and the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Hirakawa returned to Super Formula in 2018 with Team Impul replacing Jann Mardenborough. He achieved his first pole at Autopolis, which was cancelled due to adverse weather and finished fifth in the championship. He continued with Team Impul in 2019 and won his first ever Super Formula race at Motegi.
IndyCar
Hirakawa had tests with Dale Coyne Racing during 2013.[11]
Super GT
Hirakawa made his Super GT debut in 2014 with Lexus Team Petronas TOM's, substituting for Kazuki Nakajima for two races while Nakajima fulfilled commitments in the World Endurance Championship.
He made his full-time debut in 2015 for Lexus Team KeePer TOM's, driving alongside Andrea Caldarelli. He won his first race in just his third career start at Okayama, then won again in the season finale at Motegi. Hirakawa and Caldarelli finished fifth in the championship.
For 2016, Hirakawa was joined in the KeePer TOM's RC-F by James Rossiter.
For 2017, Hirakawa was joined with Nick Cassidy with whom he went onto win the championship.
European Le Mans Series
On February 4, 2016, Toyota Gazoo Racing announced that Hirakawa would be competing in the LMP2 class of the European Le Mans Series.[12] On March 4, Hirakawa was confirmed as the third driver at Thiriet by TDS Racing alongside Pierre Thiriet and Mathias Beche. Hirakawa also drove in the 24 Hours of Le Mans for the first time. He won his first race in the ELMS at the 2016 4 Hours of Imola on May 15, 2016. Hirakawa also won the following round at the Red Bull Ring. For 2017, Hirakawa joined the No.22 G-Drive entry winning at Monza and heling the No.22 entry to win the LMP2 team's championship.
Racing record
Career summary
| Season | Series | Team | Races | Wins | Poles | FLaps | Podiums | Points | Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Formula Challenge Japan | 11 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 17 | 6th | |
| Formula BMW Pacific | Asia Racing Team | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | NC† | |
| 2011 | Formula Challenge Japan | 13 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 73 | 2nd | |
| 2012 | All-Japan Formula Three | RSS | 15 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 13 | 118 | 1st |
| Formula Challenge Japan | 12 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 10 | 91 | 2nd | ||
| Macau Grand Prix Formula Three | KCMG by RSS | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | N/A | NC | |
| Porsche Carrera Cup Japan | GARMIN Porsche | 12 | 7 | 6 | ? | 9 | ? | 1st | |
| 2013 | Super Formula | Kygnus Sunoco Team LeMans | 7 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 9 | 11th |
| 2014 | Super Formula | Kygnus Sunoco Team LeMans | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 16.5 | 8th |
| Super GT - GT500 | Lexus Team Petronas TOM'S | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 11th | |
| 2015 | Super Formula | Kygnus Sunoco Team LeMans | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 8th |
| Super GT - GT500 | Lexus Team KeePer TOM'S | 8 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 56 | 5th | |
| 2016 | European Le Mans Series - LMP2 | Thiriet by TDS Racing | 5 | 2 | 1 | ? | 3 | 70 | 5th |
| Super GT - GT500 | Lexus Team KeePer TOM's | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 27 | 9th | |
| 2017 | European Le Mans Series - LMP2 | G-Drive Racing | 4 | 2 | 0 | ? | 3 | 73 | 4th |
| Super GT - GT500 | Lexus Team KeePer TOM'S | 8 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 84 | 1st | |
| 2018 | Super GT - GT500 | Lexus Team KeePer TOM'S | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 75 | 2nd |
| Super Formula | Itochu Enex Team Impul | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 17 | 5th | |
| 2019 | Super GT - GT500 | Lexus Team KeePer TOM'S | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 63 | 2nd* |
| Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | NC† | ||
| Super Formula | Itochu Enex Team Impul | 6 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 11 | 11th* | |
† – As Hirakawa was a guest driver, he was ineligible for points.
* Season still in progress.
