Ryō Hirakawa

Japanese racing driver

Ryō Hirakawa

Ryō Hirakawa in 2017

Nationality|  Japanese
Born|  (1994-03-07) 7 March 1994 (age 29)
Kure, Japan
Super Formula career
Debut season| 2013
Current team| carenex Team Impul
Car number| 20
Former teams| Team LeMans
Starts| 54
Wins| 4
Poles| 4
Fastest laps| 3
Best finish| 2nd in 2020
Previous series
2012
2010–12
2010| All-Japan Formula Three
Formula Challenge Japan
Formula BMW Pacific
Championship titles
2022
2017
2012
2012| World Endurance Championship
Super GT
Japanese Formula 3
Porsche Carrera Cup Japan

Ryō Hirakawa (平川亮, Hirakawa Ryō, born 7 March 1994) is a Japanese racing driver who is currently competing for Toyota Gazoo Racing in the FIA World Endurance Championship and Japanese Super Formula Championship. He was Super GT GT500 champion in 2017, and finished runner-up in Super Formula in 2020. He won the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the Hypercar World Endurance Drivers' Championship in 2022 alongside co-drivers Sébastien Buemi and Brendon Hartley.

## Early career[edit]

Born in Kure, Hiroshima Prefecture, Hirakawa began his racing career in karting at the age of thirteen and raced in various local championships. In just his second year of karting, he won the 2008 All-Japan Junior Kart Championship, before progressing to the KF2 category in 2009, where he finished third in the All-Japan Kart Championship and 32nd in the Asia-Pacific Championship.[1][2]

After graduating from the Formula Toyota Racing School, Hirakawa graduated to single-seaters in 2010, competing primarily in the Formula Challenge Japan series. In his first season, he finished sixth in the series standings, finishing on the podium two times in eleven races.[3] He won his first race in the Super FJ category, and won the JAF Regional Championship Super FJ Okayama Series title at 16 years, 8 months of age. Hirakawa also contested the final three rounds in the 2010 Formula BMW Pacific season, as a guest driver. He recorded a best finish of fourth place at Okayama.[4][5]

He remained in Formula Challenge Japan for 2011, winning his first race in the sixth round at Fuji Speedway. He finished the year second in the championship standings behind future Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT driver Takamoto Katsuta.[6] That same year, Hirakawa won the JAF Formula 4 West Series Championship, becoming the youngest champion at 17 years, 8 months of age.

In 2012, Hirakawa competed for a third season in Formula Challenge Japan,[7] and simultaneously stepped up to the All-Japan Formula Three Championship with Team RSS,[8] as well as the Porsche Carrera Cup Japan with a Porsche junior scholarship.

He won his debut race in Japanese F3, and seven of the first nine races of the season, en route to clinching the championship at the twelfth round in Sportsland Sugo.[9] After the Japanese F3 season concluded, Hirakawa made his debut in the Macau Grand Prix with RSS, qualifying 24th and retiring from the race due to a collision.[10] In Porsche Carrera Cup Japan, Hirakawa won seven consecutive races, and clinched the series championship with two races remaining. He became the youngest ever champion in Japanese F3 and Carrera Cup Japan, at 18 years of age.[11] And in his third FCJ season, Hirakawa won five races, and finished second in the championship to Nobuharu Matsushita, after both drivers finished with the same number of points and race wins.

## Super Formula and Super GT career[edit]

### Super Formula[edit]

#### 2013–2015[edit]

Hirakawa joined the Toyota Young Driver Program (TDP) and made his Super Formula Championship debut in 2013 with the Toyota-powered Team LeMans. At 19 years of age, Hirakawa was the youngest driver in the championship. He finished his debut season 11th in the championship standings, with a best finish of fourth at the double-header finale at Suzuka Circuit. That same year, Hirakawa tested an IndyCar for Dale Coyne Racing at Sonoma Raceway.[12]

In 2014, he scored his first Super Formula podium finish in the 13 July race at Fuji Speedway, finishing second after running off track while leading on the final lap. Kazuki Nakajima claimed the race victory. Hirakawa improved to eighth in the championship.[13] Hirakawa remained at Team LeMans for 2015, joined by ex-Formula One driver Kamui Kobayashi. Hirakawa finished eighth in the championship for the second consecutive season, recording five top eight finishes.[14]

#### 2018–present[edit]

Hirakawa driving for Team Impul at Autopolis in 2018, where he took his first Super Formula pole position.

