Toshiki Oyu

Toshiki Oyu
NationalityJapan Japanese
Born (1998-08-04) 4 August 1998 (age 26)
Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan
Super Formula career
Debut season2020
Current teamVertex Partners CerumoINGING
Car number53
Former teamsTGM Grand Prix, Nakajima Racing
Starts32
Wins1
Podiums5
Poles3
Fastest laps4
Best finish5th in 2021
Super GT career
Debut season2021
Current teamTGR Team KeePer Cerumo
Car number38
Former teamsTeam Mugen, ARTA
Starts24
Wins1
Podiums3
Poles2
Fastest laps1
Best finish8th in 2023
Previous series
2020
2019
201819
201617
Super GT - GT300
Euroformula Open Championship
Japanese Formula 3 Championship
F4 Japanese Championship

Toshiki Oyu (大湯都史樹, Ōyu Toshiki, born 4 August 1998) is a Japanese racing driver for Toyota Gazoo Racing who currently competes in Super GT for Team Cerumo and in Super Formula for INGING.[1] He was previously a factory driver for Honda until 2023.[2]

Career

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Early career

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Oyu made his motorsport debut in karting in 2007, racing in local championships on his home island of Hokkaido. He would go on to win the All-Japan Junior Kart Championship in 2010, his first year of national-level competition, and would compete in the All-Japan Karting Championship and Suzuka series between 2011 and 2015 against the likes of Ritomo Miyata, Sena Sakaguchi, and Kazuto Kotaka, finishing in third behind the former two in 2013.[3]

Oyu made his formula racing debut in 2015 after gaining the support of fellow Sapporo native Katsuyuki Hiranaka, racing in the Super FJ Okayama Challenge Cup for Rn-sports. After moving to Suzuka to further his racing career, he moved into Formula 4, remaining with Rn-sports to contest the JAF Formula 4 Championship and F4 Japanese Championship. In an extraordinarily successful year, Oyu became champion of both the West and East divisions in JAF F4, and took two race wins at Sportsland SUGO and Suzuka to finish third in the latter championship behind Miyata and Sakaguchi. In November 2016, Oyu graduated from Honda's Suzuka Circuit Racing School [ja], defeating Ukyō Sasahara, Yuki Tsunoda, and Teppei Natori to claim the first-place Honda Formula Dream Project scholarship.[4] Oyu continued in the F4 Japanese Championship for the 2017 season as a Honda protégé, racing for the Honda Formula Dream Project's eponymous team, but would ultimately finish fourth behind reigning champion Miyata, Sasahara, and Tsunoda despite claiming victories at Autopolis, Fuji Speedway, and Twin Ring Motegi.[citation needed]

Formula 3

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Oyu leading Sena Sakaguchi in the 2018 Japanese Formula 3 Championship at Sportsland SUGO

Oyu stepped up to Formula Three for 2018, racing in the Japanese Formula 3 Championship for Toda Racing. He took four podium finishes at SUGO, Okayama, and Motegi, and finished sixth in the overall standings with 39 points. At the end of the season, he made his debut for Toda in the Macau Grand Prix, finishing sixteenth.[citation needed]

Oyu remained with Toda for the 2019 season, taking his first race victory at the fourth round in Sugo and six podiums throughout the season to claim fourth in the standings behind Sacha Fenestraz, Ritomo Miyata and Enaam Ahmed. Oyu gained his first international opportunity in September 2019, standing in for compatriot Yuki Tsunoda at Team Motopark for the Silverstone round of the 2019 Euroformula Open Championship, due to Tsunoda's commitments in the FIA Formula 3 Championship. Oyu went on to stun on his European debut, taking pole position and victory in both races and shattering the track's lap record by over seven tenths.[5] However, despite garnering praise from Motopark boss Timo Rumpfkeil and being assessed for a spot in the Red Bull Junior Team, Oyu ultimately returned to Japan and has not raced internationally since.[6]