Complete Super Formula Results
(Races in bold indicate pole position)
| Year | Entrant | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | DC | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Kygnus Sunoco Team LeMans | SUZ 8 |
AUT 7 |
FUJ 11 |
MOT 7 |
SUG Ret |
SUZ1 6 |
SUZ2 4 |
11th | 9 | ||
| 2014 | Kygnus Sunoco Team LeMans | SUZ 4 |
FUJ1 Ret |
FUJ2 8 |
FUJ 2 |
MOT 10 |
AUT 13 |
SUG 8 |
SUZ1 16 |
SUZ2 5 |
8th | 16.5 |
| 2015 | Kygnus Sunoco Team LeMans | SUZ 12 |
OKA 9 |
FUJ 6 |
MOT 7 |
AUT 4 |
SUG 8 |
SUZ 10 |
SUZ 5 |
8th | 13 | |
| 2018 | Itochu Enex Team Impul | SUZ Ret |
AUT C |
SUG 9 |
FUJ 4 |
MOT 2 |
OKA 3 |
SUZ Ret |
5th | 17 | ||
| 2019 | Itochu Enex Team Impul | SUZ Ret |
AUT 14 |
SUG 11 |
FUJ 12 |
MOT 1 |
OKA 12 |
SUZ 8 |
10th | 12 |
Complete Super GT results
| Year | Team | Car | Class | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | DC | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Lexus Team Petronas TOM'S | Lexus RC-F | GT500 | OKA | FUJ 9 |
AUT 5 |
SUG | FUJ | SUZ | BUR | MOT | 20th | 8 |
| 2015 | Lexus Team KeePer TOM'S | Lexus RC-F | GT500 | OKA 1 |
FUJ 6 |
BUR 6 |
FUJ 12 |
SUZ 8 |
SUG 9 |
AUT 12 |
MOT 1 |
5th | 56 |
| 2016 | Lexus Team KeePer TOM'S | Lexus RC F | GT500 | OKA 2 |
FUJ 3 |
SUG 8 |
FUJ 12 |
SUZ Ret |
CHA 9 |
MOT Ret |
MOT 5 |
9th | 38 |
| 2017 | Lexus Team KeePer TOM'S | Lexus LC 500 | GT500 | OKA 1 |
FUJ 3 |
AUT 6 |
SUG 10 |
FUJ 6 |
SUZ 6 |
CHA 1 |
MOT 2 |
1st | 84 |
| 2018 | Lexus Team KeePer TOM'S | Lexus LC 500 | GT500 | OKA 3 |
FUJ 7 |
SUZ 3 |
CHA 8 |
FUJ 2 |
SUG 14 |
AUT 1 |
MOT 4 |
2nd | 75 |
| 2019 | Lexus Team KeePer TOM'S | Lexus LC 500 | GT500 | OKA 12 |
FUJ 7 |
SUZ 2 |
CHA 2 |
FUJ 4 |
AUT 3 |
SUG 4 |
MOT 1 |
2nd | 83 |
| 2020 | Toyota Gazoo Racing Team KeePer Tom's | Toyota GR Supra GT500 | GT500 | FUJ (1) |
FUJ (2) |
SUZ (1) |
MOT (1) |
FUJ (3) |
SUZ (2) |
MOT (2) |
FUJ (4) |
* | * |
* Season still in progress.
Complete European Le Mans Series results
| Year | Entrant | Class | Chassis | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | Rank | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Thiriet by TDS Racing | LMP2 | Oreca 05 | Nissan VK45DE 4.5 L V8 | SIL Ret |
IMO 1 |
RBR 1 |
LEC | SPA 3 |
EST 8 |
5th | 70 |
| 2017 | G-Drive Racing | LMP2 | Oreca 07 | Gibson GK428 4.2 L V8 | SIL 2 |
MNZ 1 |
RBR | LEC | SPA 2 |
ALG 4 |
4th | 73 |
24 Hours of Le Mans results
| Year | Team | Co-Drivers | Car | Class | Laps | Pos. | Class Pos. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 |  |
 |
Oreca 05-Nissan | LMP2 | 241 | DNF | DNF |
| 2017 |  |
 |
Oreca 07-Gibson | LMP2 | 327 | 39th | 17th |
References
- "Profile" (in Japanese). ryo-hirakawa.com. Retrieved 24 August 2013.
- "Asia-Pacific Championship — KF2 2009". drivedb.com. Driver Database. Retrieved 24 August 2013.
- "Formula Challenge Japan 2010". Driver Database. Retrieved 24 August 2013.
- "Formula BMW Pacific Provisional Entry List". macau.grandprix.gov.mo. Macau Grand Prix. Archived from the original on 28 July 2011. Retrieved 6 October 2010.
- "Formula BMW Pacific 2010". DriverDB.com. Driver Database. Retrieved 24 August 2013.
- "Formula Challenge Japan 2011". DriverDB.com. Driver Database. Retrieved 24 August 2013.
- "Formula Challenge Japan 2012". DriverDB.com. Driver Database. Retrieved 24 August 2013.
- 開幕ラウンド占有走行 [Travel round the opening possession]. All-Japan Formula Three Championship (in Japanese). Japanese Formula 3 Association. 13 May 2011. Retrieved 24 August 2013.
- "Japanese Formula 3 Championship – Championship Class 2012". driverdb.com. Driver Database. Retrieved 24 August 2013.
- "Formula 3 Macau Grand Prix Provisional Entry List". macau.grandprix.gov.mo. Macau Grand Prix. 24 August 2013. Archived from the original on 18 November 2011. Retrieved 6 October 2011.
- Glendenning, Mark (14 August 2013). "Ryo Hirakawa closes in on Coyne IndyCar drive". Autosport. Haymarket. Retrieved 24 August 2013.
- "Toyota GAZOO Racing Outlines 2016 Motorsports Activities". Toyota Global Newsroom. Toyota GAZOO Racing. Retrieved 4 March 2016.
External links
- Official website (in Japanese)
- Ryō Hirakawa career summary at DriverDB.com
| Sporting positions | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Yuhi Sekiguchi |
All-Japan Formula Three Championship Champion 2012 |
Succeeded by Yuichi Nakayama |
| Preceded by Hideto Yasuoka |
Porsche Carrera Cup Japan Champion 2012 |
Succeeded by Ryo Ogawa |
| Preceded by Heikki Kovalainen Kohei Hirate |
Super GT GT500 Champion 2017 With: Nick Cassidy |
Succeeded by Naoki Yamamoto Jenson Button |