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Kunimitsu Takahashi

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Kunimitsu Takahashi
Takahashi in 1963
NationalityJapan Japanese
Born(1940-01-29)29 January 1940
Tokyo, Japan
Died16 March 2022(2022-03-16) (aged 82)
Motorcycle racing career statistics
Grand Prix motorcycle racing
Active years19601964
First race1960 250cc German Grand Prix
Last race1964 125cc French Grand Prix
First win1961 250cc German Grand Prix
Last win1962 125cc Spanish Grand Prix
Team(s)Honda
Starts Wins Podiums Poles F. laps Points
129 4 15 N/A 3 107
Formula One World Championship career
Active years1977
Teamsnon-works Tyrrell
Entries1
Championships0
Wins0
Podiums0
Career points0
Pole positions0
Fastest laps0
First entry1977 Japanese Grand Prix
Last entry1977 Japanese Grand Prix
24 Hours of Le Mans career
Years19861990, 19941996
TeamsTeam Kunimitsu Honda, Kremer Racing
Best finish8th (1995)
Class wins1 (1995)

Kunimitsu Takahashi (Shinjitai: 高橋 国光, Takahashi Kunimitsu, 29 January 1940 – 16 March 2022) was a Japanese professional motorcycle road racer, racing driver, and team manager. Nicknamed "Kuni-san", he is known as the "father of drifting".

His racing career lasted from 1958 to 1999.[1] He competed on motorcycles between 1958 and 1963, during which he became the first Japanese rider to win a World Grand Prix, taking four world-level wins in total. Injuries sustained in a crash in 1962 led to him switching to four-wheels in 1965, after which he won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in class, become a four-time All-Japan Sports Prototype Champion, and won in Japanese Top Formula, JTC, and JGTC. His final victory as a driver came in 1999 at the age of 59.

His racing team, Team Kunimitsu, has won multiple championships in Super GT. He was the chairman of the GT Association, the organizers of the Super GT series, from 1993 to 2007.

Motorcycle racing

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In 1961, Takahashi became the first Japanese rider to win a motorcycle Grand Prix riding a 250cc Honda to victory at Hockenheim. His best World Championship finishes were a fourth place in the 1961 250 world championship and a fourth place in the 1962 125 world championship, both times on a Honda.[2] He was seriously injured in the 1962 Isle of Man TT and switched to car racing in 1965. He won four Grand Prix races during his motorcycle racing career.

Car racing

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Takahashi participated in one Formula One race, the 1977 Japanese Grand Prix on 23 October 1977, driving the non-works Tyrrell that Kazuyoshi Hoshino had used in the 1976 Japanese Grand Prix. Takahashi finished 9th in his single Grand Prix outing, thus he scored no championship points. From 1987 to 1992, he competed in the Japanese Formula 3000 championship. He also competed in eight 24 Hours of Le Mans races between 1986 and 1996. In the 1995 24 Hours of Le Mans, his team competed with a Honda NSX, winning the GT2 Class and finishing eighth overall.

In 1994, he formed Team Kunimitsu to compete in the inaugural JGTC season, running a Porsche 911 RSR Turbo in the GT1 class alongside Keiichi Tsuchiya. In 1996, with the advent of the GT500 class, Team Kunimitsu switched manufacturers from Porsche to Honda. The next year, Team Kunimitsu cars wore the Raybrig colors for the first time. Takahashi drove for his own team until 1999. He retired at the end of the season to focus on team management. Team Kunimitsu won their first Drivers Championship in 2018 with Naoki Yamamoto and 2009 Formula One champion Jenson Button behind the wheel of the #100 Raybrig Honda.[3]

Death

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Takahashi died from lymphoma on 16 March 2022, at the age of 82.[4][5]

Career motorsports results

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Motorcycle Grand Prix results

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(key) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Class Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Points Rank Wins
1960 125cc Honda IOM NED BEL ULS
6
NAT 1 10th 0
250cc Honda IOM NED BEL GER
6
ULS
5
NAT
4
6 7th 0
1961 125cc Honda ESP GER
6
FRA
6
IOM NED BEL DDR
3
ULS
1
NAT SWE
2
ARG
3
24 5th 1
250cc Honda ESP GER
1
FRA
3
IOM
4
NED BEL DDR
3
ULS
6
NAT SWE
3
ARG
2
29 4th 1
1962 50cc Honda ESP
6
FRA
2
IOM NED BEL GER DDR NAT FIN ARG 7 9th 0
125cc Honda ESP
1
FRA
1
IOM
NC
NED BEL GER ULS DDR NAT FIN ARG 16 4th 2
1963 50cc Honda ESP GER FRA IOM NED BEL FIN ARG JPN
11
0 - 0
125cc Honda ESP
3
GER
5
FRA
3
IOM
8
NED
5
BEL ULS
5
DDR FIN NAT
3
ARG JPN 14 7th 0
250cc Honda ESP
4
GER
NC
IOM
NC
NED BEL
6
ULS
4
DDR NAT ARG JPN 7 9th 0
1964 50cc Honda USA ESP
NC
FRA IOM NED BEL GER FIN JPN 0 - 0
125cc Honda USA ESP FRA
4
IOM NED GER DDR ULS FIN NAT JPN 3 14th 0

