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Masanori Sekiya

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Nationality
  
Japanese

Role
  
Race car driver

Name
  
Masanori Sekiya

Class wins
  
1 (1995)

Best finish
  
1st (1995)


Masanori Sekiya staticsupertouringregistercomimgdriversMasano

Born
  
27 November 1949 (age 74) Ikawa, Shizuoka, Japan (
1949-11-27
)

Participating years
  
1985–1990, 1992–1993, 1995–1997

Teams
  
Tom's, Porsche Kremer Racing, Kokusai Kaihatsu Racing, SARD, Gulf Team Davidoff

Michael Krumm and Masanori Sekiya Interview JTCC Sugo 1997


Masanori Sekiya (関谷 正徳, Sekiya Masanori, born 27 November 1949) is a racing car driver, most famous for being the first Japanese driver to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans, in 1995.

Masanori Sekiya Todays Photo Story Masanori Sekiya first Japanese driver to win at

Sekiya drove in single-seaters in his early career, contesting the Japanese Formula 3000 Championship and Formula Nippon from 1987 to 1993, mostly for the Leyton House team. He never achieved any victories, but finished 4th in the standings in 1988 and 1989, scoring three and four podiums, respectively.

Masanori Sekiya Masanori Sekiya profile on SnapLap

A long-time works Toyota driver, Sekiya drove in the All Japan Sports Prototype Championship, All Japan Grand Touring Championship and Japanese Touring Car Championship, a series which he won in 1994, driving a Toyota Chaser for the Tom's team. He was also runner-up the following year.

Masanori Sekiya snaplaps3uswest2amazonawscomwpcontentuplo

As Sekiya is rather fond of Le Mans, in 1987, he got married in the town prior to the race. His best result in international sports car racing was winning the 1995 24 Hours of Le Mans, at the wheel of a McLaren F1 GTR for Kokusai Kaihatsu Racing. He became the first Japanese-born driver to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans. He was also fourth in the 1993 edition. He competed in the JGTC until the 2000 season and now works as team manager for the Super GT division of the Toyota Team TOM'S and also runs a racing school at Fuji Speedway. In 1998, Sekiya also appeared in a TV commercial in Japan driving a JZA80 Supra promoting its handling package.

References

Masanori Sekiya Wikipedia