Super Formula

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2020

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In December 2019, amid uncertainties over his future, Oyu received a last-minute call-up from TCS Nakajima Racing to drive in the Super Formula Championship's post-season test at Suzuka. Impressive test results and the departure of incumbent Álex Palou to the IndyCar Series prompted team director and former Formula One driver Satoru Nakajima to sign Oyu for the 2020 season, partnering Formula 2 race winner and former karting rival Tadasuke Makino.[7][8] Oyu impressed on debut at Twin Ring Motegi, going fastest in free practice and qualifying in fourth position - the highest of any Honda-powered driver, but suffered a puncture on the first lap and was relegated to the back of the field.[9] He qualified well again at the next round in Okayama, taking fifth position behind Makino, but locked up his brakes into the race's first corner and crashed into Makino and Kondō Racing's Sacha Fenestraz, dashing the team's hopes of any results.[10] His struggles continued at the third race in Sugo, where his weekend was curtailed by an early crash in qualifying, and at the fourth round in Autopolis, where he scored his first point but suffered clutch problems and a resulting drive-through penalty at the race start.[11]

The season's fifth and sixth rounds were held in a double-header at Suzuka. Oyu qualified in seventh and second for the two races respectively, finishing the second qualifying session two tenths shy of polesitter Nick Cassidy.[12] After finishing eighth in the first race, a sudden engine failure for Cassidy saw Oyu seize the lead. Oyu would go on to hold off Nirei Fukuzumi following a safety car restart to claim a breakthrough maiden victory. His performances continued at the final round at Fuji, where he benefited from other drivers' late-race struggles to go from sixth to second at the flag. Oyu's late-season results ultimately led to a sixth-place finish in the championship.

2021

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Oyu remained with Nakajima Racing for the 2021 season, and was joined by reigning champion Naoki Yamamoto, who switched seats with Tadasuke Makino at docomo Team Dandelion Racing.[13]

2022

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Oyu remained at Nakajima Racing for the 2022 season alongside Yamamoto.[14]

2023

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Despite his strong results in the latter half of 2022, Oyu was dropped by Nakajima at the end of the year and was absent from the Super Formula entry list released by Honda in 2022, with his seat taken by former Red Bull junior Ren Satō, who moved over from Team Goh.[15] In March 2023, Oyu was announced to be remaining in Super Formula, taking the place of Satō at the newly rebranded TGM Grand Prix team and partnering former Formula 2 driver Cem Bölükbaşı.[16]

Prior to the season-ending double-header at Suzuka, Oyu announced that funding issues had curtailed his season prematurely despite his performances.[17] He was replaced by Super GT driver and series debutant Riki Okusa.[18]

2024 and Toyota switch

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Oyu driving the Dallara SF23 at Mobility Resort Motegi

In December 2023, Oyu partook in the Super Formula post-season test at Suzuka for the Toyota-powered P.mu/Cerumo INGING team, prompting surprise from within the paddock.[19] The following month, Oyu's departure from Honda to Toyota was confirmed with the release of Toyota's 2024 motorsport entry list, with Oyu being set to join Vertex Partners Cerumo・INGING for the 2024 season, taking the place of TOM'S-bound Shō Tsuboi alongside former rival Sena Sakaguchi.[20]

Super GT

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Oyu made his debut in Super GT in 2020, racing for ARTA in a Honda NSX GT300 alongside veteran and two-time series champion Shinichi Takagi.[21] The team was later joined by Formula 2 graduate Nobuharu Matsushita for the final two rounds.

Oyu moved up to the top-flight GT500 class for the 2021 season, partnering Ukyō Sasahara at Red Bull Team Mugen.