Complete Formula One results

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(key)

Year Entrant Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 WDC Points
1977 Meiritsu Racing Team Tyrrell 007 Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 ARG BRA RSA USW ESP MON BEL SWE FRA GBR GER AUT NED ITA USA CAN JPN
9
NC 0
Source:[6]

Super Formula Championship results

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(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 DC Points
1975 Sakai Racing Shop FUJ
DNS
NC 0
Racing Shop Yatsuka SUZ
Ret
FUJ SUZ SUZ
1976 Sakai Racing Shop FUJ
Ret
SUZ FUJ
4
SUZ
3
SUZ
Ret
6th 22
1977 Speed Star Racing SUZ
1
SUZ
4
MIN
1
SUZ
3
FUJ
2
FUJ
3
SUZ
1
SUZ
3
2nd 87 (117)
1978 Speed Star Wheel Racing SUZ
Ret
FUJ
5
SUZ
Ret
SUZ
Ret
SUZ
5
MIN SUZ
1
6th 40
1979 Speed Star Wheel Racing SUZ
8
MIN
2
SUZ
9
FUJ
2
SUZ
4
SUZ
5
SUZ
6
4th 57 (64)
1980 Royce Racing Team
Suzuki Racing
SUZ MIN SUZ
Ret
SUZ
Ret
SUZ SUZ
7
15th 4
1981 Suzuki Racing SUZ
5
SUZ
4
SUZ
10
SUZ
10
SUZ
8
8th 23
1982 Shift SUZ
Ret
FUJ
Ret
SUZ
5
SUZ
12
SUZ
10
SUZ
13
15th 9
1983 Nova Engineering SUZ
7
FUJ
2
MIN
2
SUZ
8
SUZ
Ret
FUJ
9
SUZ
4
SUZ
Ret
6th 46
1984 Advan Sports Nova SUZ
13
FUJ
Ret
MIN
6
SUZ
10
SUZ
11
FUJ
Ret
SUZ
7
SUZ
11
13th 11
1985 Advan Sports Nova SUZ
9
FUJ
11
MIN SUZ
8
SUZ
Ret
FUJ
7
SUZ
12
SUZ
5
13th 17
1986 Team JPS Advan SUZ
6
FUJ
Ret
MIN
8
SUZ
8
SUZ
9
FUJ
11
SUZ
5
SUZ
Ret
10th 22
1987 Advan Sports Nova SUZ
6
FUJ
7
MIN
8
SUZ
6
SUZ
9
SUG
6
FUJ
8
SUZ
8
SUZ
Ret
9th 33
1988 Advan Sports Nova SUZ
3
FUJ
Ret
MIN
7
SUZ
5
SUG
6
FUJ
3
SUZ
10
SUZ
6
7th 12
1989 Advan Sports Nova SUZ
12
FUJ
15
MIN
8
SUZ
12
SUG
4
FUJ
11
SUZ
14
SUZ
8
15th 3
1990 Advan Sports Nova SUZ
12
FUJ
14
MIN
7
SUZ
4
SUG
20
FUJ
10
FUJ
3
SUZ
12
FUJ
8
SUZ
Ret
9th 7
1991 Advan Sports Nova SUZ
DNQ
AUT
20
FUJ
22
MIN
14
SUZ
DNQ
SUG
16
FUJ
21
SUZ
20
FUJ
C
SUZ
11
FUJ
Ret
32nd 0
1992 Advan Sport Pal SUZ
15
FUJ
Ret
MIN
Ret
SUZ
Ret
AUT
15
SUG
Ret
FUJ
12
FUJ
11
SUZ
Ret
FUJ
22
SUZ
7
22nd 0
1993 Advan Sport Pal SUZ
Ret
FUJ
11
MIN
9
SUZ
12
AUT
C
SUG
10
FUJ
C
FUJ
9
SUZ
9
FUJ
18
SUZ
Ret
20th 0
1994 Advan Sport Pal SUZ
12
FUJ
Ret
MIN SUZ
8
SUG FUJ
8
SUZ
11
FUJ
3
FUJ
10
SUZ
14
10th 4

All-Japan Sports Prototype Championship results

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Year Team Car Class 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Rank Points
1984 Advan Nova Porsche 956 C1 SUZ TSU SUZ
1
FUJ 9th 20
1985 Advan Nova Porsche 962C C1 SUZ
3
FUJ
Ret
FUJ
1
SUZ
1
FUJ
Ret
FUJ
1
1st 72
1986 Advan Nova Porsche 962C C1 SUZ
1
FUJ
1
FUJ
2
SUZ
Ret
FUJ
8
FUJ
2
1st 70
1987 Advan Nova Porsche 962C C1 SUZ
2
FUJ
3
FUJ
1
SUZ
3
FUJ
11
FUJ
1
1st 59
1988 Advan Nova Porsche 962C C1 FUJ
3
SUZ
Ret
FUJ
2
FUJ
Ret
SUZ
2
FUJ
6
4th 48
1989 Advan Nova Porsche 962C C1 FUJ
6
FUJ
4
FUJ
4
SUZ
1
FUJ
4
1st 56
1990 Advan Nova Porsche 962C C1 FUJ
8
FUJ
C
FUJ
5
SUZ
Ret
SUG
6
FUJ
Ret
22nd 9
1991 Team Taisan Porsche 962C C1 FUJ
5
FUJ
Ret
FUJ
SUZ
SUG
FUJ
SUG
27th 8

