Hoshino Retires from Formula Nippon!

TOKYO -RIJ (April 25, 1997)- One of the Japanese racing legends' page has closed today; Over 20 years long time "The Fastest Man in Japan" Kazuyoshi Hoshino announced his retirement from Formula car racing on Thursday in Tokyo. The 49 years old Japanese veteran was once named in the 1997 Formula Nippon Championship's entry list, but he suddenly decided to retire from Formula Nippon and will concentrate to drive Nissan R390 for Le Man 24 Hours Race. Takuya Kurosawa will replace Hoshino and drive Lola T96/50 Mugen for Sunday's Formula Nippon opening race at Suzuka with his team mate Masahiko Kageyama who will drive Reynard 96D Mugen from Hoshino Racing.

Today's press conference was held by his team Hoshino Racing and Nissan's motor sports division NISMO. It will be difficult to run both Formula Nippon and Le Mans 24 Hours race, including test and Pre-Qualifying for Le Mans because of 49 years old Hoshino's physical strength. Nissan hopes to win this year's Le Mans with TWR developed R390 GT car and asked Hoshino to concentrate to Le Mans. Hoshino has been difficult to find sponsors for Formula Nippon series since last year because younger fans like to see younger stars such as current Tyrrell's test driver Toranosuke Takagi.

Hoshino has been top driver since '70s and high-wall for Japanese and foreign drivers who hope to graduated to Formula One. Current Ferrari Formula One driver Eddie Irvine still says that his favorite driver is Hoshino because they competed hard in All Japan F3000 Championship. Hoshino had been the greatest rival for other former and current Formula One drivers; Satoru Nakajima, Aguri Suzuki, Johnny Herbert, Heinz-Harald Frentzen, Mika Salo, Ukyo Katayama, Shinji Nakano and Ralf Schumacher, too.

After Le Mans 24 Hours Race, he will be team manager for his Hoshino Racing, but he continues to drive Nissan Skyline GT-R for All Japan GT Car Championship.

** RACING CAREER of Kazuyoshi Hoshino **

   Born: July 1, 1947 in Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Pref..
 
 1962  Debuted in Motocross race.
 1964  Kawasaki's factory team rider.
 1967  Japanese Motocross Champion.
 1969  Debuted in auto racing as factory driver of Nissan. Drove Nissan
       Cherry, front wheel drive touring car.
 1974  Debuted in Formula car racing.
 1975  All Japan F2000, Champion.
       Fuji Grand Championship (GC) Series, 8th.
 1976  All Japan F2000, 4th.
       All Japan FJ1300 Champion.
       Fuji GC series, 6th.
       F1 Grand Prix in Japan; drove Tyrrell 007 DFV and run third in rain,
       but he had to withdraw after rain stopped because his team hadn't
       spare wheels for dry tires.
 1977  All Japan F2000, Champion.
       Fuji GC series, 2nd.
       F1 Japanese Grand Prix, 11th (Kojima KE009 DFV.)
 1978  All Japan F2, Champion. (F2000 -> F2)
       Fuji GC series, Champion.
       Run in European F2.
 1979  All Japan F2, 2nd.
       All Japan Formula Pacific (FP) Championship, 9th.
       Fuji GC series, 5th.
       Run Macau Grand Prix (FP race.)
 1980  All Japan F2, 2nd.
       All Japan FP, 11th.
       Fuji GC series, 5th.
 1981  All Japan F2, 2nd.
       Fuji GC series, 4th.
       Run Macau GP (FP).
 1982  All Japan F2, 2nd.
       All Japan FP, Champion.
       Fuji GC series, Champion.
 1983  All Japan F2, 2nd.
       Fuji GC series, 2nd.
       Run in European F2.
 1984  All Japan F2, 3rd.
       Fuji GC series, Champion.
 1985  All Japan F2, Champion.
       Fuji GC series, Champion.
       All Japan Endurance Championship, 15th.
       WEC (World Endurance Championship) in Japan, win (March 85G Nissan)
 1986  All Japan F2, 2nd
       Fuji GC series, 4th.
       Le Mans 24 Hours Race, retire (March 86S Nissan)
 1987  All Japan F3000 Championship, champion. (F2 -> F3000)
       Fuji GC series, Champion.
       Run Le Mans 24 Hours Race (Nissan R87E)
 1988  All Japan F3000, 2nd.
       Fuji GC series, 3rd.
       Run Le Mans 24 Hours Race (Nissan R88C)
 1989  All Japan F3000, 3rd.
       Fuji GC series, 5th. (last Fuji GC series)
       All Japan Touring Car Championship (JTCC), 10th. (Nissan Skyline)
       Run Le Mans 24 Hours Race. (Nissan R89C)
 1990  All Japan F3000, Champion.
       JTCC, Champion.
       All Japan Prototype Car Championship (JSPC), 3rd. (Nissan R90CP)
       Le Mans 24 Hours Race, 5th. (Nissan R90CP)
 1991  All Japan F3000, 4th.
       JTCC, 3rd.
       JSPC, Champion. (Nissan R91CP)
 1992  All Japan F3000, 12th.
       JTCC, 2nd.
       JSPC, Champion.
       Daytona 24 Hours Race, win. (Nissan R91CP)
 1993  All Japan F3000, Champion.
       JTCC, 2nd.
 1994  All Japan F3000, 8th.
       JTCC, 8th.
 1995  All Japan F3000, 4th.
       JTCC, 3rd.
       All Japan GT Car Championship (JGTC), 14th.
       Run Le Mans 24 Hours Race. (Nissan Skyline GT-R)
 1996  Formula Nippon, 3rd. (F3000 -> Formula Nippon)
       JTCC, 6th.
       JGTC, 4th.