Hitoshi Ogawa (小河等, Ogawa Hitoshi, February 15, 1956 – May 24, 1992) was a Japanese racing car driver.[1]

Career

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During the 1980s, he competed in several Fuji Grand Champion Series races.[2] Ogawa won the 1989 All Japan Formula 3000 Championship and finished 2nd in the same championship in 1990. In the same year, teaming up with Masanori Sekiya, he won the JAF Grand Prix All Japan Fuji 500km, held at Fuji.[3] In 1992, he won the first round of the World Sportscar Championship in Monza in C1, partnering Geoff Lees.[4]

Complete Japanese Formula 3 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 Pts
1981 gallop wheel Hayashi Toyota SUZ TSU FUJ
5
MIN SUG
C
TSU
4
MIN
Ret
SUZ
5
SUZ
Ret
8th 28
1982 Racing Team Hayashi Toyota SUZ
Ret
FUJ MIN SUZ
Ret
SUG
Ret
MIN
4
SUZ
2
TSU
5
SUZ
5
6th 37
1987 TOM'S Toyota SUZ
3
TSU
Ret
FUJ
3
SUZ
2
SUG
2
SEN
2
MIN
1
TSU
2
SUZ
1
SUZ
5
2nd 112
1988 Funaki Racing Toyota SUZ
Ret
TSU
2
FUJ
2
SUZ
Ret
SUG
Ret
TSU
7
SEN
3
SUZ
1
MIN
5
SUZ
11
4th 27

Japanese Formula 3000 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 DC Pts
1988 Leyton House Racing Team SUZ FSW MIN SUZ
12
SUG
12
FSW
11
SUZ
11
SUZ
8
NC 0
1989 Auto Beaurex Motorsport SUZ
2
FSW
2
MIN
4
SUZ
4
SUG
Ret
FSW
2
SUZ
1
SUZ
Ret
1st 33
1990 Stellar International SUZ
11
FSW
2
MIN
2
SUZ
Ret
SUG
4
FSW
6
FSW
12
SUZ
2
FSW
2
SUZ
2
2nd 34
1991 Stellar International SUZ
2
AUT
6
FSW
3
MIN
Ret
SUZ
2
SUG
17
FSW
12
SUZ
5
FSW
C
SUZ
6
FSW
Ret
5th 20
1992 Racing Team Cerumo SUZ FSW MIN SUZ
5
AUT SUG FSW FSW SUZ FSW FSW 16th 2

24 Hours of Le Mans results

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Year Team Co-Drivers Car Class Laps Pos. Class
Pos.
1988   Toyota Team Tom's   Tiff Needell
  Paolo Barilla
Toyota 88C C1 283 24th 15th
1989   Toyota Team Tom's   Paolo Barilla
  Ross Cheever
Toyota 89C-V C1 45 DNF DNF
1990   Toyota Team Tom's   Masanori Sekiya
  Geoff Lees
Toyota 90C-V C1 347 6th 6th

Death

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Ogawa was killed in an accident on lap 27 of an All-Japan Formula 3000 race held at Suzuka in May 1992. Ogawa aimed to overtake Andrew Gilbert-Scott's car on the main straight, but the latter held his position while Ogawa moved slightly to the side. He clipped the rear left wheel and the front of his car became lodged in the rear bodywork. Both went down the straight at speed and went into the gravel trap, which was insufficient in slowing down either car. Gilbert-Scott spun, hit the tyre wall and flipped, landing upside-down. Ogawa went in nose-first, hit a mound in the gravel trap and was launched over the tyre barrier, hitting a high-fence supporting pole. Both cars were wrecked and the race was stopped immediately. As a result of the accident at least one cameraman, several photographers, and Gilbert-Scott all sustained injuries. Ogawa was freed but had suffered severe leg, head and neck injuries and was pronounced dead on the way to hospital.[5]

References

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  1. ^ "小河 等". Archived from the original on 2004-12-12. Retrieved 2008-08-20.
  2. ^ "Loading..." www.wspr-racing.com. Retrieved 2024-02-21.
  3. ^ "Loading..." www.wspr-racing.com. Retrieved 2024-02-21.
  4. ^ "World Championship 1992". Archived from the original on 2012-02-05. Retrieved 2009-02-12.
  5. ^ "Motorsport Memorial -".
Sporting positions
Preceded by Japanese Formula 3000
Champion

1989
Succeeded by