After two seasons away from the series, Hirakawa rejoined the Super Formula grid in 2018, driving for Team Impul alongside Yuhi Sekiguchi. He won his first pole position at the second round in Autopolis, but the race was cancelled due to heavy rain and fog.[15] He went on to record consecutive podium finishes at Motegi and Okayama, and finished a career-best fifth in the drivers' championship.[16] In the fifth round of the 2019 season, Hirakawa scored his first career victory at Motegi.[17] Despite the breakthrough victory, he failed to score points in five out of the first six races, and dropped to tenth in the championship standings.[18]

The start of the 2020 season was delayed until September due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, but Hirakawa won the first race of the season from pole at Motegi.[19] He finished fourth and second in the following races at Okayama and Sugo, respectively, to build an early points lead. But after two consecutive non-scoring results, Hirakawa conceded the points lead, and would finish runner-up in the championship to Naoki Yamamoto by just two points.[20]

Hirakawa failed to win a race in 2021, but scored two second place finishes at Suzuka and finished fourth in the championship, helping Team Impul win the teams' title.[21][22] He began the 2022 season by winning the opening round at Fuji, and the fourth round at Autopolis. He went on to finish third in the drivers' championship.

### Super GT[edit]

#### 2014–2016[edit]

Hirakawa made his Super GT debut in 2014 with Lexus team TOM's, substituting for Kazuki Nakajima in the team's No. 36 car for two races as Nakajima fulfilled commitments for Toyota in the World Endurance Championship. He recorded top ten finishes in his two races at Fuji and Autopolis.

He made his full-time debut in 2015 for TOM's, driving the No. 37 KeePer-sponsored car 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. Hirakawa would be joined by James Rossiter for the 2016 season. They recorded podium finishes in the first two rounds of the season, but finished ninth in the drivers' championship.

#### 2017–2019[edit]

Hirakawa became the youngest Japanese-born GT500 champion aboard the Lexus LC 500 of TOM's in 2017.

For 2017, Toyota changed models to the new Lexus LC 500, and Hirakawa was joined at the No. 37 TOM's car by Nick Cassidy. The duo of Hirakawa and Cassidy won the opening round at Okayama, leading an all-Lexus sweep of the top six positions.[23] They won again from pole position in the penultimate round at Chang International Circuit in Thailand, before clinching the GT500 championship with a second place finish at the finale at Motegi. Hirakawa and Cassidy finished the year with four podiums, and a perfect record of eight points-paying finishes. At 23 years of age, both Hirakawa and Cassidy became the youngest GT500 champions in series history, with Hirakawa holding the record for the youngest Japanese born GT500 champion.[11]

Hirakawa and Cassidy would seek to defend their championships in 2018, but faced strong competition from an improved Honda fleet led by Team Kunimitsu and their drivers, Naoki Yamamoto and newcomer Jenson Button. The reigning champions won the penultimate round in Autopolis, but fell short of the championship by three points, as Team Kunimitsu, Yamamoto, and Button won their first titles.[24]

In 2019, Hirakawa and Cassidy once again finished second in the drivers' championship, just two points behind manufacturer stablemates Kazuya Oshima and Kenta Yamashita at Team LeMans.[25] But the No. 37 TOM's crew were able to win the teams' championship by one point over Team LeMans,[26] after another strong season for Hirakawa and Cassidy that saw them win the final round at Motegi, and record another four podium finishes. That same year, Hirakawa appeared at the 2019 DTM season finale at the Hockenheimring, finishing 13th in the weekend's first race. He finished eighth during the second Super GT x DTM Dream Race at Fuji Speedway on 24 November.[27]

#### 2020–21[edit]

Hirakawa missed out on the 2020 title after running out of fuel on the final corner of the final lap of the final race of the season.

