Reece Ushijima

Ushijima made his international competitive karting debut in 2017 in the SKUSA SuperNationals for Phil Giebler Racing, competing against the likes of Jak Crawford and Zane Maloney.^[1] He then raced in X30 Senior category in IAME Asia, IAME Euroseries, Benelux, Asian Karting Championship, and Super One and British Karting Championships in the UK, racing for Piers Sexton Racing. In 2019, he finished second in the Asian Karting Championship and third in IAME Asia Final.

In November 2019, at the age of 16, Ushijima transitioned from karts to cars. On the weekend following his racing licence acquisition he qualified on pole position, finishing third and second in the races and taking fastest lap at the BRSCC Formula Ford Winter Series in Wales, UK.

In the 2019–20 MRF Challenge Formula 2000 Championship held during the winter in Dubai, Sakhir and Chennai, Ushijima logged two fastest laps and finished seventh in the standings. His best finish was fourth place at the final round in Madras Motor Race Track, Chennai.

For the 2020 season, Ushijima signed with Hitech Grand Prix to race in the BRDC British Formula 3 Championship.^[2] The American started off strongly, scoring his maiden podium in the second round, with second at Donington Park.^[3] His next podium came at the next round, held at Brands Hatch, however this would be the final podium of his season. Ushijima finished eleventh in the standings, nine places behind teammate Kush Maini.^[4]

For the 2021 season, Ushijima remained with Hitech, this time alongside Sebastián Álvarez and Bart Horsten.^[5] His first podium came at the opening round of the season, with third in race two at Brands Hatch.^[6] In the second round at Silverstone Circuit, Ushijima earned double pole, his first pole position in the series, followed up by his maiden wins in races 1 and 2.^[7] He would go on to score three more podiums and a further pole on his way to fourth in the final standings.

In the winter of 2021, Ushijima competed in the F3 Asian Championship with Hitech GP.^[8] He scored 45 points, and with a best race finish of fifth, ended up twelfth in the championship.^[9]

Ushijima partook in post-season testing with Van Amersfoort Racing and was confirmed to drive for the team during the 2022 season, partnering Franco Colapinto and Rafael Villagómez.

At the end of the season, Ushijima partook in the post-season test with Hitech Grand Prix.^[10][11][12]

For his 2023 campaign, Ushijima left Formula 3 and signed to compete in the USF Pro 2000 Championship with Jay Howard Driver Development.^[13] A second place podium came at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, being the only highlight of his tough season.^[14] He opted to withdraw from the series with three rounds to go, explaining his desire to return to racing in Europe for 2024.^[15] Ushijima was 14th in the standings, with 140 points.^[16]

Ushijima's mother is American;^{[citation needed]} his father, who grew up in the United States, is Japanese.^{[citation needed]} Ushijima was born in California; in a 2023 interview he described America as his "home country."^[15] During the same interview he said he "grew up in Europe."^[15]