TOM’s Racing have announced that former driver Kaoru Hoshino passed away Monday, 21 November at the age of 75.
Hoshino was active as a racing driver for over thirty years, beginning in 1969 when he made his debut in a support race for the JAF Grand Prix at Fuji Speedway, at the wheel of a Toyota Corolla.
In a span of 15 years from 1978 to 1993, Hoshino was one of the mainstay drivers of TOM’s (Tachi Oiwa Motor Sports) as they established themselves as a force in the domestic racing circuit. He also participated in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Daytona, and Spa-Francorchamps, as well as the Macau Grand Prix Guia Race, on numerous occasions throughout his career.
In his first year with the team, Hoshino drove his Toyota Starlet to the Minor Touring Car championship at Fuji Speedway.
Beginning with the launch of the Dome/Toyota TOM’s Celica C in 1982, Hoshino became a staple of Toyota’s first forays into Group C sports prototype racing in Japan. His work as a trusted leader of the TOM’s squad would see him take part in the 24 Hours of Le Mans on four different occasions, beginning in 1985, Toyota’s first time entering the Grand Prix d’Endurance.
He finished 12th alongside future Le Mans overall winner Masanori Sekiya, and future Formula 1 hero Satoru Nakajima, in ’85 – and finished 12th again in 1988, driving the Toyota 88C-V alongside Sekiya and Geoff Lees. He also entered in 1987 and 1989, failing to finish on those occasions.
As was the case with many Japanese drivers of his age, and the drivers to succeed him, Hoshino showed versatility in all forms of motor racing. He was a strong contender in the All-Japan Touring Car Championship from 1985 to 1993 with TOM’s, and took the overall win in the series’ first ever race at Sportsland Sugo, driving a Toyota Corolla Levin AE86 – eventually winning the first championship in the lightweight division of the JTC, then known as Division 1 and later rechristened JTC-3. In total, Hoshino would claim four victories in the category.
Towards the end of his career, Hoshino would make his mark in the early years of the All-Japan Grand Touring Car Championship (JGTC), which we know today as the SUPER GT Series. He joined forces with privateer driver Yoshimi Ishibashi and drive their bright yellow Team Gaikokuya Nissan Skyline GTS-R to two wins and five podiums in the GT2 class, now known as GT300. In fact, Ishibashi and Hoshino became the first drivers to clinch any of JGTC/SUPER GT’s championships before the final race of the season, such as their dominance that season.
Hoshino would pick up another GT300 class win in the 1997 finale at Sugo, and won the pole for the ill-fated Fuji Golden Week race in 1998. He would race for Team Gaikokuya until the 1999 season, and in the non-championship Suzuka 1000km through 2004.
After retiring from his competitive driving career, Hoshino embarked on a second career with the JGTC/SUPER GT Series. He was one of the first drivers for the new First Rescue Operation (FRO) safety team, beginning in 2002. He continued to serve as an FRO rescue vehicle driver until he retired from the position following the 2015 season.
DSC would like to extend our condolences to Hoshino’s family, friends, and many colleagues throughout his racing life.
Images © TOM’s Racing, Suzuka Circuit
