Kunimitsu Takahashi

Japanese motorcycle racer and racing driver (1940–2022)

Kunimitsu Takahashi

Takahashi in 1963

Nationality|  Japanese
Born| (1940-01-29)29 January 1940
Tokyo, Japan
Died| 16 March 2022(2022-03-16) (aged 82)
| Motorcycle racing career statistics

Grand Prix motorcycle racing
Active years| 1960–1964
First race| 1960 250cc German Grand Prix
Last race| 1964 125cc French Grand Prix
First win| 1961 250cc German Grand Prix
Last win| 1962 125cc Spanish Grand Prix
Team(s)| Honda
| Starts | Wins | Podiums | Poles | F. laps | Points

|
|
|
|
|

129 | 4 | 15 | N/A | 3 | 107
Formula One World Championship career
Active years| 1977
Teams| non-works Tyrrell
Entries| 1
Championships| 0
Wins| 0
Podiums| 0
Career points| 0
Pole positions| 0
Fastest laps| 0
First entry| 1977 Japanese Grand Prix
24 Hours of Le Mans career
Years| 1986–1990, 1994–1996
Teams| Team Kunimitsu Honda, Kremer Racing
Best finish| 8th (1995)
Class wins| 1 (1995)

Kunimitsu Takahashi (Shinjitai: 高橋 国光, Takahashi Kunimitsu, 29 January 1940 – 16 March 2022) was a Japanese professional motorcycle road racer, racing driver, and team manager. Nicknamed "Kuni-san", he is known as the "father of drifting".

His racing career lasted from 1958 to 1999.[1] He competed on motorcycles between 1958 and 1963, during which he became the first Japanese rider to win a World Grand Prix, taking four world-level wins in total. Injuries sustained in a crash in 1962 led to him switching to four-wheels in 1965, after which he won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in class, become a four-time All-Japan Sports Prototype Champion, and won in Japanese Top Formula, JTC, and JGTC. His final victory as a driver came in 1999 at the age of 59.

His racing team, Team Kunimitsu, has won multiple championships in Super GT. He was the chairman of the GT Association, the organizers of the Super GT series, from 1993 to 2007.

## Motorcycle racing

[edit]

In 1961, Takahashi became the first Japanese rider to win a motorcycle Grand Prix riding a 250cc Honda to victory at Hockenheim. His best World Championship finishes were a fourth place in the 1961 250 world championship and a fourth place in the 1962 125 world championship, both times on a Honda.[2] He was seriously injured in the 1962 Isle of Man TT and switched to car racing in 1965. He won four Grand Prix races during his motorcycle racing career.

## Car racing

[edit]

Takahashi participated in one Formula One race, the 1977 Japanese Grand Prix on 23 October 1977, driving the non-works Tyrrell that Kazuyoshi Hoshino had used in the 1976 Japanese Grand Prix. Takahashi finished 9th in his single Grand Prix outing, thus he scored no championship points. From 1987 to 1992, he competed in the Japanese Formula 3000 championship. He also competed in eight 24 Hours of Le Mans races between 1986 and 1996. In the 1995 24 Hours of Le Mans, his team competed with a Honda NSX, winning the GT2 Class and finishing eighth overall.

In 1994, he formed Team Kunimitsu to compete in the inaugural JGTC season, running a Porsche 911 RSR Turbo in the GT1 class alongside Keiichi Tsuchiya. In 1996, with the advent of the GT500 class, Team Kunimitsu switched manufacturers from Porsche to Honda. The next year, Team Kunimitsu cars wore the Raybrig colors for the first time. Takahashi drove for his own team until 1999. He retired at the end of the season to focus on team management. Team Kunimitsu won their first Drivers Championship in 2018 with Naoki Yamamoto and 2009 Formula One champion Jenson Button behind the wheel of the #100 Raybrig Honda.[3]

## Death

[edit]

Takahashi died from lymphoma on 16 March 2022, at the age of 82.[4][5]

## Career motorsports results

[edit]

### Motorcycle Grand Prix results

[edit]

(key) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year  | Class  | Team  | 1  | 2  | 3  | 4  | 5  | 6  | 7  | 8  | 9  | 10  | 11  | 12  | Points  | Rank  | Wins

