Ukyō Sasahara (笹原 右京, Sasahara Ukyō, born 24 April 1996) is a Japanese racing driver for Toyota Gazoo Racing who is currently competing in Super GT and Super Formula for TOM'S. He was previously a factory driver for Honda, and has achieved successes in a wide variety of motorsport disciplines.
| Ukyo Sasahara | |
|---|---|
 Sasahara during 2015's ADAC GT Masters race weekend at Hockenheim | |
| Nationality |  Japanese |
| Born | 24 April 1996 Numata, Gunma, Japan |
| Super GT career | |
| Debut season | 2020 |
| Current team | TGR Team Deloitte TOM'S |
| Car number | 37 |
| Former teams | Team Mugen |
| Starts | 39 |
| Wins | 2 |
| Podiums | 4 |
| Poles | 2 |
| Fastest laps | 0 |
| Best finish | 14th in 2022 |
| Super Formula career | |
| Debut season | 2020 |
| Current team | Vantelin Team TOM'S |
| Car number | 36 |
| Former teams | Team Mugen, Docomo Team Dandelion Racing |
| Starts | 29 |
| Wins | 1 |
| Podiums | 3 |
| Poles | 1 |
| Fastest laps | 0 |
| Best finish | 6th in 2022 |
| Previous series | |
| 2019 2019–20 2018–19 2017 2016 2014–15 2014 2013, 15 2013 | Porsche Carrera Cup Japan F3 Asian Championship Japanese Formula 3 F4 Japanese Championship FIA European F3 Formula Renault 2.0 NEC Italian F4 Championship Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 Formula Renault 2.0 Alps |
| Championship titles | |
| 2019 2019 2019 | Porsche Carrera Cup Japan FIA Motorsport Games GT Cup F3 Asian Championship |
Career
editKarting
editSasahara began karting aged seven in 2003. He won numerous domestic titles, including becoming JAF All Japan Championship Junior Champion in 2009.[1] In the same year, he beat Matt Parry to win the Rotax Max Challenge Junior Grand Final,[2] a title he went on to win for a second time in 2011.[3] He went on to enjoy further success in the category, winning the Rotax Max Euro Challenge Junior title in 2011,[1] and the Central Eastern European Rotax Max Challenge Senior title in 2012, his final year in karting.[1]
European racing career
editSasahara graduated to single-seaters in 2013, racing in the Formula Renault 2.0 Alps championship for Vincenzo Sospiri's Euronova Racing team.[4] He finished in the points on seven occasions, taking a best race result of sixth at Misano to finish 13th in the championship.[5] During the season, he also took part in the Spa-Francorchamps and Barcelona rounds of the Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 season with Euronova Racing as a guest driver.[citation needed]
For 2014, Sasahara continued with Euronova Racing, switching to the Formula Renault 2.0 NEC championship.[6] He took a single podium position, finishing second to Louis Delétraz in the opening race of the season at Monza, and finished in the points in all the remaining races except one to finish sixth in the championship.[7]
In 2015, Sasahara joined the ART Junior Team to contest both the Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 and Formula Renault 2.0 NEC championships.[8] After failing to score points in the opening round of the Eurocup at Motorland Aragón, Sasahara took his first race victory in the following round at Spa-Francorchamps, becoming only the second Japanese driver to win a Eurocup race after Kamui Kobayashi in the 2005 season.[9]
In the NEC championship, Sasahara won the opening race of the season at Monza ahead of Manor MP Motorsport's Ignazio D'Agosto.[10]
In June 2014, Sasahara took part in the opening round of the Italian F4 Championship at Adria International Raceway for Euronova Racing, replacing Italian driver Andrea Fontana who missed the event due to illness.[11] After finishing fifth in the opening race, he won the reversed-grid second race ahead of the Prema Powerteam entry of eventual series champion Lance Stroll.[12]
In 2016, initially Sasahara did not have a full time seat. He competed for 2 rounds at Spa-Francorchamps & Imola with Threebond T-Sport.[13]
Japanese F4 and Japanese F3
editSasahara returns to Japan, where he competed in F4 Japanese Championship in 2017 with Honda backing. He competed with Honda Formula Dream Project, alongside Yuki Tsunoda & Toshiki Oyu as his teammates. He managed to get runners up place beating his teammates, but lose out to the eventual champion Ritomo Miyata. Sasahara made his step up to the Japanese Formula 3 Championship with ThreeBond Racing.[14] He only managed to claim third in the championship standings, with couple of podiums to his name. He lose out to the TOM'S pairing of Sho Tsuboi who is the champion, and the runners up Ritomo Miyata.