Following his switch to Toyota at the end of 2023, Oyu joined Team KeePer Cerumo for the 2024 Super GT season, partnering longtime Cerumo driver Hiroaki Ishiura.[20]

Personal life

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Oyu is known in Japan as an online personality and automotive YouTuber, producing videos about his racing career and his personal Honda S2000. He has made numerous appearances on the Hot-Version video series (formerly Best Motoring) alongside racing driver and longtime host Keiichi Tsuchiya, often featuring his own car. He has cited Kimi Räikkönen as his favourite racing driver.[17]

Oyu has one younger brother. His parents own a curry-focused food processing company in Otaru which sponsored him throughout his junior career and sells a themed curry aimed at his fans.[22][23]

Racing record

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Career summary

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Season Series Team Races Wins Poles FLaps Podiums Points Position
2015 Super-FJ Okayama Challenge Cup Rn-sports TANZEN 4 3 1 2 4 75 1st
Super-FJ All-Japan Final 1 0 0 0 1 N/A 2nd
2016 F4 Japanese Championship Rn-sports 13 2 1 2 3 126 3rd
JAF Formula 4 - West TANZEN Rn-sports 7 5 4 5 6 115 1st
JAF Formula 4 - East 6 6 6 6 6 120 1st
2017 F4 Japanese Championship Honda Formula Dream Project 13 3 4 2 7 166 4th
2018 Japanese Formula 3 Championship Toda Racing 19 0 0 0 4 39 6th
Macau Grand Prix 1 0 0 0 0 N/A 16th
2019 Japanese Formula 3 Championship Toda Racing 20 1 0 0 6 60 4th
Euroformula Open Championship Motopark 2 2 2 0 2 52 13th
2020 Super Formula TCS Nakajima Racing 7 1 0 0 2 41 6th
Super GT - GT300 ARTA 8 0 0 0 2 45 4th
2021 Super Formula TCS Nakajima Racing 7 0 0 2 2 41 5th
Super GT - GT500 Team Red Bull Mugen 8 0 1 0 0 20 16th
2022 Super Formula TCS Nakajima Racing 10 0 1 1 1 43 8th
Super GT - GT500 Team Red Bull Mugen 8 0 0 0 1 16.5 14th
2023 Super GT - GT500 ARTA 8 1 1 1 2 38 8th
Super Formula TGM Grand Prix 6 0 2 1 1 22 9th
2024 Super GT - GT500 TGR Team KeePer Cerumo 8 0 1 0 2 54 4th
Super Formula Vertex Partners CerumoINGING 9 0 0 0 1 27 9th

*Season still in progress.

Complete F4 Japanese Championship results

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(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 DC Pts
2016 Rn-sports OKA
1

8
OKA
2

4
FUJ1
1

Ret
FUJ1
2

14
SUG
1

1
SUG
2

4
FUJ2
1

6
FUJ2
2

4
FUJ2
3

24
SUZ
1

4
SUZ
2

1
MOT
1

13
MOT
2

3
MOT
3

10
3rd 126
2017 Honda Formula Dream Project OKA
1

24
OKA
2

5
FUJ1
1

2
FUJ1
2

2
AUT
1

2
AUT
2

1
SUG
1

Ret
SUG
2

Ret
FUJ2
1

DNS
FUJ2
2

1
SUZ
1

3
SUZ
2

4
MOT
1

Ret
MOT
2

1
4th 166

Complete Japanese Formula 3 results

[edit]

(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 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 DC Pts
2018 Toda Racing Toda Racing SUZ
1

14
SUZ
2

9
SUG
1

3
SUG
2

4
FUJ
1

4
FUJ
2

Ret
OKA
1

9
OKA
2

3
OKA
3

C
MOT
1

3
MOT
2

6
MOT
3

3
OKA
1

Ret
OKA
2

5
OKA
3

C
SUG
1

6
SUG
2

4
SUG
3

Ret
SUG
4

DNS
FUJ
1

4
FUJ
2

4
6th 39
2019 Toda Racing Toda Racing SUZ
1

5
SUZ
2

4
AUT
1

2
AUT
2

2
AUT
3

2
OKA
1

6
OKA
2

6
OKA
3

6
SUG
1

5
SUG
2

1
FUJ
1

3
FUJ
2

6
SUG
1

6
SUG
2

7
SUG
3

6
MOT
1

3
MOT
2

5
MOT
3

7
OKA
1

5
OKA
2

5
4th 60

Complete Macau Grand Prix results

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Year Team Car Qualifying Quali Race Main race
2018 Japan Toda Racing Dallara F317 26th 21st 16th

