Kazuyoshi Hoshino

1/7/1947

Record updated 30-Jun-06

Nicknamed "the fastest guy in Japan" Kazuyoshi Hoshino can easily claim to be the most successful Japanese driver ever, even in comparison to Satoru Nakajima, Aguri Suzuki or Tora Takagi.

Kazuyoshi Hoshino
Born on July 1st 1947 in Shizuoka Prefecture, Kazuyoshi Hoshino can easily claim to be the most successful Japanese driver ever, even in comparison to Satoru Nakajima, Aguri Suzuki or Tora Takagi. 

Nicknamed "the fastest guy in Japan" and was Japanese 90cc and 125cc motocross Champion for Kawasaki in 1968 before switching to cars as a works Nissan driver in 1969.

Kazu's national single-seater record speaks for itself: 1975 and 1977 Formula 2000 champion, 1978 F2 champion and 1987, 1990 and 1993 F3000 champion. He also shared the winning Nissan in the 1992 Daytona 24-hours with Masahiro Hasemi and Toshio Suzuki.

He won the 1975 and 1977 Formula 2000 champion, became a Japanese Formula 2 champion in 1978 and later won the national F3000 in 1987, 1990 and again in 1993 at the wheel of a Lola beating a clutch of young and hungry European drivers.

He followed that up with a Japanese Sports-Prototype Championship in 1991 and 1992. Like compatriot Hasemi, he continued his career racing Nissans, especially the Skyline GT-R and became synonymous for it, winning the Japanese Touring Car Championship in 1990 and 1994.

He shared a winning Nissan in the 1992 Daytona 24-hours with Masahiro Hasemi and Toshio Suzuki though his only serious world championship win was the 1985 WEC (World Endurance Championship) round of the Fuji 1000km race which was boycotted by many competing teams due to torrential rain.

He participated in two grands prix, debuting on October 24, 1976, putting in a remarkable performance in the rain-sodden Japanese GP with a private Tyrrell on Bridgestone tyres. This drive confirmed Hoshino as one of Japan's leading drivers, indeed many believe he is Japan's greatest-ever racer.

Typically he continued to be ultra-competitive in Formula Nippon right up to the end of 1996, his final year in single-seaters.

Since 1997 Hoshino concentrated racing Nissan in the Japanese GT and Touring Car championships as well as running his own Formula Nippon team.

Retired from racing in 2002 and nows continues to run his own Super GT team.



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