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Yuji Kunimoto

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Yuji Kunimoto
Kunimoto in 2010.
NationalityJapan Japanese
Born (1990-09-12) 12 September 1990 (age 34)
Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan
Super GT career
Debut season2012
Current teamRacing Project Bandoh
Racing licence FIA Platinum
Car number19
Former teamsKraft, Team LeMans
Starts87
Wins3
Podiums14
Poles7
Best finish4th in 2016
Super Formula career
Debut season2011
Current teamItochu Enex Team Impul
Car number20
Former teamsP.mu/Cerumo・INGING, Kondō Racing, KCMG
Starts102
Wins2
Podiums8
Poles1
Fastest laps0
Best finish1st in 2016
Previous series
2009–10
2wi008
2007–08
2007		All-Japan Formula Three
Formula BMW Pacific
Formula Challenge Japan
Formula Toyota
Championship titles
2016
2010
2008		Super Formula
All-Japan Formula Three
Formula Challenge Japan

Yuji Kunimoto (国本雄資, Kunimoto Yūji, born 12 September 1990) is a Japanese racing driver for Toyota Gazoo Racing who is currently competing in Super GT for Racing Project Bandoh and in Super Formula for Team Impul.[1] He is the champion of the 2016 Super Formula Championship and the 2010 Japanese Formula 3 Championship.[2]

He is the younger brother of 2008 Macau Grand Prix winner Keisuke Kunimoto.[citation needed]

Kunimoto en route to his fourth successive victory of the 2010 All-Japan Formula Three season at Motegi.

Early Career highlights

[edit]
  • 2008 Formula Challenge Japan, Series Champion; Formula BMW, Macau GP Support race, 5th position
  • 2007 Formula Toyota, 10th Overall; Formula Challenge Japan, 4th Overall
  • 2006 All Japan Kart Championship, FA Class, 8th Overall
  • 2005 All Japan Kart Championship, ICA Class, 3rd Overall
  • 2004 All Japan Kart Championship, ICA Class, 7th Overall; F-ARTA Arta Challenge Series
  • 2003 All Japan Kart Championship, ICA Class; F-ARTA Arta Challenge Series
  • 2002 All Japan Junior Kart Championship, 4th Overall
  • 2001 All Japan Junior Kart Championship, 12th Overall

Career

[edit]

From 2009, 2010 Kunimoto competed in Japanese Formula 3 Championship with TOM'S where he clinched third place, and as a champion the next year.

Super GT

[edit]

Kunimoto made his debut in the series' GT300 Class with apr on 2009 with Takuto Iguchi. the next 2 seasons he paired with Morio Nitta. The latter pair clinch 1 win and 4 podium during 2 season in 2010 & 2011.

Kunimoto then step up to GT500 with Kraft in 2012 with Andrea Caldarelli new to the series, as the pair clinch 1 podiun in the season. Kunimoto then moves to Team LeMans partnering Kazuya Oshima for three seasons. Both pair only won once from 2013, and five podiums. For 2016, Kunimoto moves to WedsSport Bandoh alongside Yuhi Sekiguchi.[3] He won only once on that season. After that he is the main driver for Bandoh for four seasons, with Kenta Yamashita, Sho Tsuboi, Ritomo Miyata, and Sena Sakaguchi as his teammate.[4][5][6][7] Kunimoto wins again with Sakaguchi in 2-23 at Suzuka Circuit. For 2024, he stays with the same team and teammate.[1]

Super Formula

[edit]

Kunimoto made his debut in Formula Nippon in 2011 with Cerumo・INGING as a single car entry.[8] Kunimoto then won the series title in 2016 with his maiden two wins and four podiums, as he beats Andre Lotterer by three points. After that he did not win another title, and race till now. After eight seasons with Cerumo INGING, he moves to Kondo Racing in 2019, then KCMG.[6] For 2024, Kunimoto moves to Team Impul with Theo Pourchaire.[1]

