Masashi Yokoi

Masashi Yokoi (横井 昌志, Yokoi Masashi, 29 October 1982, Aichi) is a Japanese professional drifter, he currently competing in D1 Grand Prix and win the championship in 2018, 2019 and 2022 making him the second driver to win back-to-back championship. he is nicknamed as Zombie Yokoi or Galaxy Yokoi

Career Yokoi gained D1 license after competing and winning in Ikaten event and started to competing in D1 Street Legal in 2007 with Nissan Silvia S15 he was nicknamed Zombie after he still able to run his car despite crashing in to the wall during practice and solo run.

For 2008, Yokoi decided to do both D1 Grand Prix and D1 Street Legal with 2 different S14 Silvia built to specification of each category. While able to be seeded driver in D1 Street Legal, he only able to pass qualifying in final two round and both times defeated in Top 16.

In 2009, he only compete in D1 Street Legal and receive support from Dunlop after winning the audition event at 2008 Dunlop Drift Festival. The support from Dunlop improve Yokoi results as he finished the season fourth in standings with a single win at season finale in Tsukuba.

After not competing in 2010, he returns to D1 Street Legal in 2011 now mainly supported by D-Max. Despite leading the championship after round 2, he loses the lead an ended the season third in standings. The following year, he won three times during the season and winning the championship. He also made a return to D1GP with D-Max starting from the Centrair round.

From 2013, Yokoi began to compete full time in D1GP and won his first round the following year in round 5 at Ebisu Circuit defeating the seasons eventual champion Kuniaki Takahashi and finished 3rd in final standings of 2014 season.

In 2015, Yokoi competed in Formula Drift USA with support from Yokohama tires and get one win on his only season in the competition and nicknamed Galaxy Yokoi. while silmutaneusly compete in D1GP.

In 2018, Yokoi built a new S15 Silvia while his previous car was driven by his teammate Akira Hirajima. despite Masato Kawabata domination in Solo Run Yokoi managed to get three wins and perform consistently scoring no less than 20 points throughout the season with exceptions in round 2 and 5 which allow him to win his first championship in final round after Kawabata defeated in Top 16.

In 2019, Yukoi won the first two-round followed by two more podiums in the series, despite not scoring any points in the remaining round he hanging on to the championship lead and claimed his second title, making him the second driver after Youichi Imamura to win back-to-back title in D1GP and winning it in same car he previously win the championship in.

In 2020 season, Yokoi debuted his and D-Max's fourth S15 Silvia which is an upgrade from his previous car which going to be driven by Masao Suenaga who returmed after competing as privateer in 2019, finished second in the standings but managed to be Solo Run Champion.

2021, Yokoi won at round 2 and finished second again in the championship. he was also doing stunt drives for movie Alivehoon alongside other D1 drivers such as Naoki Nakamura and Yusuke Kitaoka

After two years finishing as runner-up, Yokoi won his third D1GP title in the final round of the 2022 season equaling Masato Kawabata's tally and became the third person to win three or more titles.

In 2023, D-Max switched tire suppliers to Goodride. He won the opening two rounds and more high points scoring in round 3 and 4, he created a big lead in the championship standings. However due to tire regulation violation, he was disqualified from round 3 and 4 and stripped of the point he gain there. Yokoi unable to regain his form from the opening rounds as he failed to qualify twice and even crashed before his qualifying run at Autopolis. He ended the season eight in standings finishing behind his teammate for the first time ever.

For 2024, Yokoi partnered with 2022 D1 Lights champion Yuki Tano and switched tire supplier to Toyo Tires due to Tano's contract with them. Yokoi unable to reach final once this season but consistently scoring points as he ended up fifth in standings making him the highest ranked Toyo Tires equipped driver.

At 2025 Tokyo Auto Salon, Yokoi announced he is leaving the D-Max team at the end of the season, ending a 13 years stint with the team but still have ties with them as sponsor. Yokoi once again partnered with rookie and reigning D1 Lights champion Kenshiro Wada. Despite scoring well in first four round of the season including a second place in round 2 which put him second in standings behind Kojiro Mekuwa, he unable to perform consistently and finished the season fifth in standings.

For 2026, Yokoi announced he will compete with his own team and returning to S14 Silvia platform for the first time since his debut season in 2008. His S14 is a 2JZ powered car producing 1000bhp he initially build as a side project and uses it in World Time Attack Challenge at Sydney, Australia in 2024 and 2025.

Personal life Yokoi currently lives in Ichinomiya, Aichi while running his own shop MCR Factory. MCR stands for Mind Control Racing which is his street drifting team name where he built and maintained his D1GP cars and also fielded a team in D1 Lights. In 2025, his driver and employee Genki Mogami win the series champion. He goes jet skiing as a hobby, which he often does in his free time, he has two children.

Complete drifting results