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

1960 | 125cc  | Honda | IOM | NED | BEL |  | ULS
6 | NAT |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1  | 10th  | 0
250cc  | Honda | IOM | NED | BEL | GER
6 | ULS
5 | NAT
4 |  |  |  |  |  |  | 6  | 7th  | 0
1961 | 125cc  | Honda | ESP | GER
6 | FRA
6 | IOM | NED | BEL | DDR
3 | ULS
1 | NAT | SWE
2 | ARG
3 |  | 24  | 5th  | 1
250cc  | Honda | ESP | GER
1 | FRA
3 | IOM
4 | NED | BEL | DDR
3 | ULS
6 | NAT | SWE
3 | ARG
2 |  | 29  | 4th  | 1
1962 | 50cc  | Honda | ESP
6 | FRA
2 | IOM | NED | BEL | GER |  | DDR | NAT | FIN | ARG |  | 7  | 9th  | 0
125cc  | Honda | ESP
1 | FRA
1 | IOM
NC | NED | BEL | GER | ULS | DDR | NAT | FIN | ARG |  | 16  | 4th  | 2
1963 | 50cc  | Honda | ESP | GER | FRA | IOM | NED | BEL |  |  | FIN |  | ARG | JPN
11 | 0  | \-  | 0
125cc  | Honda | ESP
3 | GER
5 | FRA
3 | IOM
8 | NED
5 | BEL | ULS
5 | DDR | FIN | NAT
3 | ARG | JPN | 14  | 7th  | 0
250cc  | Honda | ESP
4 | GER
NC |  | IOM
NC | NED | BEL
6 | ULS
4 | DDR |  | NAT | ARG | JPN | 7  | 9th  | 0
1964 | 50cc  | Honda | USA | ESP
NC | FRA | IOM | NED | BEL | GER |  |  | FIN |  | JPN | 0  | \-  | 0
125cc  | Honda | USA | ESP | FRA
4 | IOM | NED |  | GER | DDR | ULS | FIN | NAT | JPN | 3  | 14th  | 0

### Complete Formula One results

[edit]

(key)

Year  | Entrant  | Chassis  | Engine  | 1  | 2  | 3  | 4  | 5  | 6  | 7  | 8  | 9  | 10  | 11  | 12  | 13  | 14  | 15  | 16  | 17  | WDC  | Points

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

1977 | Meiritsu Racing Team  | Tyrrell 007 | Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 | ARG | BRA | RSA | USW | ESP | MON | BEL | SWE | FRA | GBR | GER | AUT | NED | ITA | USA | CAN | JPN
9 | NC  | 0
Source:[6]

### Super Formula Championship results

[edit]

This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (March 2021)

|

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year  | Entrant  | 1  | 2  | 3  | 4  | 5  | 6  | 7  | 8  | 9  | 10  | 11  | DC  | Points

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

1975  | Sakai Racing Shop  | FUJ
DNS |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | NC | 0
Racing Shop Yatsuka  |  | SUZ
Ret | FUJ | SUZ | SUZ |  |  |  |  |  |
1976  | Sakai Racing Shop  | FUJ
Ret | SUZ | FUJ
4 | SUZ
3 | SUZ
Ret |  |  |  |  |  |  | 6th  | 22
1977  | Speed Star Racing | SUZ
1 | SUZ
4 | MIN
1 | SUZ
3 | FUJ
2 | FUJ
3 | SUZ
1 | SUZ
3 |  |  |  | 2nd | 87 (117)
1978  | Speed Star Wheel Racing | SUZ
Ret | FUJ
5 | SUZ
Ret | SUZ
Ret | SUZ
5 | MIN | SUZ
1 |  |  |  |  | 6th  | 40
1979  | Speed Star Wheel Racing | SUZ
8 | MIN
2 | SUZ
9 | FUJ
2 | SUZ
4 | SUZ
5 | SUZ
6 |  |  |  |  | 4th  | 57 (64)
1980  | Royce Racing Team
Suzuki Racing  | SUZ | MIN | SUZ
Ret | SUZ
Ret | SUZ | SUZ
7 |  |  |  |  |  | 15th  | 4
1981  | Suzuki Racing  | SUZ
5 | SUZ
4 | SUZ
10 | SUZ
10 | SUZ
8 |  |  |  |  |  |  | 8th  | 23
1982  | Shift  | SUZ
Ret | FUJ
Ret | SUZ
5 | SUZ
12 | SUZ
10 | SUZ
13 |  |  |  |  |  | 15th  | 9
1983  | Nova Engineering  | SUZ
7 | FUJ
2 | MIN
2 | SUZ
8 | SUZ
Ret | FUJ
9 | SUZ
4 | SUZ
Ret |  |  |  | 6th  | 46
1984  | Advan Sports Nova  | SUZ
13 | FUJ
Ret | MIN
6 | SUZ
10 | SUZ
11 | FUJ
Ret | SUZ
7 | SUZ
11 |  |  |  | 13th  | 11
1985  | Advan Sports Nova  | SUZ
9 | FUJ
11 | MIN | SUZ
8 | SUZ
Ret | FUJ
7 | SUZ
12 | SUZ
5 |  |  |  | 13th  | 17
1986 | Team JPS Advan  | SUZ
6 | FUJ
Ret | MIN
8 | SUZ
8 | SUZ
9 | FUJ
11 | SUZ
5 | SUZ
Ret |  |  |  | 10th  | 22
1987 | Advan Sports Nova  | SUZ
6 | FUJ
7 | MIN
8 | SUZ
6 | SUZ
9 | SUG
6 | FUJ
8 | SUZ
8 | SUZ
Ret |  |  | 9th  | 33
1988 | Advan Sports Nova  | SUZ
3 | FUJ
Ret | MIN
7 | SUZ
5 | SUG
6 | FUJ
3 | SUZ
10 | SUZ
6 |  |  |  | 7th  | 12
1989 | Advan Sports Nova  | SUZ
12 | FUJ
15 | MIN
8 | SUZ
12 | SUG
4 | FUJ
11 | SUZ
14 | SUZ
8 |  |  |  | 15th  | 3
1990 | Advan Sports Nova  | SUZ
12 | FUJ
14 | MIN
7 | SUZ
4 | SUG
20 | FUJ
10 | FUJ
3 | SUZ
12 | FUJ
8 | SUZ
Ret |  | 9th  | 7
1991 | Advan Sports Nova  | SUZ
DNQ | AUT
20 | FUJ
22 | MIN
14 | SUZ
DNQ | SUG
16 | FUJ
21 | SUZ
20 | FUJ
C | SUZ
11 | FUJ
Ret | 32nd  | 0
1992 | Advan Sport Pal  | SUZ
15 | FUJ
Ret | MIN
Ret | SUZ
Ret | AUT
15 | SUG
Ret | FUJ
12 | FUJ
11 | SUZ
Ret | FUJ
22 | SUZ
7 | 22nd  | 0
1993 | Advan Sport Pal  | SUZ
Ret | FUJ
11 | MIN
9 | SUZ
12 | AUT
C | SUG
10 | FUJ
C | FUJ
9 | SUZ
9 | FUJ
18 | SUZ
Ret | 20th  | 0
1994 | Advan Sport Pal  | SUZ
12 | FUJ
Ret | MIN | SUZ
8 | SUG | FUJ
8 | SUZ
11 | FUJ
3 | FUJ
10 | SUZ
14 |  | 10th  | 4