The start of the 2020 Super GT season was delayed until July due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Hirakawa and Cassidy won the opening round at Fuji Speedway from pole position, giving the new Toyota GR Supra GT500 a win in its debut race.[28] After retiring from the sixth round at Suzuka due to a pit entry collision, Cassidy left the series in order to focus on his new role as a driver for Envision Virgin Racing in Formula E. Hirakawa and his new co-driver Kenta Yamashita won pole for the final round at Fuji Speedway. They led the majority of the race, with Hirakawa in position to win the championship, but increasingly faced pressure from Naoki Yamamoto in the latter stages of the race. Hirakawa ran out of fuel on the final corner of the final lap, allowing Yamamoto to overtake him to win the race and the championship alongside new Team Kunimitsu co-driver Tadasuke Makino.[29] Hirakawa coasted to a second place finish, and again missed out on a second championship by just two points.[30]

Hirakawa was meant to drive the 2021 season alongside Sacha Fenestraz, but Fenestraz's ongoing visa issues meant that Sena Sakaguchi would drive in his place for the first five rounds. Hirakawa and Sakaguchi finished on the podium in the first two rounds at Okayama and Fuji. Fenestraz returned for the sixth round at Autopolis, and the duo finished second in the final round at Fuji Speedway. Hirakawa finished the year seventh in the drivers' championship.[31]

## Prototype career[edit]

### European Le Mans Series (2016–2017)[edit]

On 4 February 2016, Toyota Gazoo Racing announced that Hirakawa would be competing in the LMP2 class of the European Le Mans Series.[32] On 4 March, Hirakawa was confirmed as the third driver at Thiriet by TDS Racing alongside Pierre Thiriet and Mathias Beche. He won his first race in the ELMS at the 2016 4 Hours of Imola on 15 May, then won the following 4 Hours of Red Bull Ring on 17 July. He also competed in the 24 Hours of Le Mans for the first time in 2016, and was in contention for an LMP2 class podium finish before Thiriet suffered an accident early in the morning on Sunday.[33]

For 2017, Hirakawa joined the number 22 G-Drive Racing entry operated by DragonSpeed, partnering Memo Rojas and Léo Roussel.[34] The trio won the second round, the 4 Hours of Monza, on 14 May, and the G-Drive/DragonSpeed team won the LMP2 Teams' championship that season.

### FIA World Endurance Championship (2022–present)[edit]

On 7 December 2021, Hirakawa was announced as a driver of the #8 Toyota GR010 Hybrid in the 2022 FIA World Endurance Championship. He replaced Kazuki Nakajima, who took on a managerial role at Toyota Gazoo Racing Europe after retiring from driving.[35] In his debut for the factory Hypercar team, Hirakawa scored his first career podium at the 1000 Miles of Sebring. The number 8 Toyota of Hirakawa, Buemi, and Hartley won the pole for the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and would go on to win the race. In his first time challenging for the overall victory, Hirakawa became only the sixth Japanese driver to win a leg of the Triple Crown of Motorsport, succeeding fellow Le Mans winners Masanori Sekiya, Seiji Ara, Kamui Kobayashi, and Nakajima, and Indianapolis 500 winner Takuma Sato.

After finishing second at Monza, winning the 6 Hours of Fuji, and finishing second again in Bahrain, Hirakawa won the Hypercar World Endurance Drivers' Championship. He succeeded Nakajima, Kobayashi, and Toshihiro Arai as the fourth Japanese driver to win an FIA world championship of motorsport. Hirakawa will return to partner Buemi and Hartley in 2023.

## Racing record[edit]

### Career summary[edit]

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  | Japanese Formula 3 Championship | RSS  | 15  | 7  | 7  | 5  | 13  | 118  | 1st
Formula Challenge Japan |  | 12  | 5  | 4  | 4  | 10  | 91  | 2nd
Macau Grand Prix | 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 | 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 | 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  | 0  | 3  | 70  | 5th
Super GT | Lexus Team KeePer TOM's | 2  | 0  | 1  | 0  | 2  | 27  | 9th
2017  | European Le Mans Series - LMP2 | G-Drive Racing | 4  | 2  | 0  | 0  | 3  | 73  | 4th
Super GT | Lexus Team KeePer TOM'S | 8  | 2  | 1  | 0  | 4  | 84  | 1st
2018  | Super GT | 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 | Lexus Team KeePer TOM'S | 8  | 1  | 0  | 0  | 4  | 83  | 2nd
Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters | 1  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | NC†
Super Formula | Itochu Enex Team Impul | 7  | 1  | 1  | 0  | 1  | 12  | 10th
Super Taikyu - ST-3 | Le Beausset Motorsports  | 2  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 1  | 92‡  | 4th‡
2020  | Super GT | TGR Team KeePer TOM'S | 8  | 1  | 2  | 2  | 2  | 67  | 2nd
Super Formula | Itochu Enex Team Impul | 7  | 1  | 2  | 0  | 2  | 60  | 2nd
2021  | Super GT | TGR Team KeePer TOM'S | 8  | 0  | 1  | 1  | 3  | 46  | 7th
Super Formula | Carenex Team Impul | 6  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 2  | 46  | 4th
2022  | FIA World Endurance Championship - Hypercar | Toyota Gazoo Racing | 6  | 2  | 2  | 0  | 5  | 149  | 1st
24 Hours of Le Mans - Hypercar | 1  | 1  | 1  | 0  | 1  | N/A  | 1st
Super Formula | Carenex Team Impul | 10  | 2  | 0  | 1  | 4  | 87  | 3rd
2023  | FIA World Endurance Championship - Hypercar | Toyota Gazoo Racing | 1  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 1  | 27  | 2nd*
Super Formula | Team Impul |  |  |  |  |  |  |