Le Mans 24

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Kunimoto made a wildcard debut with Toyota Gazoo Racing for 2017 24 Hours of Le Mans. He paired with Jose Maria Lopez, and Nicolas Lapierre. The car only completed 160 laps, and did not finish the race.[9]

Racing record

[edit]

Career summary

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Season Series Team Races Wins Poles F/Laps Podiums Points Position
2008 Formula Challenge Japan TDP Scholarship 16 8 7 5 15 272 1st
2009 Japanese Formula 3 Championship Petronas Team TOM'S 16 4 4 2 11 97 3rd
Super GT - GT300 apr 9 0 0 0 0 32 10th
2010 Japanese Formula 3 Championship Petronas Team TOM'S 16 10 9 10 12 139 1st
Super GT - GT300 apr 7 1 0 1 3 47 5th
2011 Super GT - GT300 apr 8 0 0 0 1 38 7th
Formula Nippon Project μ//cerumo・INGING 7 0 0 0 0 6.5 10th
2012 Super GT Lexus Team KeePer Kraft 8 0 0 0 1 28 13th
Formula Nippon Project μ//cerumo・INGING 8 0 0 0 0 2 13th
2013 Super GT Lexus Team LeMans ENEOS 8 1 1 0 2 52 5th
Super Formula P.mu/cerumo・INGING 7 0 0 0 0 10 10th
2014 Super GT Lexus Team LeMans ENEOS 8 0 0 0 2 44 7th
Super Formula P.mu/cerumo・INGING 9 0 0 0 2 19.5 7th
2015 Super GT Lexus Team LeMans ENEOS 8 0 0 0 1 32 9th
Super Formula P.mu/cerumo・INGING 8 0 0 0 0 7.5 9th
2016 Super GT Lexus Team WedsSport Bandoh 8 1 1 0 2 58 4th
Super Formula P.mu/cerumo・INGING 9 2 0 0 4 33 1st
2017 Super GT Lexus Team WedsSport Bandoh 7 0 0 0 0 22 14th
Super Formula P.mu/cerumo・INGING 7 0 1 0 1 16 8th
24 Hours of Le Mans Toyota Gazoo Racing 1 0 0 0 0 0 DNF
2018 Super GT Lexus Team WedsSport Bandoh 8 0 0 0 2 32 11th
Super Formula JMS P.mu/cerumo・INGING 8 0 0 0 0 11.5 8th
2019 Super GT Lexus Team WedsSport Bandoh 8 0 2 0 1 27.5 11th
Super Formula Kondo Racing 7 0 0 0 0 5 17th
2020 Super GT TGR Team WedsSport Bandoh 8 0 0 0 0 10 17th
Super Formula carrozzeria KCMG 7 0 0 0 1 29 9th
2021 Super GT TGR Team WedsSport Bandoh 8 0 2 1 2 36 11th
Super Formula carrozzeria KCMG 7 0 0 0 0 3 18th
Super Taikyu - ST-4 Hayashi Telempu SHADE Racing 6 3 0 2 6 130‡ 1st‡
2022 Super GT TGR Team WedsSport Bandoh 8 0 4 0 0 28.5 11th
Super Formula KCMG 10 0 0 0 0 10 16th
Super Taikyu - ST-4 SHADE Racing 6 1 1 3 6 142‡ 2nd‡
2023 Super GT - GT500 TGR Team WedsSport Bandoh 8 1 0 0 0 30 12th
Super Formula Kids com Team KCMG 9 0 0 0 0 7 17th
Super Taikyu - ST-4 SHADE Racing 6 0 3 0 1 56‡ 7th‡
2024 Super Formula Itochu Enex Team Impul 9 0 0 0 0 7 13th
Super GT TGR Team WedsSport Bandoh
Super Taikyu - ST-4 SHADE Racing

