Ryō Hirakawa
Ryō Hirakawa is a Japanese racing driver, best known for winning the 2017 Super GT Series.
Career
Karting
Born in Kure, Hiroshima, Hirakawa began his racing career in karting at the age of eleven and raced in various local championships, progressing to the KF2 category in 2009, finishing 32nd in the Asia-Pacific Championship.Formula Challenge Japan and Formula BMW Pacific
In 2010, Hirakawa graduated to single–seaters into the Formula Challenge Japan mono-series. He finished two of the eleven races on the podium and finished sixth in the series standings. Hirakawa also contested the final rounds in Formula BMW Pacific, joining the Asia Racing Team.He remained in Formula Challenge Japan for two further years, finishing both years as runner-up; he took one win in 2011 and five wins in 2012.
All-Japan Formula Three
In 2012, Hirakawa stepped up to the All-Japan Formula Three Championship with the RSS team. He dominated the first half of the championship, taking seven wins and taking the championship title with it. During the season he also appeared in the Macau Grand Prix.Super Formula
Hirakawa made his debut in the Super Formula Championship in 2013 with Kygnus Sunoco Team LeMans. At 19 years of age, Hirakawa was the youngest driver in the championshipIn 2014, he scored his first Super Formula podium finish in the July 13 race at Fuji Speedway, finishing second after running off track while leading on the final lap. Kazuki Nakajima claimed the race victory.
In 2015, he remained with Team LeMans, to be joined by ex-Formula 1 driver Kamui Kobayashi. Hirakawa finished eighth in the championship for the second consecutive season, but did not claim a podium finish. Hirakawa left the series for the 2016 season, focusing on his commitments in Super GT and his new challenges in the European Le Mans Series and the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Hirakawa returned to Super Formula in 2018 with Team Impul replacing Jann Mardenborough. He achieved his first pole at Autopolis, which was cancelled due to adverse weather and finished fifth in the championship. He continued with Team Impul in 2019 and won his first ever Super Formula race at Motegi.
IndyCar
Hirakawa had tests with Dale Coyne Racing during 2013.Super GT
Hirakawa made his Super GT debut in 2014 with Lexus Team Petronas TOM's, substituting for Kazuki Nakajima for two races while Nakajima fulfilled commitments in the World Endurance Championship.He made his full-time debut in 2015 for Lexus Team KeePer TOM's, driving alongside Andrea Caldarelli. He won his first race in just his third career start at Okayama, then won again in the season finale at Motegi. Hirakawa and Caldarelli finished fifth in the championship.
For 2016, Hirakawa was joined in the KeePer TOM's RC-F by James Rossiter.
For 2017, Hirakawa was joined with Nick Cassidy with whom he went onto win the championship.
European Le Mans Series
On February 4, 2016, Toyota Gazoo Racing announced that Hirakawa would be competing in the LMP2 class of the European Le Mans Series. On March 4, Hirakawa was confirmed as the third driver at Thiriet by TDS Racing alongside Pierre Thiriet and Mathias Beche. Hirakawa also drove in the 24 Hours of Le Mans for the first time. He won his first race in the ELMS at the 2016 4 Hours of Imola on May 15, 2016. Hirakawa also won the following round at the Red Bull Ring. For 2017, Hirakawa joined the No.22 G-Drive entry winning at Monza and heling the No.22 entry to win the LMP2 team's championship.Racing record
Career summary
† – As Hirakawa was a guest driver, he was ineligible for points.Complete Super Formula Results
| Year | Entrant | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | DC | Points |
| 2013 | Kygnus Sunoco Team LeMans | SUZ 8 | AUT 7 | FUJ 11 | MOT 7 | SUG Ret | SUZ1 6 | SUZ2 4 | 11th | 9 | ||
| 2014 | Kygnus Sunoco Team LeMans | SUZ 4 | FUJ1 Ret | FUJ2 8 | FUJ 2 | MOT 10 | AUT 13 | SUG 8 | SUZ1 16 | SUZ2 5 | 8th | 16.5 |
| 2015 | Kygnus Sunoco Team LeMans | SUZ 12 | OKA 9 | FUJ 6 | MOT 7 | AUT 4 | SUG 8 | SUZ 10 | SUZ 5 | 8th | 13 | |
| 2018 | Itochu Enex Team Impul | SUZ Ret | AUT C | SUG 9 | FUJ 4 | MOT 2 | OKA 3 | SUZ Ret | 5th | 17 | ||
| 2019 | Itochu Enex Team Impul | SUZ Ret | AUT 14 | SUG 11 | FUJ 12 | MOT 1 | OKA 12 | SUZ 8 | 10th | 12 |