Masahiro Hasemi

Masahiro Hasemi, born on November thirteenth, nineteen forty-five, is a distinguished former racing driver and team owner from Japan. His journey into the world of motorsport began at the tender age of fifteen when he started racing motocross. In nineteen sixty-four, he signed with Nissan, marking the beginning of a remarkable career in racing.

After establishing himself in saloon car and GT races within Japan, Hasemi made his foray into Formula One, participating in his only race at the Japanese Grand Prix on October twenty-fourth, nineteen seventy-six. He qualified in tenth position, narrowly missing out on pole due to an error, and ultimately finished eleventh, seven laps behind the race winner. Despite popular belief, he did not set a fastest lap during his time in Formula One, but he made history as one of the first Japanese drivers to compete in a Grand Prix alongside Noritake Takahara and Kazuyoshi Hoshino.

In nineteen eighty, Hasemi claimed the title of Japanese Formula 2 champion and secured two championships in the Fuji Grand Champion Series in nineteen seventy-four and nineteen eighty. He became synonymous with racing Skylines, excelling in Group 5, touring cars, and the JGTC. His accolades include victories in the Japanese Touring Car Championship in nineteen eighty-nine, nineteen ninety-one, and nineteen ninety-two, as well as a win in the All Japan Sports Prototype Championship in nineteen ninety.

After a successful career, Hasemi retired from driving in two thousand one. He now runs NDDP Racing, a Super GT team competing in the GT500 class, and owns Hasemi Sport, a former Super GT racing team that operated under the Hasemi Motorsport banner. Notably, he is the most recent Japanese driver to win his home Grand Prix, achieving this feat in nineteen seventy-five during a non-championship race.