† – As Hirakawa was a guest driver, he was ineligible for points.

‡ Team standings.
* Season still in progress.

### Complete Super Formula results[edit]

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

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

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

2013 | Kygnus Sunoco Team LeMans | SUZ
8 | AUT
7 | FUJ
11 | MOT
7 | SUG
Ret | SUZ
6 | SUZ
4 |  |  |  | 11th  | 9
2014 | Kygnus Sunoco Team LeMans | SUZ
4 | FUJ1
Ret | FUJ2
8 | FUJ
2 | MOT
10 | AUT
13 | SUG
8 | SUZ
16 | SUZ
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
2020 | Itochu Enex Team Impul | MOT
1 | OKA
4 | SUG
2 | AUT
12 | SUZ
Ret | SUZ
7 | FUJ
6 |  |  |  | 2nd  | 60
2021 | Carenex Team Impul | FUJ
4 | SUZ
2 | AUT
Ret | SUG | MOT
4 | MOT
Ret | SUZ
2 |  |  |  | 4th  | 46
2022 | Carenex Team Impul | FUJ
1 | FUJ
2 | SUZ
7 | AUT
1 | SUG
7 | FUJ
Ret | MOT
Ret | MOT
2 | SUZ
9 | SUZ
5 | 3rd  | 87
2023 | Team Impul | FUJ | FUJ | SUZ | AUT | SUG | FUJ | MOT | SUZ | SUZ |  | *  | *

### Complete Super GT results[edit]

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 | TGR Team KeePer TOM'S | Toyota GR Supra | GT500  | FUJ
1 | FUJ
4 | SUZ
7 | MOT
6 | FUJ
4 | SUZ
Ret | MOT
6 | FUJ
2 | 2nd  | 67
2021 | TGR Team KeePer TOM'S | Toyota GR Supra | GT500  | OKA
3 | FUJ
3 | SUZ
7 | MOT
10 | SUG
11 | AUT
9 | MOT
10 | FUJ
2 | 7th  | 46

### Complete European Le Mans Series results[edit]

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[edit]

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

|
|
|
|
|
|
|

2016 |  Thiriet by TDS Racing |  Mathias Beche
Pierre Thiriet | Oreca 05-Nissan | LMP2  | 241  | DNF  | DNF
2017 |  G-Drive Racing |  Memo Rojas
José Gutiérrez | Oreca 07-Gibson | LMP2  | 327  | 39th  | 17th
2022 |  Toyota Gazoo Racing |  Sébastien Buemi
Brendon Hartley | Toyota GR010 Hybrid | Hypercar  | 380  | 1st | 1st

### Complete Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters results[edit]

Year  | Team  | Car  | 1  | 2  | 3  | 4  | 5  | 6  | 7  | 8  | 9  | 10  | 11  | 12  | 13  | 14  | 15  | 16  | 17  | 18  | Pos  | Points

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

2019 | Lexus Team KeePer Tom's | Lexus LC 500 GT500 | HOC
1 | HOC
2 | ZOL
1 | ZOL
2 | MIS
1 | MIS
2 | NOR
1 | NOR
2 | ASS
1 | ASS
2 | BRH
1 | BRH
2 | LAU
1 | LAU
2 | NÜR
1 | NÜR
2 | HOC

NC | HOC
2 | NC†  | 0†

† As Hirakawa was a guest driver, he was ineligible to score championship points.