‡ Team standings

Complete Super GT results

[edit]
Year Team Car Class 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 DC Pts
2009 apr Toyota Corolla Axio GT300 OKA
5 		SUZ
9 		FUJ
8 		SEP
16 		SUG
8 		SUZ
4 		FUJ
12 		AUT
7 		MOT
5 		10th 32
2010 SUZ
8 		OKA
9 		FUJ
1 		SEP
3 		SUG
Ret 		SUZ
3 		FUJ
C 		MOT
17 		5th 47
2011 OKA
6 		FUJ
7 		SEP
6 		SUG
2 		SUZ
7 		FUJ
14 		AUT
8 		MOT
9 		7th 38
2012 Lexus Team KeePer Kraft Lexus SC430 GT500 OKA
Ret 		FUJ
12 		SEP
10 		SUG
6 		SUZ
2 		FUJ
7 		AUT
13 		MOT
Ret 		13th 28
2013 Lexus Team LeMans ENEOS OKA
7 		FUJ
3 		SEP
7 		SUG
6 		SUZ
Ret 		FUJ
4 		AUT
11 		MOT
1 		5th 52
2014 Lexus RC F OKA
2 		FUJ
3 		AUT
9 		SUG
5 		FUJ
13 		SUZ
5 		BUR
9 		MOT
11 		7th 44
2015 OKA
9 		FUJ
9 		CHA
2 		FUJ
13 		SUZ
Ret 		SUG
4 		AUT
8 		MOT
9 		9th 32
2016 Lexus Team WedsSport BANDOH OKA
9 		FUJ
8 		SUG
5 		FUJ
10 		SUZ
5 		CHA
1 		MOT
5 		MOT
3 		4th 58
2017 Lexus LC 500 OKA
6 		FUJ AUT
8 		SUG
12 		FUJ
7 		SUZ
4 		CHA
12 		MOT
15 		14th 22
2018 OKA
9 		FUJ
12 		SUZ
13 		CHA
3 		FUJ
10 		SUG
Ret 		AUT
3 		MOT
5 		11th 32
2019 OKA
6‡ 		FUJ
13 		SUZ
7 		CHA
3 		FUJ
9 		SUG
8 		AUT
13 		MOT
7 		11th 27.5
2020 TGR Team WedsSport BANDOH Toyota GR Supra GT500 FUJ
9 		FUJ
15 		SUZ
10 		MOT
Ret 		FUJ
7 		SUZ
9 		MOT
11 		FUJ
10 		17th 10
2021 OKA
12 		FUJ
7 		MOT
2 		SUZ
13 		SUG
Ret 		AUT
13 		MOT
2 		FUJ
13 		11th 36
2022 OKA
13 		FUJ
6 		SUZ
5 		FUJ
9 		SUZ
7 		SUG
15 		AUT
5 		MOT
7 		11th 28.5
2023 OKA
9 		FUJ
12 		SUZ
1 		FUJ
12 		SUZ
9 		SUG
8 		AUT
13 		MOT
8 		12th 30
2024 OKA
 FUJ
 SUZ
 FUJ
 SUZ
 SUG
 AUT
 MOT

Complete Formula Nippon/Super Formula results

[edit]