F3 Asia and Porsche Carera Cup Japan
editUnfortunately for Sasahara, he dropped by Honda for the 2019 season with no drive in Japanese F3 or even Super GT. With that Sasahara competed in Porsche Carrera Cup Japan. He competed as well in F3 Asian Championship with Hitech Grand Prix that season. Sasahara eventually won both of the series. He makes a return in the 2019–20 F3 Asian Championship as a guest with the same team.
Super GT
editSasahara made his debut in Super GT GT500 for Honda's Team Mugen, partnered alongside Hideki Mutoh.[15] Sasahara took his maiden podium at Motegi. Sasahara continues to compete at Super GT, Team Mugen retained him, with new teammate Toshiki Oyu.[16] Both pairs claimed their maiden pole in GT500 at Sportsland SUGO.[17][18]
For 2023, Sasahara left Honda, and moved to Toyota. Sasahara competed with Deloitte Team TOM'S, alongside Giuliano Alesi.[19]
Super Formula
editSasahara made his Super Formula debut with Team Mugen, replacing Juri Vips where initially to compete in this series, but due to COVID-19 border restriction in Japan prevents Vips to entering Japan, and compete for the entire season.[20][21][22] Initially Sasahara not compete in Super Formula for 2021, but he competed for the first 2 rounds as he replaces Tadasuke Makino at Dandelion Racing after Makino suffered meningitis.[23] Sasahara claimed his maiden podium in the series on the second round. Sasahara returns to Team Mugen for 2022 season of Super Formula with Team Mugen.[24] Sasahara made his maiden win in Super Formula, as he won at Fuji, and finished 6th in the standings.
Sasahara competed in Super Formula as well, after replaces his Super GT Teammate Alesi in the Vantelin Team TOM'S for the last four rounds.[25]
Karting record
editKarting career summary
edit| Season | Series | Team | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals - Junior Max | Team Global | 1st |
| 2010 | Rotax Max Euro Trophy - Junior Max | 6th | |
| Rotax Max Wintercup - Junior Max | Intrepid Force Rotax | 1st | |
| 2011 | Kartmasters British GP - Rotax Junior | 18th | |
| Rotax Max Euro Trophy - Junior Max | Paul Carr Racing | 1st | |
| Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals - Junior Max | 1st | ||
| 2012 | Rotax Euro Challenge - Rotax Senior | 9th | |
| Rotax International Open - Senior | 10th | ||
| Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals - Senior Max | 9th | ||
| Rotax Max Challenge Central-Eastern Europe - Senior | 1st |
Racing record
editRacing career summary
edit† As Sasahara was a guest driver, he was ineligible for championship points.
* Season still in progress.