### All-Japan Sports Prototype Championship results

[edit]

Year  | Team  | Car  | Class  | 1  | 2  | 3  | 4  | 5  | 6  | 7  | Rank  | Points

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

1984 | Advan Nova  | Porsche 956 | C1  | SUZ | TSU | SUZ
1 | FUJ |  |  |  | 9th  | 20
1985 | Advan Nova  | Porsche 962C | C1  | SUZ
3 | FUJ
Ret | FUJ
1 | SUZ
1 | FUJ
Ret | FUJ
1 |  | 1st | 72
1986 | Advan Nova  | Porsche 962C | C1  | SUZ
1 | FUJ
1 | FUJ
2 | SUZ
Ret | FUJ
8 | FUJ
2 |  | 1st | 70
1987 | Advan Nova  | Porsche 962C | C1  | SUZ
2 | FUJ
3 | FUJ
1 | SUZ
3 | FUJ
11 | FUJ
1 |  | 1st | 59
1988 | Advan Nova  | Porsche 962C | C1  | FUJ
3 | SUZ
Ret | FUJ
2 | FUJ
Ret | SUZ
2 | FUJ
6 |  | 4th  | 48
1989 | Advan Nova  | Porsche 962C | C1  | FUJ
6 | FUJ
4 | FUJ
4 | SUZ
1 | FUJ
4 |  |  | 1st | 56
1990 | Advan Nova  | Porsche 962C | C1  | FUJ
8 | FUJ
C | FUJ
5 | SUZ
Ret | SUG
6 | FUJ
Ret |  | 22nd  | 9
1991 | Team Taisan | Porsche 962C | C1  | FUJ
5 | FUJ
Ret | FUJ
| SUZ
| SUG
| FUJ
| SUG
| 27th  | 8

### 24 Hours of Le Mans results

[edit]

Year  | Team  | Co-Drivers  | Car  | Class  | Laps  | Pos. | Class
Pos.

|
|
|
|
|
|
|

1986 |  Kremer Racing |  Jo Gartner
Sarel van der Merwe | Porsche 962C | C1  | 169  | NC  | NC
1987 |  Kris Nissen
Volker Weidler | C1  | 6  | DNF  | DNF
1988 |  Hideki Okada
Bruno Giacomelli | C1  | 370  | 9th  | 9th
1989 |  Bruno Giacomelli
Giovanni Lavaggi | C1  | 303  | DNF  | DNF
1990 |  Sarel van der Merwe
Hideki Okada | C1  | 279  | 24th  | 21st
1994 |  Kremer Honda Racing |  Keiichi Tsuchiya
Akira Iida | Honda NSX GT2 | GT2  | 222  | 18th  | 9th
1995 |  Team Kunimitsu |  Keiichi Tsuchiya
Akira Iida | GT2  | 275  | 8th  | 1st
1996 |  Keiichi Tsuchiya
Akira Iida | GT2  | 305  | 16th  | 3rd

