Kazuyoshi Hoshino

is a Japanese former racing driver and businessman.

Motorsport career Hoshino's nickname was . He won the Japanese motocross national championships in the 90cc and 125cc classes for Kawasaki in 1968 before switching to cars as a Nissan factory driver in 1969.

Hoshino participated in two Formula One Grands Prix, debuting on 24 October 1976 at the Japanese Grand Prix, making him – along with compatriots Noritake Takahara and Masahiro Hasemi – the first Japanese driver to start a Formula One Grand Prix. Driving a Tyrrell-Ford for Heros Racing, he ran as high as fourth, but retired having used up his tyre supply. He returned in 1977 and once again entered the Japanese Grand Prix driving for Heros Racing. He finished in eleventh place driving a year-old Kojima-Ford. He scored no championship points in his Formula 1 career.

Hoshino's only major world championship win was in the 1985 World Sportscar Championship round at the Fuji 1000 race, which was boycotted by many competing teams due to torrential rain.

Hoshino won the Japanese Formula 2000 championship in 1975 and 1977, before winning the Japanese Formula Two championship in 1978. He then competed in the Japanese Formula 3000 championship, winning that title in 1987, 1990 and 1993. His 6 championships and 39 race wins still stand as series records.

Hoshino also dominated the Fuji Grand Champion Series in the 1970s and 1980s. He won five titles in 1978, 1982, 1984, 1985 and 1987, collecting 28 wins and 42 podiums.

Hoshino's 1998 Le Mans podium-finishing Nissan (pictured in 2015).

Like his compatriot, Masahiro Hasemi, Hoshino continued his career racing for Nissan, driving a Skyline GT-R to win the Japanese Touring Car Championship in 1990. Hoshino drove a Nissan R90C with Toshio Suzuki to win the 1990 Suzuka 1000 race. Along with Nissan Motorsports teammates Aguri Suzuki and Masahiko Kageyama, Hoshino drove a Nissan R390 GT1 to a third-place finish at the 1998 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Hoshino retired from racing in 2002 and now continues to run his own Super GT team and his own Nissan specialised aftermarket parts company, Impul. Since 2003, his racing team has won the Formula Nippon championship seven times in eight years. His son, Kazuki Hoshino, also became a racing driver before succeeding his father as Impul's team director in both Super GT and Super Formula in 2023.

Racing record

All Japan FJ1300 Championship results (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position)

Complete All Japan F2000/All Japan F2/All Japan F3000/Formula Nippon results (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Complete Fuji Grand Championship results

Complete Formula One results (key) Year Entrant Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 WDC Points 1976 Heros Racing Tyrrell 007 Cosworth V8 BRA RSA USW ESP BEL MON SWE FRA GBR GER AUT NED ITA CAN USA JPN NC 0 1977 Heros Racing Kojima KE009 Cosworth V8 ARG BRA RSA USW ESP MON BEL SWE FRA GBR GER AUT NED ITA USA CAN JPN NC 0

Complete European Formula Two Championship results (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap) Year Entrant Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Pts Heros Racing Nova 532 BMW THR HOC NÜR PAU MUG VAL ROU DON NOG PER MIS HOC NC 0 James Gresham Racing March 832 BMW SIL THR HOC NÜR VAL PAU JAR DON4 MIS PER ZOL MUG 16th 3

Complete JTC/JTCC results (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Complete JGTC results (key)

Complete 24 Hours of Le Mans results

Complete Bathurst 1000 results Year Team Co-Drivers Car Class Laps 1981 Nissan Motor Co. Masahiro Hasemi Nissan Bluebird (910) Turbo 4 Cylinder 66 DNF DNF 1982 Nissan Motor Co. Masahiro Hasemi Nissan Bluebird (910) Turbo B 153 8th 1st