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

Year Entrant 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 DC Points
2011 Project μ/cerumo・INGING SUZ
13 		AUT
11 		FUJ
15 		MOT
12 		SUZ
C 		SUG
5 		MOT1
4 		MOT2
DSQ 		10th 6.5
2012 SUZ
14 		MOT
9 		AUT
8 		FUJ
8 		MOT
10 		SUG
13 		SUZ1
11 		SUZ2
12 		13th 2
2013 P.mu/cerumo・INGING SUZ
10 		AUT
10 		FUJ
7 		MOT
6 		SUG
4 		SUZ1
Ret 		SUZ2
15 		10th 10
2014 SUZ
13 		FUJ1
5 		FUJ2
7 		FUJ
3 		MOT
13 		AUT
2 		SUG
9 		SUZ1
4 		SUZ2
Ret 		7th 19.5
2015 SUZ
17 		OKA
Ret 		FUJ
4 		MOT
18 		AUT
8 		SUG
17 		SUZ1
7 		SUZ2
8 		9th 7.5
2016 SUZ
2 		OKA
6 		FUJ
Ret 		MOT
4 		OKA1
2 		OKA2
1 		SUG
15 		SUZ1
1 		SUZ2
6 		1st 33
2017 SUZ
3 		OKA1
10 		OKA2
9 		FUJ
Ret 		MOT
15 		AUT
5 		SUG
4 		SUZ1
C 		SUZ2
C 		8th 16
2018 JMS P.mu/cerumo・INGING SUZ1
13 		AUT
C 		SUG
Ret 		FUJ
3 		MOT
15 		OKA
8 		SUZ2
4 		8th 11.5
2019 Kondō Racing SUZ1
6 		AUT
16 		SUG
6 		FUJ
16 		MOT
10 		OKA
16 		SUZ2
15 		17th 5
2020 carrozzeria Team KCMG MOT
Ret 		OKA
7 		SUG
5 		AUT
4 		SUZ1
3 		SUZ2
Ret 		FUJ
15 		9th 29
2021 FUJ
8 		SUZ1
Ret 		AUT
Ret 		SUG
13 		MOT1
11 		MOT2
Ret 		SUZ2
15 		18th 3
2022 KCMG FUJ
13 		FUJ
15 		SUZ
6 		AUT
11 		SUG
9 		FUJ
8 		MOT
15 		MOT
12 		SUZ
20 		SUZ
18 		16th 10
2023 Kids com KCMG FUJ
12 		FUJ
16 		SUZ
16 		AUT
10 		SUG
9 		FUJ
15 		MOT
10 		SUZ
16 		SUZ
8 		17th 7
2024 Itochu Enex Team Impul SUZ1
Ret 		AUT
19† 		SUG
7 		FUJ
6 		MOT
11 		FUJ
13 		FUJ
15 		SUZ
13 		SUZ
12 		13th 7

* Season still in progress.

24 Hours of Le Mans results

[edit]
Year Team Co-Drivers Car Class Laps Pos. Class
Pos.
2017 Japan Toyota Gazoo Racing Argentina José María López
France Nicolas Lapierre 		Toyota TS050 Hybrid LMP1 160 DNF DNF

References

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  1. ^ a b c "TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Presents its 2024 motorsport team setups in Japan". Toyota Gazoo Racing. 12 December 2023. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
  2. ^ "TOYOTA GAZOO Racing announced its 2023 motorsport team setups". Toyota Gazoo Racing. 25 November 2021. Retrieved 25 November 2022.
  3. ^ "Toyota GAZOO Racing Outlines 2016 Motorsports Activities". Toyota Global Newsroom. Toyota. 4 February 2016. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
  4. ^ "Toyota Gazoo Racing Announces Super GT Programmes For 2018". dailysportscar.com. 8 February 2018. Retrieved 8 February 2018.
  5. ^ "Toyota Gazoo Racing Announces 2019 Super GT Programmes". dailysportscar.com. 7 February 2019. Retrieved 7 February 2019.
  6. ^ a b "Toyota Gazoo Racing Announces 2020 Super GT Programmes". dailysportscar.com. 7 February 2020. Retrieved 9 February 2020.
  7. ^ "Toyota Announces 2022 Sportscar Racing Activities". dailysportscar.com. 6 December 2021. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
  8. ^ "2011 Media Information" (PDF). Formula Nippon. Japan Race Promotion Company, Ltd. 7 March 2011. Retrieved 29 March 2011.[permanent dead link‍]
  9. ^ "Lapierre & Kunimoto Complete 2017 Toyota LMP1 Lineup". dailysportscar.com. 28 March 2017. Retrieved 28 March 2017.
[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Yuji Kunimoto.
Sporting positions
Preceded by Formula Challenge Japan
Champion
2008 		Succeeded by
Kazuki Miura
Preceded by Japanese Formula Three Champion
2010 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Super Formula Champion
2016 		Succeeded by
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