### Complete FIA World Endurance Championship results[edit]

Year  | Entrant  | Class  | Car  | Engine  | 1  | 2  | 3  | 4  | 5  | 6  | 7  | 8  | 9  | Rank  | Points

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

2016 | Thiriet by TDS Racing | LMP2  | Oreca 05 | Nissan VK45DE 4.5 L V8  | SIL | SPA | LMS
Ret | NÜR | MEX | COA | FUJ | SHA | BHR | NC  | 0
2017 | G-Drive Racing | LMP2  | Oreca 07 | Gibson GK428 4.2 L V8  | SIL | SPA | LMS
17 | NÜR | MEX | COA | FUJ | SHA | BHR | 34th  | 4
2022 | Toyota Gazoo Racing | Hypercar  | Toyota GR010 Hybrid | Toyota 3.5 L Turbo V6 (Hybrid)  | SEB
2 | SPA
Ret | LMS
1 | MNZ
2 | FUJ
1 | BHR
2 |  | 1st  | 149
2023 | Toyota Gazoo Racing | Hypercar  | Toyota GR010 Hybrid | Toyota 3.5 L Turbo V6 (Hybrid)  | SEB
2 | PRT | SPA | LMS | MNZ | FUJ | BHR |  |  | 2nd*  | 27*

* Season still in progress.

## References[edit]

1. ^ "Profile" (in Japanese). ryo-hirakawa.com. Retrieved 24 August 2013.
2. ^ "Asia-Pacific Championship — KF2 2009". drivedb.com. Driver Database. Retrieved 24 August 2013.
3. ^ "Formula Challenge Japan 2010". Driver Database. Retrieved 24 August 2013.
4. ^ "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.
5. ^ "Formula BMW Pacific 2010". DriverDB.com. Driver Database. Retrieved 24 August 2013.
6. ^ "Formula Challenge Japan 2011". DriverDB.com. Driver Database. Retrieved 24 August 2013.
7. ^ "Formula Challenge Japan 2012". DriverDB.com. Driver Database. Retrieved 24 August 2013.
8. ^ 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.
9. ^ "Japanese Formula 3 Championship – Championship Class 2012". driverdb.com. Driver Database. Retrieved 24 August 2013.
10. ^ "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.
11. ^ a b "Catching Up With Ryo Hirakawa | dailysportscar.com". www.dailysportscar.com. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
12. ^ Glendenning, Mark (14 August 2013). "Ryo Hirakawa closes in on Coyne IndyCar drive". Autosport. Haymarket. Retrieved 24 August 2013.
13. ^ "Japanese Championship Super Formula 2014 standings | Driver Database". www.driverdb.com. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
14. ^ "Japanese Championship Super Formula 2015 standings | Driver Database". www.driverdb.com. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
15. ^ "Super Formula Rd. 2 Race at Autopolis Cancelled | SUPER FORMULA Official Website". superformula.net. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
16. ^ "Super Formula 2018 standings | Driver Database". www.driverdb.com. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
17. ^ "Super Formula Rd. 5 Race Report | SUPER FORMULA Official Website". superformula.net. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
18. ^ "Super Formula 2019 standings | Driver Database". www.driverdb.com. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
19. ^ "2020 Rd. 1 at Twin Ring Motegi Race | SUPER FORMULA Official Website". superformula.net. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
20. ^ "Super Formula Championship 2020 standings | Driver Database". www.driverdb.com. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
21. ^ "Japanese Championship Super Formula 2021 standings | Driver Database". www.driverdb.com. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
22. ^ "Fukuzumi Wins Rd. 7 Race | SUPER FORMULA Official Website". superformula.net. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
23. ^ "Lexus Team KeePer TOM's Wins At Okayama | dailysportscar.com". www.dailysportscar.com. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
24. ^ "Autobacs Super GT Series - GT500 2018 standings | Driver Database". www.driverdb.com. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
25. ^ "Autobacs Super GT Japan - GT500 2019 standings | Driver Database". www.driverdb.com. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
26. ^ "Results | SUPER GT OFFICIAL WEBSITE". supergt.net. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
27. ^ "Dreams Come True For Karthikeyan On Sunday At Fuji | dailysportscar.com". www.dailysportscar.com. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
28. ^ "Toyota GR Supras Sweep Super GT Opener On Debut | dailysportscar.com". www.dailysportscar.com. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
29. ^ "Super GT Wrap-Up, GT500: The Final Battle At Fuji | dailysportscar.com". www.dailysportscar.com. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
30. ^ "Autobacs Super GT - GT500 2020 standings | Driver Database". www.driverdb.com. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
31. ^ "Super GT Japan - GT500 2021 standings | Driver Database". www.driverdb.com. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
32. ^ "Toyota GAZOO Racing Outlines 2016 Motorsports Activities". Toyota Global Newsroom. Toyota GAZOO Racing. Retrieved 4 March 2016.
33. ^ "24 Hours of Le Mans - Disappointment for Thiriet by TDS Racing". 24h-lemans.com. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
34. ^ CORPORATION, TOYOTA MOTOR. "Ryo Hirakawa to participate in the European Le Mans Series with G-Drive Racing in the second year of his European Toyota Young Drivers Program(TDP) | PRESS RELEASE | PRESS RELEASE". TOYOTA GAZOO Racing. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
35. ^ "Nakajima retires from racing, takes on new Toyota WEC role". motorsport.com. Retrieved 7 December 2021.