Complete Formula Renault 2.0 Alps Series results
edit(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | Pos | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Euronova Racing | VLL 1 8 |
VLL 2 8 |
IMO1 1 21 |
IMO1 2 18 |
SPA 1 7 |
SPA 2 16 |
MNZ 1 15 |
MNZ 2 15 |
MIS 1 8 |
MIS 2 6 |
MUG 1 9 |
MUG 2 8 |
IMO2 1 23 |
IMO2 2 21 |
13th | 32 |
Complete Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 results
edit(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 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | DC | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Euronova Racing | ALC 1 |
ALC 2 |
SPA 1 21 |
SPA 2 16 |
MSC 1 |
MSC 2 |
RBR 1 |
RBR 2 |
HUN 1 |
HUN 2 |
LEC 1 |
LEC 2 |
CAT 1 Ret |
CAT 2 10 |
NC† | 0 | |||
| 2015 | ART Junior Team | ALC 1 11 |
ALC 2 17 |
ALC 3 Ret |
SPA 1 1 |
SPA 2 2 |
HUN 1 Ret |
HUN 2 12 |
SIL 1 12 |
SIL 2 4 |
SIL 3 3 |
NÜR 1 2 |
NÜR 2 8 |
LMS 1 5 |
LMS 2 9 |
JER 1 9 |
JER 2 16 |
JER 3 5 |
7th | 116 |
† As Sasahara was a guest driver, he was ineligible for points
Complete Formula Renault 2.0 Northern European Cup results
edit(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 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | DC | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Euronova Racing | MNZ 1 2 |
MNZ 2 Ret |
SIL 1 10 |
SIL 2 7 |
HOC 1 8 |
HOC 2 18 |
HOC 3 5 |
SPA 1 7 |
SPA 2 4 |
ASS 1 9 |
ASS 2 4 |
MST 1 8 |
MST 2 9 |
MST 3 C |
NÜR 1 5 |
NÜR 2 12 |
NÜR 3 C |
6th | 191 |
| 2015 | ART Junior Team | MNZ 1 1 |
MNZ 2 2 |
SIL 1 2 |
SIL 2 4 |
RBR 1 10 |
RBR 2 18 |
RBR 3 6 |
SPA 1 5 |
SPA 2 5 |
ASS 1 2 |
ASS 2 3 |
NÜR 1 1 |
NÜR 2 8 |
HOC 1 2 |
HOC 2 4 |
HOC 3 3 |
3rd | 296 |
Complete Italian F4 Championship results
edit(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | DC | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Euronova Racing by Fortec | ADR 1 5 |
ADR 2 1 |
ADR 3 Ret |
IMO1 1 |
IMO1 2 |
IMO1 3 |
MUG 1 |
MUG 2 |
MUG 3 |
MAG 1 |
MAG 2 |
MAG 3 |
VLL 1 |
VLL 2 |
VLL 3 |
MNZ 1 |
MNZ 2 |
MNZ 3 |
IMO2 1 |
IMO2 2 |
IMO2 3 |
17th | 25 |
Complete FIA Formula 3 European Championship results
edit(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Entrant | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | DC | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Threebond with T-Sport | Threebond | LEC 1 |
LEC 2 |
LEC 3 |
HUN 1 |
HUN 2 |
HUN 3 |
PAU 1 |
PAU 2 |
PAU 3 |
RBR 1 |
RBR 2 |
RBR 3 |
NOR 1 |
NOR 2 |
NOR 3 |
ZAN 1 |
ZAN 2 |
ZAN 3 |
SPA 1 13 |
SPA 2 Ret |
SPA 3 19 |
NÜR 1 |
NÜR 2 |
NÜR 3 |
IMO 1 Ret |
IMO 2 13 |
IMO 3 Ret |
HOC 1 |
HOC 2 |
HOC 3 |
26th | 0 |
Complete F4 Japanese Championship results
edit(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | DC | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Honda Formula Dream Project | OKA 1 1 |
OKA 2 2 |
FUJ1 1 3 |
FUJ1 2 3 |
AUT 1 1 |
AUT 2 3 |
SUG 1 1 |
SUG 2 Ret |
FUJ2 1 2 |
FUJ2 2 2 |
SUZ 1 4 |
SUZ 2 2 |
MOT 1 5 |
MOT 2 5 |
2nd | 224 |
Complete Japanese Formula 3 Championship results