### Complete JGTC results

[edit]

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year  | Team  | Car  | Class  | 1  | 2  | 3  | 4  | 5  | 6  | 7  | Rank  | Points

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

1994 | Team Kunimitsu | Porsche 911 RSR-T | GT1  | FUJ | SEN | FUJ
Ret | SUG
1 | MIN
2 |  |  | 7th  | 35
1995 | Team Kunimitsu | Porsche 911 RSR-T | GT1  | SUZ
14 | FUJ
3 | SEN
4 | FUJ
8 | SUG
8 | MIN
Ret |  | 10th  | 28
1996 | Team Kunimitsu | Honda NSX | GT500  | SUZ
Ret | FUJ
8 | SEN
12 | FUJ
7 | SUG
10 | MIN
11 |  | 17th  | 8
1997 | Team Kunimitsu | Honda NSX | GT500  | SUZ | FUJ
Ret | SEN
16 | FUJ
11 | MIN
2 | SUG
2 |  | 9th  | 30
1998 | Team Kunimitsu | Honda NSX | GT500  | SUZ
10 | FUJ
C | SEN
12 | FUJ
Ret | MOT
7 | MIN
1 | SUG
Ret | 10th  | 25
1999 | Team Kunimitsu | Honda NSX | GT500  | SUZ
Ret | FUJ
1 | SUG
13 | MIN
15 | FUJ
7 | TAI
5 | MOT
9 | 11th  | 34

### Complete British Saloon Car Championship results

[edit]

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap.)

Year  | Team  | Car  | Class  | 1  | 2  | 3  | 4  | 5  | 6  | 7  | 8  | 9  | 10  | 11  | 12  | DC  | Pts  | Class

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

1985 | Mitsubishi Colt Racing | Mitsubishi Starion Turbo | A | SIL | OUL | THR | DON | THR | SIL | DON | SIL | SNE | BRH | BRH | SIL
ovr:9
cls:8 | NC  | 0  | NC

Source:[7]

### Complete Japanese Touring Car Championship results

[edit]

Year  | Team  | Car  | Class  | 1  | 2  | 3  | 4  | 5  | 6  | 7  | 8  | 9  | DC  | Pts

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

1986  | STP Ralliart | Mitsubishi Starion Turbo | Div.3  | NIS
4 | SUG
2 | TSU
1 | SEN
Ret | FUJ
Ret | SUZ
2 |  |  |  | ?  | ?
1987  | STP Ralliart | Mitsubishi Starion Turbo | Div.3  | NIS
1 | SEN
1 | TSU
Ret | SUG
18 | FUJ
10 | SUZ
Ret |  |  |  | ?  | ?
1988  | STP Ralliart | Mitsubishi Starion Turbo | JTC-1  | SUZ | NIS
4 | SEN
2 | TSU
Ret | SUG
Ret | FUJ
15 |  |  |  | ?  | ?
1992 | Team Taisan | Nissan Skyline GT-R | JTC-1  | AID
4 | AUT
Ret | SUG
3 | SUZ
3 | MIN
17 | TSU
2 | SEN
4 | FUJ
17 |  | 9th  | 74
1993 | Team Taisan | Nissan Skyline GT-R | JTC-1  | MIN
Ret | AUT
1 | SUG
Ret | SUZ
2 | AID
5 | TSU
4 | TOK
6 | SEN
Ret | FUJ
Ret | 11th  | 59

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Kunimitsu Takahashi Honoured By Japanese Government For Lifelong Sporting Achievements – dailysportscar.com". www.dailysportscar.com. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
2. ^ Kunimitsu Takahashi career statistics at MotoGP.com
3. ^ "Motegi Super GT: Jenson Button holds off late threat for title". Autosport.com. Autosport. Retrieved 2 January 2019.
4. ^ "Japanese racing legend Kunimitsu Takahashi dies aged 82". Motorsport.com. 16 March 2022.
5. ^ "Kunimitsu Takahashi, legendary racing driver and grandfather of drifting, dies at 82". Japanese Nostalgiccar. 17 March 2022. Retrieved 18 March 2022.
6. ^ Kunimitsu Takahashi Formula One statistics at formula1.com
7. ^ de Jong, Frank. "British Saloon Car Championship". History of Touring Car Racing 1952-1993. Retrieved 15 January 2025.

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kunimitsu Takahashi.

* Kunimitsu Takahashi on MotoGP.com
* Official Team Site
* Kunimitsu Takahashi career summary at DriverDB.com

Authority control databases

International|

* VIAF

National|

* Japan

*[Years]: Participating years