Hitoshi Ogawa


Hitoshi Ogawa was a Japanese racing car driver. He is the father of Ryo Ogawa, the 2015 Japanese Formula 3 champion.

Career

During the 1980s, he competed in several Fuji Grand Champion Series races. 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. In 1992, he won the first round of the World Sportscar Championship in Monza in C1, partnering Geoff Lees.

Complete Japanese Formula 3 results

YearTeamEngine12345678910DCPts
1981gallop wheel HayashiToyotaSUZTSUFUJ
5		MINSUG
C		TSU
4		MIN
Ret		SUZ
5		SUZ
Ret		8th28
1982Racing Team HayashiToyotaSUZ
Ret		FUJMINSUZ
Ret		SUG
Ret		MIN
4		SUZ
2		TSU
5		SUZ
5		6th37
1987TOM'SToyotaSUZ
3		TSU
Ret		FUJ
3		SUZ
2		SUG
2		SEN
2		MIN
1		TSU
2		SUZ
1		SUZ
5		2nd112
1988Funaki RacingToyotaSUZ
Ret		TSU
2		FUJ
2		SUZ
Ret		SUG
Ret		TSU
7		SEN
3		SUZ
1		MIN
5		SUZ
11		4th27

Japanese Formula 2 / Formula 3000 Championship results

YearTeam1234567891011DCPts
1983VOLK Rays RacingSUZ
13		FSWMINSUZ
Ret		SUZFSWSUZ
10		SUZ
DNS		19th1
1984VOLK Rays RacingSUZ
8		FSW
10		MINSUZ
Ret		SUZ
DNS		FSW
10		SUZ
Ret		SUZ
14		18th5
1988Leyton House Racing TeamSUZFSWMINSUZ
12		SUG
12		FSW
11		SUZ
11		SUZ
8		NC0
1989Auto Beaurex MotorsportSUZ
2		FSW
2		MIN
4		SUZ
4		SUG
Ret		FSW
2		SUZ
1		SUZ
Ret		1st33
1990Stellar InternationalSUZ
11		FSW
2		MIN
2		SUZ
Ret		SUG
4		FSW
6		FSW
12		SUZ
2		FSW
2		SUZ
2		2nd34
1991Stellar InternationalSUZ
2		AUT
6		FSW
3		MIN
Ret		SUZ
2		SUG
17		FSW
12		SUZ
5		FSW
C		SUZ
6		FSW
Ret		5th20
1992Racing Team CerumoSUZFSWMINSUZ
5		AUTSUGFSWFSWSUZFSWFSW16th2

24 Hours of Le Mans results

Death

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.
Ogawa was supposed to race for the Toyota TOM'S team at the 1992 24 Hours of Le Mans. He was replaced by David Brabham for the race. The team subsequently used the number 36, the age of Ogawa's passing, as a tribute to him.