edit(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Team | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | DC | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | ThreeBond Racing | Tomei | SUZ 1 4 |
SUZ 2 7 |
SUG 1 5 |
SUG 2 5 |
FUJ 1 3 |
FUJ 2 3 |
OKA 1 3 |
OKA 2 7 |
OKA 3 C |
MOT 1 Ret |
MOT 2 4 |
MOT 3 7 |
OKA 1 4 |
OKA 2 2 |
OKA 3 C |
SUG 1 3 |
SUG 2 3 |
SUG 3 2 |
SUG 4 3 |
FUJ 1 Ret |
FUJ 2 2 |
3rd | 65 |
| 2019 | B-Max Racing with Motopark | Volkswagen | SUZ 1 |
SUZ 2 |
AUT 1 |
AUT 2 |
AUT 3 |
OKA 1 |
OKA 2 |
OKA 3 |
SUG 1 |
SUG 2 |
FUJ 1 |
FUJ 2 |
SUG 1 |
SUG 2 |
SUG 3 |
MOT 1 5 |
MOT 2 9 |
MOT 3 6 |
OKA 1 |
OKA 2 |
12th | 3 |
Complete Macau Grand Prix results
edit| Year | Team | Car | Qualifying | Quali Race | Main race |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | ThreeBond Racing
|
Dallara F317 | 24th | 22nd | DNF |
Complete F3 Asian Championship results
edit(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | DC | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Hitech Grand Prix | SEP 1 1 |
SEP 2 1 |
SEP 3 2 |
CHA 1 1 |
CHA 2 2 |
CHA 3 1 |
SUZ 1 2 |
SUZ 2 1 |
SUZ 3 9 |
SIC1 1 1 |
SIC1 2 1 |
SIC1 3 1 |
SIC2 1 3 |
SIC2 2 4 |
SIC2 3 2 |
1st | 301 |
| 2019–20 | Abu Dhabi Racing UAE | SEP 1 8 |
SEP 2 15† |
SEP 3 15† |
DUB 1 16† |
DUB 2 Ret |
DUB 3 2 |
ABU 1 1 |
ABU 2 2 |
ABU 3 4 |
SEP 1 9† |
SEP 2 3 |
SEP 3 12† |
CHA 1 13 |
CHA 2 1 |
CHA 3 1 |
NC† | 0 |
† As Sasahara was a guest driver, he was ineligible to score points
Complete Super GT 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 | DC | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Team Mugen | Honda NSX-GT | GT500 | FUJ 12 |
FUJ 10 |
SUZ Ret |
MOT 3 |
FUJ 6 |
SUZ 13 |
MOT 4 |
FUJ 12 |
15th | 25 |
| 2021 | Team Red Bull Mugen | OKA 11 |
FUJ 11 |
MOT 4 |
SUZ 9 |
SUG 9 |
AUT Ret |
MOT 5 |
FUJ 10 |
16th | 20 | ||
| 2022 | OKA 12 |
FUJ 10‡ |
SUZ 13 |
FUJ 13 |
SUZ 6 |
SUG 3 |
AUT 12 |
MOT 11 |
14th | 16.5 | |||
| 2023 | TGR Team Deloitte TOM'S | Toyota GR Supra GT500 | OKA 13 |
FUJ 6 |
SUZ 11 |
FUJ 8 |
SUZ 11 |
SUG 10 |
AUT 7 |
MOT 9 |
15th | 15 | |
| 2024 | OKA 7 |
FUJ 11 |
SUZ 1 |
FUJ 10 |
SUG 1 |
AUT 8 |
MOT Ret |
SUZ |
4th* | 51* |
‡ Half points awarded as less than 75% of race distance was completed.
* Season still in progress.
Complete Super Formula results
edit(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 | DC | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Team Mugen | MOT 11 |
OKA 13 |
SUG Ret |
AUT 14 |
SUZ Ret |
SUZ 11 |
FUJ 7 |
18th | 5 | |||
| 2021 | Docomo Team Dandelion Racing | FUJ 5 |
SUZ 3 |
AUT | SUG | MOT | MOT | SUZ | 12th | 18 | |||
| 2022 | Team Mugen | FUJ 191 |
FUJ 103 |
SUZ 14 |
AUT 7 |
SUG 10 |
FUJ 1 |
MOT 7 |
MOT 8 |
SUZ 1 |
SUZ 17 |
6th | 57 |
| 2023 | Vantelin Team TOM’S | FUJ | FUJ | SUZ | AUT | SUG | FUJ 19 |
MOT 12 |
SUZ 22 |
SUZ WD |
22nd | 0 | |
| 2024 | SUZ 15 |
AUT 12 |
SUG 16 |
FUJ 12 |
MOT 16 |
FUJ 12 |
FUJ 14 |
SUZ 15† |
SUZ 14 |
20th | 0 |
* Season still in progress.
