Hitoshi Ogawa

was a Japanese racing car driver. He is the father of Ryo Ogawa, the 2015 Japanese Formula 3 champion.

Career

During the 1980s, Ogawa competed in several Fuji Grand Champion Series races. He won the 1989 All Japan Formula 3000 Championship and finished second in the same championship in 1990. In the same year, teaming up with Masanori Sekiya, he won the JAF Grand Prix All Japan Fuji 500km, held at Fuji. In 1992, he won the first round of the World Sportscar Championship in Monza in C1, partnering Geoff Lees.

Complete Japanese Formula 3 results (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap) Year Team Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 DC Pts 1981 gallop wheel Hayashi Toyota SUZ TSU FUJ MIN SUG TSU MIN SUZ SUZ 8th 28 1982 Racing Team Hayashi Toyota SUZ FUJ MIN SUZ SUG MIN SUZ TSU SUZ 6th 37 1987 TOM'S Toyota SUZ TSU FUJ SUZ SUG SEN MIN TSU SUZ SUZ 2nd 112 1988 Funaki Racing Toyota SUZ TSU FUJ SUZ SUG TSU SEN SUZ MIN SUZ 4th 27

Japanese Formula 2 / Formula 3000 Championship results (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

24 Hours of Le Mans results

Death

Ogawa was killed in an accident on lap 27 of an All-Japan Formula 3000 race held at Suzuka in May 1992. Ogawa aimed to overtake Andrew Gilbert-Scott's car on the main straight, but the latter held his position while Ogawa moved slightly to the side. He clipped the rear left wheel and the front of his car became lodged in the rear bodywork. Both went down the straight at speed and went into the gravel trap, which was insufficient in slowing down either car. Gilbert-Scott spun, hit the tyre wall and flipped, landing upside-down. Ogawa went in nose-first, hit a mound in the gravel trap and was launched over the tyre barrier, hitting a high-fence supporting pole. Both cars were wrecked and the race was stopped immediately. As a result of the accident, at least one cameraman, several photographers, and Gilbert-Scott all sustained injuries. Ogawa was freed but had suffered severe leg, head and neck injuries and was pronounced dead on the way to hospital.

Ogawa was supposed to race for the Toyota TOM'S team at the 1992 24 Hours of Le Mans. He was replaced by David Brabham for the race. The team subsequently used the number 36, the age of Ogawa's passing, as a tribute to him.