Tomohiko Sunako

Tomohiko Sunako (砂子 智彦, Sunako Tomohiko, born 6 November 1964 in Tokyo), professionally known as Jukuchou Sunako (砂子塾長), is a semi-retired Japanese racing driver, motoring journalist, and driving instructor.[1][2][3][4] He is the son of former Nissan works racing driver and Yamaha factory motorcycle racer, Yoshikazu Sunako.[citation needed]

Sunako competed in the Super Taikyu Series (formerly the N1 Endurance Series, and Super N1 Endurance Series) from 1990 to 2008. He won the Class 1 championship in 1996 driving a Nissan Skyline GT-R.[citation needed]

He suffered a broken leg and minor burns in an accident at Fuji Speedway during the All-Japan Fuji GT Race on 3 May 1998, when his car spun off during the formation laps in torrential rain, and was then struck by the Ferrari F355 of Tetsuya Ota which also lost control and burst into flames. Sunako recovered from his injuries and continued to race in the All-Japan Grand Touring Car Championship / Super GT Series until 2006.[citation needed]

He retired in 2008, but came back to racing in 2018 to compete in the GT World Challenge Asia series in a BMW Team Studie M4 GT4. Sunako and Takayuki Kinoshita steered BMW Team Studie to the GT4 teams' championship in 2018, and Sunako won the GT4 overall drivers' championship in 2019.[citation needed]

In 2012, Sunako established Tokyo Virtual Circuit, a simulator facility based in the Minato ward of Tokyo.[5]

Complete JGTC/Super GT Results

Year Team Car Class 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 DC Pts
1997 910 Racing Porsche 911 GT300 SUZ FUJ
8
SEN
4
FUJ MIN 13th 13
ecurie SiFo Renault Sport Spider SUG
18
1998 910 Racing Porsche 911 GT300 SUZ
5
FUJ
C
SEN FUJ MOT MIN SUG 23rd 8
1999 Team Taisan Jr. GT300 SUZ
5
FUJ SUG MIN FUJ TAI 20th 10
910 Racing MOT
9
2000 GT300 MOT
Ret
FUJ
8
SUG
Ret
FUJ
9
TAI MIN SUZ
12
25th 5
2001 GT300 TAI
5
FUJ
6
SUG
2
FUJ
6
MOT
10
SUZ
4
MIN
5
3rd 54
2002 Team Taisan Jr. GT300 TAI FUJ
7
SUG SEP 21st 7
910 Racing FUJ
14
MOT MIN
8
SUZ
2003 GT300 TAI FUJ
17
SUG FUJ
21
FUJ
15
MOT
11
AUT SUZ
16
NC 0
2004 GT300 TAI
16
SUG
24
SEP
15
TOK
19
MOT
12
AUT
22
SUZ
20
NC 0
2005 GT300 OKA
Ret
FUJ
18
SEP
15
SUG
15
MOT
17
FUJ
Ret
AUT
15
SUZ
20
NC 0
2006 Endless Sports GT300 SUZ OKA FUJ SEP SUG SUZ
Ret
MOT AUT FUJ NC 0

References

  1. ^ "BMW TEAM Studie体制発表会2020 | BMW Team Studie" (in Japanese). 14 March 2020. Archived from the original on 24 June 2021. Retrieved 16 June 2021.
  2. ^ "Tomohiko Sunako | Racing career profile | Driver Database". www.driverdb.com. Archived from the original on 24 June 2021. Retrieved 16 June 2021.
  3. ^ Magazine, Speedsport. "Tomohiko Sunako: Racedriver biography - career and success". www.speedsport-magazine.com. Archived from the original on 24 June 2021. Retrieved 16 June 2021.
  4. ^ "Tomohiko Sunako Profile | Racing Years". www.racingyears.com. Archived from the original on 24 June 2021. Retrieved 16 June 2021.
  5. ^ "砂子塾長挨拶・プロフィール | 砂子塾長.com" (in Japanese). 10 May 2020. Archived from the original on 25 October 2021. Retrieved 14 October 2021.