Complete Super Formula results

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(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 Points
2020 TCS Nakajima Racing Honda MOT
15
OKA
15
SUG
12
AUT
10
SUZ
8
SUZ
1
FUJ
2
6th 41
2021 TCS Nakajima Racing Honda FUJ
2
SUZ
10
AUT
7
SUG
2
MOT
6
MOT
14
SUZ
11
5th 41
2022 TCS Nakajima Racing Honda FUJ
7
FUJ
11
SUZ
13
AUT
Ret
SUG
2
FUJ
10
MOT
Ret3
MOT
5
SUZ
43
SUZ
7
8th 43
2023 TGM Grand Prix Honda FUJ
7
FUJ
203
SUZ
Ret1
AUT
Ret
SUG
Ret1
FUJ MOT
3
SUZ SUZ 9th 22
2024 Vertex Partners CerumoINGING Toyota SUZ
16
AUT
15
SUG
5
FUJ
23
MOT
63
FUJ
Ret
FUJ
10
SUZ
10
SUZ
16
9th 27

* Season still in progress.

Complete Super GT results

[edit]

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Team Car Class 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 DC Pts
2020 ARTA Honda NSX GT3 Evo GT300 FUJ
7
FUJ
3
SUZ
26
MOT
7
FUJ
2
SUZ
7
MOT
8
FUJ
7
4th 45
2021 Team Red Bull Mugen Honda NSX-GT GT500 OKA
11
FUJ
11
SUZ
4
MOT
9
SUG
9
AUT
Ret
MOT
5
FUJ
10
16th 20
2022 Team Red Bull Mugen Honda NSX-GT GT500 OKA
12
FUJ
10‡
SUZ
13
FUJ
13
SUZ
6
SUG
3
AUT
12
MOT
11
14th 16.5
2023 ARTA Honda NSX-GT GT500 OKA
3
FUJ
11
SUZ
12
FUJ
14
SUZ
14
SUG
1
AUT
Ret
MOT
5
8th 38
2024 TGR Team KeePer Cerumo Toyota GR Supra GT500 GT500 OKA
4
FUJ
5
SUZ
Ret
FUJ
3
SUZ
21
SUG
10
AUT
3
MOT
9
4th 54

Half points awarded as less than 75% of race distance was completed.
* Season still in progress.

