Japanese racing driver (born 1991)
Yūya Motojima (元嶋佑弥, Motojima Yūya, born 10 April 1991) is a Japanese racing driver who currently competes in Super GT for JLOC and in the Super Taikyū Series for TKRI.[1] He is the reigning champion of Super GT's GT300 class alongside longtime teammate Takashi Kogure, as well as a two-time class champion in Super Taikyū and the 2015 Porsche Carrera Cup Japan champion.[2][3]
Career
After graduating from the Honda-operated Suzuka Circuit Racing School [ja] and receiving the manufacturer's SRS-Formula scholarship in 2009, Motojima made his formula racing debut in the 2010 Formula Challenge Japan alongside fellow scholarship awardees Kazuki Hiramine and Shinji Nakamura.[4] After a relatively consistent debut season where he claimed a win at Fuji, finishing fourth in the championship, Motojima remained in the championship for the 2011 season. Although he repeated his Fuji success with a pole-to-win run, Motojima would drop to sixth in the standings and would lose Honda backing at the end of 2011.
Faced with budget struggles after losing manufacturer backing, Motojima moved to race in the local Autopolis series of the entry-level Super FJ class. His domination granted him eligibility to contest the year-ending All-Japan final race at Suzuka, where he would triumph over the likes of Kenta Yamashita despite having to crowdfund his way to the grid.[5]
After spending 2013 in the Toyota-operated 86/BRZ Race one-make series, Motojima shifted to sports car racing, stepping up to the Porsche Carrera Cup Japan with a scholarship for the series.[6]
Personal life
Born in Nakama in Fukuoka Prefecture, Motojima now lives in Nagoya.[7] His younger brother Seiya is also a racing driver.[8]
Racing record
Career summary
‡ Team standings.
Complete Super GT results
(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
References
External links
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