References
edit- ^ a b c "Profile". gogoukyo.com. Ukyo Sasahara. Retrieved 17 June 2015.
- ^ "Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals – Junior 2009 standings". driverdb.com. Driver Database. Retrieved 17 June 2015.
- ^ "Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals – Junior 2011 standings". driverdb.com. Driver Database. Retrieved 17 June 2015.
- ^ "Sasahara completes Euronova Formula Renault line up" (PDF). euronova-racing.com. Euronova Racing. 19 February 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 February 2014. Retrieved 17 June 2015.
- ^ "Formula Renault 2.0 Alps 2013 standings". driverdb.com. Driver Database. Retrieved 17 June 2015.
- ^ Khorounzhiy, Valentin (2 April 2014). "Euronova sign Sasahara and Dalewski for Formula Renault NEC season". paddockscout.com. Paddock Scout. Retrieved 17 June 2015.
- ^ "Formula Renault 2.0 NEC 2014 standings". driverdb.com. Driver Database. Retrieved 17 June 2015.
- ^ Khorounzhiy, Valentin (21 March 2015). "Sasahara signs with ART Junior Team". paddockscout.com. Paddock Scout. Retrieved 17 June 2015.
- ^ "Maiden win for Sasahara at Spa". World Series by Renault. Renault Sport. 30 May 2015. Archived from the original on 18 June 2015. Retrieved 17 June 2015.
- ^ "Sasahara wins thrilling opening race of the season". necup.com. Formula Renault 2.0 Northern European Cup. 11 April 2015. Retrieved 17 June 2015.
- ^ Allen, Peter (6 June 2014). "Sasahara steps in for Fontana at Italian F4 opener". paddockscout.com. Paddock Scout. Retrieved 17 June 2015.
- ^ Banerjee, Aditya (8 June 2014). "Sasahara claims close victory in race 2 at Adria". paddockscout.com. Paddock Scout. Retrieved 17 June 2015.
- ^ Simmons, Marcus (13 July 2016). "T-Sport back to European Formula 3 with ex-FRenault ace Sasahara". Autosport. Retrieved 13 July 2016.
- ^ "Honda 2018 Motorsports Program Overview". Honda Motor Co., Ltd. Honda Motor Co., Ltd. 12 January 2018. Retrieved 16 February 2018.
- ^ "Honda Announces 2020 Super GT Teams & Drivers". dailysportscar.com. 10 January 2020. Retrieved 10 January 2020.
- ^ "Honda Announces 2021 Super GT Teams & Drivers". dailysportscar.com. 15 January 2021. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
- ^ "New Honda NSX-GT "Type S" Spotted Testing At Motegi". dailysportscar.com. 17 December 2021. Retrieved 17 December 2021.
- ^ "Honda Announces 2022 Super GT Lineups". dailysportscar.com. 14 January 2022. Retrieved 14 January 2022.
- ^ "Toyota signs Sasahara, but Alesi keeps Super Formula drive". www.motorsport.com. Retrieved 12 January 2023.
- ^ Wood, Elliot (19 August 2020). "Ukyo Sasahara replaces Vips for Super Formula season opener". Formula Scout. Retrieved 19 August 2020.
- ^ Wood, Elliot (16 September 2020). "Mugen keeps Sasahara, Mitsunori Takaboshi at B-MAX in Super Formula". Formula Scout. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
- ^ Wood, Elliot (10 November 2020). "Mugen retains Vips stand-in Sasahara for rest of Super Formula season". Formula Scout. Retrieved 10 November 2020.
- ^ "Kamui Kobayashi among absentees for Super Formula opener". www.motorsport.com. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
- ^ "Mugen adds second Super Formula entry, signs Sasahara". Motorsport.com. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
- ^ "Super Formula: TOM'S axes Giuliano Alesi, Sasahara returns". www.motorsport.com. 20 June 2023. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
External links
edit- Official website
- Ukyo Sasahara on Twitter
- Ukyo Sasahara on Instagram
- Ukyo Sasahara career summary at DriverDB.com