References

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  1. ^ "TOYOTA GAZOO Racing、2024年の国内参戦体制を発表" [TOYOTA GAZOO Racing outlines its Japanese motorsport activities for 2024]. Toyota Global (in Japanese). 12 December 2023. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  2. ^ "Calderon to race at Motegi; Vips, Sette Camara still in doubt". motorsport.com. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
  3. ^ "全日本カート選手権KF2部門" (PDF). 20 March 2014. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  4. ^ "SRS-Fのスカラシップ決定。大湯都史樹、笹原右京がHFDPへ" [SRS-F scholarship decision: Toshiki Oyu and Ukyo Sasahara to the HFDP]. auto sport web (in Japanese). 17 November 2016. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  5. ^ Wood, Ida (8 September 2019). "Toshiki Oyu breaks Silverstone record again in EF Open qualifying". Formula Scout. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  6. ^ Simmons, Marcus (11 September 2019). "Honda junior Oyu tipped for 2020 European programme with Red Bull". Autosport. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  7. ^ "スーパーフォーミュラ:ホンダが2020年体制発表。ThreeBond DragoがF2参戦の女性ドライバー、タチアナ・カルデロンを起用" [Super Formula: Honda announces 2020 setups. ThreeBond Drago signs female F2 driver Tatiana Calderon]. auto sport web (in Japanese). 10 January 2020. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  8. ^ Wood, Ida (9 December 2020). "How "worried" Nakajima had his faith in Oyu rewarded". Formula Scout. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  9. ^ "TCS NAKAJIMA RACING 2020スーパーフォーミュラ第1戦もてぎ レースレポート" [TCS NAKAJIMA RACING 2020 Super Formula Round 1 Motegi Race Report]. auto sport web (in Japanese). 31 August 2020. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  10. ^ "チャンスが一瞬で消えた1コーナーの大きすぎる代償。ナカジマレーシングの同士討ちに「申し訳ない」と大湯【第2戦岡山】" [A massive price was paid at the first corner where all chances disappeared. Oyu says "I'm sorry" for the rivalry at Nakajima Racing]. auto sport web (in Japanese). 28 September 2020. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  11. ^ "TCS NAKAJIMA RACING 2020スーパーフォーミュラ第4戦オートポリス レースレポート". auto sport web (in Japanese). 16 November 2020. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  12. ^ "【順位結果】2020スーパーフォーミュラ第6戦鈴鹿 公式予選" [2020 Super Formula Round 6 Suzuka Qualifying Results]. auto sport web. 6 December 2020. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  13. ^ "2021年Hondaモータースポーツ活動計画" [2021 Honda Motorsports Activity Structure]. Honda Global (in Japanese). 15 January 2021. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  14. ^ "2022年Hondaモータースポーツ活動計画" [2022 Honda Motorsports Activity Structure]. Honda Global (in Japanese). Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  15. ^ "大湯都史樹、まさかのスーパーフォーミュラ記載なし「それが事実です。僕もびっくりしました」複雑な心境を吐露" [Toshiki Oyu, unexpectedly not listed for Super Formula, expresses mixed feelings - "That's the truth. I was surprised too"]. auto sport web (in Japanese). 12 December 2024. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  16. ^ "[2023年全日本スーパーフォーミュラ選手権] TGM Grand Prix 2023年体制発表" [[2023 All-Japan Super Formula Championship] TGM Grand Prix 2023 roster announcement]. Super Formula Official Site. 3 March 2023. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  17. ^ a b "大湯都史樹、SF第8戦・第9戦鈴鹿を直前に急遽欠場を発表「非常に難しい状況となった」" [Toshiki Oyu announces his sudden absence just prior to SF Suzuka rounds 8&9 - "It's become a really difficult situation"]. auto sport web (in Japanese). 24 October 2023. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  18. ^ "TGM Grand Prixがスーパーフォーミュラ第8戦・第9戦鈴鹿の53号車のドライバーとして大草りきを抜擢" [TGM Grand Prix selects Riki Okusa as the driver of the No. 53 car for Super Formula rounds 8&9]. auto sport web. 25 October 2023. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  19. ^ "トヨタ陣営から参加の大湯都史樹「こういう機会をいただけるとは思ってもいなかった」" [Toshiki Oyu, a participant from the Toyota camp: "I never thought I'd get an opportunity like this"]. auto sport web (in Japanese). 5 December 2023. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  20. ^ a b "TOYOTA GAZOO Racing、2024年の国内参戦体制を発表" [TOYOTA GAZOO Racing announces its 2024 domestic participation structure]. Toyota Global. 12 December 2023. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  21. ^ "スーパーGT:目指すはダブルタイトル。ARTAがGT500/GT300参戦体制を発表" [Aiming for a double title. ARTA announces GT500/GT300 race participation structure]. auto sport web. 10 January 2020. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  22. ^ "大湯 都史樹 「カペタみたいになりたい。僕もレースをやってみたい」" [Toshiki Oyu: "I want to be like Capeta. I want to race too"]. Super Formula Official Website. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  23. ^ "大湯くん家のカレーRound.1". TANZEN Official Store. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
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