Masanori Sekiya

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

Nationality Japanese

Born (1949-11-27) 27 November 1949 (age 76)
Ikawa, Shizuoka, Japan

Years1985–1990, 1992–1993, 1995–1997

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

Quick facts Nationality, Born ...

Masanori Sekiya

Nationality	Japanese
Born	(1949-11-27) 27 November 1949 (age 76) Ikawa, Shizuoka, Japan
24 Hours of Le Mans career
Years	1985–1990, 1992–1993, 1995–1997
Teams	Tom's, Porsche Kremer Racing, Kokusai Kaihatsu Racing, SARD, Gulf Team Davidoff
Best finish	1st (1995)
Class wins	1 (1995)

Close

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 fourth in the standings in 1988 and 1989, scoring three and four podiums, respectively.^{[citation needed]}

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.^{[citation needed]}

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.

Sekiya retired from professional motorsports in October 2000 and is now involved in team management.^{[citation needed]}