24 Hours of Le Mans results

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Year Team Co-Drivers Car Class Laps Pos. Class
Pos.
1986 Germany Kremer Racing Austria Jo Gartner
South Africa Sarel van der Merwe
Porsche 962C C1 169 NC NC
1987 Denmark Kris Nissen
Germany Volker Weidler
C1 6 DNF DNF
1988 Japan Hideki Okada
Italy Bruno Giacomelli
C1 370 9th 9th
1989 Italy Bruno Giacomelli
Italy Giovanni Lavaggi
C1 303 DNF DNF
1990 South Africa Sarel van der Merwe
Japan Hideki Okada
C1 279 24th 21st
1994 Germany Kremer Honda Racing Japan Keiichi Tsuchiya
Japan Akira Iida
Honda NSX GT2 GT2 222 18th 9th
1995 Japan Team Kunimitsu Japan Keiichi Tsuchiya
Japan Akira Iida
GT2 275 8th 1st
1996 Japan Keiichi Tsuchiya
Japan Akira Iida
GT2 305 16th 3rd

Complete JGTC results

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

Year Team Car Class 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Rank Points
1994 Team Kunimitsu Porsche 911 RSR-T GT1 FUJ SEN FUJ
Ret
SUG
1
MIN
2
7th 35
1995 Team Kunimitsu Porsche 911 RSR-T GT1 SUZ
14
FUJ
3
SEN
4
FUJ
8
SUG
8
MIN
Ret
10th 28
1996 Team Kunimitsu Honda NSX GT500 SUZ
Ret
FUJ
8
SEN
12
FUJ
7
SUG
10
MIN
11
17th 8
1997 Team Kunimitsu Honda NSX GT500 SUZ FUJ
Ret
SEN
16
FUJ
11
MIN
2
SUG
2
9th 30
1998 Team Kunimitsu Honda NSX GT500 SUZ
10
FUJ
C
SEN
12
FUJ
Ret
MOT
7
MIN
1
SUG
Ret
10th 25
1999 Team Kunimitsu Honda NSX GT500 SUZ
Ret
FUJ
1
SUG
13
MIN
15
FUJ
7
TAI
5
MOT
9
11th 34

Complete British Saloon Car Championship results

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(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 9 10 11 12 DC Pts Class
1985 Mitsubishi Colt Racing Mitsubishi Starion Turbo A SIL OUL THR DON THR SIL DON SIL SNE BRH BRH SIL
9
NC 0 NC

Complete Japanese Touring Car Championship results

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Year Team Car Class 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 DC Pts
1986 STP Ralliart Mitsubishi Starion Turbo Div.3 NIS
4
SUG
2
TSU
1
SEN
Ret
FUJ
Ret
SUZ
2
? ?
1987 STP Ralliart Mitsubishi Starion Turbo Div.3 NIS
1
SEN
1
TSU
Ret
SUG
18
FUJ
10
SUZ
Ret
? ?
1988 STP Ralliart Mitsubishi Starion Turbo JTC-1 SUZ NIS
4
SEN
2
TSU
Ret
SUG
Ret
FUJ
15
? ?
1992 Team Taisan Nissan Skyline GT-R JTC-1 AID
4
AUT
Ret
SUG
3
SUZ
3
MIN
17
TSU
2
SEN
4
FUJ
17
9th 74
1993 Team Taisan Nissan Skyline GT-R JTC-1 MIN
Ret
AUT
1
SUG
Ret
SUZ
2
AID
5
TSU
4
TOK
6
SEN
Ret
FUJ
Ret
11th 59

References

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  1. ^ "Kunimitsu Takahashi Honoured By Japanese Government For Lifelong Sporting Achievements – dailysportscar.com". www.dailysportscar.com. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
  2. ^ Kunimitsu Takahashi career statistics at MotoGP.com
  3. ^ "Motegi Super GT: Jenson Button holds off late threat for title". Autosport.com. Autosport. Retrieved 2 January 2019.
  4. ^ "Japanese racing legend Kunimitsu Takahashi dies aged 82". Motorsport.com. 16 March 2022.
  5. ^ "Kunimitsu Takahashi, legendary racing driver and grandfather of drifting, dies at 82". Japanese Nostalgiccar. 17 March 2022. Retrieved 18 March 2022.
  6. ^ Kunimitsu Takahashi Formula One statistics at formula1.com
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