## External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ryo Hirakawa.

* 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

Preceded by

Mike Conway
Kamui Kobayashi
José María López

|  Winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans
2022
With:  Sébastien Buemi & Brendon Hartley | Succeeded by

Incumbent

Preceded by

Mike Conway
Kamui Kobayashi
José María López

|  World Endurance Drivers Champion
2022
With:  Sébastien Buemi & Brendon Hartley | Succeeded by

Incumbent

* v
* t
* e

Teams and drivers that will be competing in the 2023 World Endurance Championship in the Hypercar category

| Cadillac Racing| Floyd Vanwall Racing Team| Porsche Penske Motorsport| Toyota Gazoo Racing| Hertz Team Jota

|
|
|
|

* 2\. Earl Bamber / Alex Lynn / Richard Westbrook

* 4\. Tom Dillmann / Esteban Guerrieri / Jacques Villeneuve

* 5\. Dane Cameron / Michael Christensen / Frédéric Makowiecki
* 6\. Kévin Estre / André Lotterer / Laurens Vanthoor

* 7\. Mike Conway / Kamui Kobayashi / José María López
* 8\. Sébastien Buemi / Brendon Hartley / Ryō Hirakawa

* 38\. António Félix da Costa / Will Stevens / Ye Yifei

| Ferrari–AF Corse| Peugeot TotalEnergies| Proton Competition| Glickenhaus Racing

|
|
|

* 50\. Antonio Fuoco / Miguel Molina / Nicklas Nielsen
* 51\. James Calado / Antonio Giovinazzi / Alessandro Pier Guidi

* 93\. Paul di Resta / Mikkel Jensen / Jean-Éric Vergne
* 94\. Loïc Duval / Gustavo Menezes / Nico Müller

* 99\. Gianmaria Bruni / TBA / TBA

* 708\. Ryan Briscoe / Romain Dumas / Olivier Pla

Other drivers:

* v
* t
* e

Teams and drivers contracted to compete in the 2023 Super Formula Championship

Honda|

| Team Mugen| Docomo Team Dandelion Racing| ThreeBond Drago Corse| B-Max Racing| TCS Nakajima Racing

|
|
|
|

* 1\. Tomoki Nojiri
* 15\. Liam Lawson

* 5\. Tadasuke Makino
* 6\. Kakunoshin Ohta

* 12\. Nirei Fukuzumi

* 50\. Nobuharu Matsushita
* 51\. Raoul Hyman

* 64\. Naoki Yamamoto
* 65\. Ren Sato

Toyota|

| Kondō Racing| KCMG| ROOKIE Racing| Team Impul| Kuo Vantelin Team TOM'S| P.mu/Cerumo・INGING

|
|
|
|
|

* 3\. Kenta Yamashita
* 4\. Kazuto Kotaka

* 7\. Kamui Kobayashi
* 18\. Yuji Kunimoto

* 14\. Kazuya Oshima

* 19\. Yuhi Sekiguchi
* 20\. Ryō Hirakawa

* 36\. Giuliano Alesi
* 37\. Ritomo Miyata

* 38\. Sho Tsuboi
* 39\. Sena Sakaguchi

*[Best finish]: Best finish in the championship
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template